Codes of conduct
Sikh Rehat Maryada
A formal Sikh code governing personal discipline, worship, initiation, congregational life and communal conduct.
- Tradition or school
- Sikhism
- Framework type
- Codes of conduct
- Authority classification
- Traditional
- Observance
- Mixed requirements
- Research status
- Identified for research
- Origin period
- Codified in the twentieth century from earlier Sikh teachings and practice
- Origin region
- Punjab
- Attributed origin
- Panthic deliberation and publication by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee
- Intended audience
- Sikhs and Sikh institutions
- Published constituent items
- 8
- Last reviewed
- 28 June 2026
Names and terminology
Alternative names: Sikh Code of Conduct and Conventions
Original name: Sikh Rehat Maryada
Primary texts and authority
The Sikh Rehat Maryada, read alongside the Guru Granth Sahib and Sikh tradition.
Rules, principles or steps
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Foundational Sikh identity and discipline
Live as a Sikh through remembrance of God, truthful conduct and disciplined practice.
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Congregational worship
Participate respectfully in gurdwara worship and the shared life of the sangat.
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Daily prayer and remembrance
Maintain regular prayer, recitation and remembrance as part of daily discipline.
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Honest work and service
Earn honestly and serve others without exploitation or status-seeking.
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Equality and rejection of caste
Reject caste superiority and recognise equal human dignity.
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Khalsa initiation and commitments
Understand initiation as a serious voluntary commitment to disciplined Sikh life.
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Prohibited conduct
Avoid conduct treated by the code as incompatible with Sikh discipline.
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Communal responsibility
Support collective decision-making, mutual aid and responsible institutional conduct.
Historical development
The modern code emerged from sustained community deliberation intended to articulate common Sikh practice across institutions and regions.
Variations
Local custom and different Sikh organisations may vary in practice, but the SGPC text remains the most widely cited standard formulation.
Traditional interpretation
The code joins devotion, disciplined conduct, equality, service, worship and communal responsibility.
Controversies and disputes
Questions arise over authority, interpretation, gender, institutional enforcement and differences among Sikh groups.
Truth By Reason analysis
Its ethical value is strongest where it supports honesty, equality, service, self-discipline and protection from exploitation. Institutional rules still require independent review for fairness and human dignity.
Ethical themes
Sources
- Sikh Rehat Maryada — English Version Mainstream secondary source