The Sikh Rehat Maryada is the guiding document that establishes the foundational code for both personal conduct and community life among Sikhs. The standards set forth in this document are observed at Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the supreme Sikh authority, and upheld by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the principal representative body of Sikhs in Punjab and worldwide. The SGPC manages major historical Gurdwaras and serves as the authoritative voice on Sikh matters. The Sikh Rehat Maryada document is also recognized and widely referenced by Sikh institutions and Gurdwaras across the globe.

It should be understood that the Sikh Rehat Maryada offers a foundational framework rather than a comprehensive account of Sikh discipline. The lived discipline of many Sikhs, rooted in the Guru’s guidance, extends beyond this written code. Additional practices arise from the conduct imparted to initiates during the Amrit ceremony, as well as from the unwritten Gurmat-based disciplines that remain vibrant within Sikh tradition. For any code or practice to be regarded as Gurmat, or in accordance with the Guru’s teachings, it must rest upon the principles enshrined in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and never contradict them. This ensures continuity between the written code and the living tradition.

The Sikh Rehat Maryada was first published and implemented at Sri Akal Takht Sahib, and in all Gurdwaras managed by the SGPC, in 1936. It has since been refined through subsequent amendments. Today, it continues to be implemented at Sri Akal Takht Sahib and propagated by its custodians. Whenever matters of Sikh conduct arise, this document, together with rulings issued from time to time by Sri Akal Takht Sahib, serves as a central point of reference for Sikhs internationally, alongside the eternal teachings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

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