Hukamnama

In the historical sense, it was used to refer to an issued commandment, instruction, injunction, order, or edict given by one of the Gurus of Sikhism or their officiated followers and associates during their lives.

[1][2] Nowadays, after the period of human gurus, the Hukumnama refers to a hymn from a randomly selected left-hand side page from the Guru Granth Sahib on a daily basis in the morning.

The tradition of issuing hukamnamas began in the period of the early seventeenth century, during the time of Guru Hargobind.

[5] Next, the names of particular congregations, community leaders, family heads (with women being mentioned on some surviving examples), and the detailed instructions of the letter that is addressed to the aforementioned to fulfill.

[5] During the guruship period of Guru Gobind Singh, these hukamnamas were issued akin to royal decrees from Anandpur.

[14] Taken from Advanced Studies in Sikhism page 33[15] by Jasbir Singh and Harbans Singh, the following is an example Hukamnama by Guru Gobind Singh: Sarbat sangat Kabul Guru rakhe ga Tusa ute asaadee bahut khusi hai Tusi Khande da Amrit Panja to lena Kes rakhne...ih asadee mohur hai; Kachh, Kirpan da visah nahee karna Sarb Loh da kara hath rakhna Dono vakat kesa dee palna karna Sarbat sangat abhakhia da kutha Khave naheen, Tamakoo na vartana Bhadni tatha kanya-maran-vale so mel na rakhe Meene, Massandei, Ramraiye ki sangat na baiso Gurbani parhni...Waheguru, Waheguru japna Guru kee rahat rakhnee Sarbat sangat oopar meri khushi hai.

Do not associate with Meenas, Massands and Ram-raiyas (anti-Sikh cults) Recite the Guru's hymns Meditate on "The Name of our Wondrous Enlightener (God)", Follow the Sikh code of discipline I give the entire congregation my blessing