What Is Hukamnama ?

HUKAMNAMA , is a compound of two Persian words “hukam”, meaning command or order, and “namah”, meaning letter. In the Sikh tradition, historically it refers to the letters sent by the Sikh Gurus to their Sikhs or sangats (congregation) in different parts of the country during the period of the Ten Gurus from 1469 to 1708. However, now it is used to refer to the Shabd (Sacred Hymn) that is read after the Ardaas prayer is said in the presence of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. In this case the word is can also be shortened to just the “Guru’s Hukam”.


Even today a Hukumnama is taken in each Gurdwara daily when Guru Granth Sahib Ji is opened in the early hours of the morning; this seva of opening Guru Granth Sahib Ji is called Parkash Seva.


Talking to Guru Granth Sahib Ji… Whenever we go to the Gurdwara and stand in Ardas, at the end of the Ardas we recite the following words,

'Guru Granth Ji Maneo, Pargat Guraa Ki Deh.'
'Guru Granth Sahib is the spiritual embodiment of the Gurus.'

'Jo Prabh Ko Milbo Chahe, Khoj Shabad Meh Leh.'

'Those who seek union with God should search through the divine wisdom contained in Guru Granth Sahib.'

These words are so beautiful and contain the essence of Sikh ideology. To a non-Sikh the Guru Granth Sahib Ji may seem just a book, a piece of well constructed literature from the 15th century; but to a Sikh the Guru Granth Sahib Ji is much more than that. To a Sikh Guru Granth Sahib is their living, breathing, talking spiritual guide or Guru.


I don't think that as Sikhs we as a whole have grasped onto this concept fully. Sure Guru Granth Sahib Ji is in every Gurdwara, we all bow down before the Guru, ask for things we want both material and spiritual from the Guru and outwardly acknowledge that Guru Granth Sahib is our Guru. But have we really understood what the Guru-ship of Guru Granth Sahib means? When we have spiritual questions do we look to Guru Granth Sahib Ji for advice? Do we acknowledge Guru Granth Sahib Ji's guru-ship purely ritualistically and not practically?


Many will ask how talking to Guru Granth Sahib is possible, and if so what the method is of communicating with Guru Ji. Since Guru Gobind Singh Ji bestowed Guru-ship upon Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhs have been asking Guru Granth Sahibs Ji's advice and for Guru Sahibs spiritual guidance through the tradition of taking a Hukumnama. The word Hukumnama literally means, 'royal decree'. The method of taking is a Hukumnama is by performing an Ardas in front of Guru Granth Sahib Ji, in this ardas you can ask a question or simply ask for Guru Ji to bless you with some words of spiritual wisdom. At the end of the Ardas taking Guru Ji in both hands you open the pages of Guru Granth Sahib ji at random and the first Shabad on the left hand page of Guru Ji is the 'Hukumnama' filled with the spiritual wisdom or answer that you require.

Even today a Hukumnama is taken in each Gurdwara daily when Guru Granth Sahib Ji is opened in the early hours of the morning; this seva of opening Guru Granth Sahib Ji is called Parkash Seva. You can read the Hukumnama which is issued by Guru Granth Sahib Ji from the Harimandar Sahib in Amritsar everyday.