Taking Hukamnama

Taking Hukam ^* (Command)

(a)

Doing obeisance to the Guru Granth Sahib, respectfully, taking a glimpse of the congregation, an embodiment of the Guru’s person, and taking the command : these together constitute the view of the Satguru (Immortal destroyer of darkness, the true guru). Raising the drapery covering the Guru Granth Sahib and merely taking a look or making others take a look at the exposed page, without taking the command (reading the prescribed hymn) is contrary to gurmat (Guru’s way).

(b)

In the course of the congregational sessions, only one thing should be done at a time : performing of kirtan, delivering of discourse, interpretative elaboration of the scriptures, or reading of the scriptures.

(c)

Only a Sikh, man or woman, is entitled to be in attendance of the Guru Granth during the congregational session.

(d)

Only a Sikh may read out from the Guru Granth for others. However, even a non-Sikh may read from it for himself/herself.

(e)

For taking the command (Hukam), the hymn that is continuing on the top of the left page must be read from the beginning. If the hymn begins on the previous page, turn over the page and read the whole hymn from the beginning to the end. If the scriptural composition that is continuing on the top of the left hand page is a var (ode), then start from the first of the slokas preceding the pauri and read upto the end of the pauri. Conclude the reading at the end of the hymn with the line in which the name ‘Nanak’ occurs.

(f)

Hukam must also be taken at the conclusion of the congregational session or after the Ardas.

^* Reading or Reading out to others, including the congregation, of a Shabad (hymn) or a unit of one or more slokas (short scriptual compositions normally of two to four lines) and a pauri(short stanza of four or more lines) from the Guru Granth Sahib after, or even without performing, Ardas is an important Sikh ritual. It is called Hukam laina (taking the order or command), Vak laina (taking the word), Awaz laina (taking the voice). The hymn or unit goes by the name of Hukam(order, command) Vak (uttered word) or Awaz (voice).
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