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| FIVE TAKHATS |
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| 'Takht', literally means
a throne or seat of authority is a result of historical
growth of Sikhism. There are five Takhats. The Five
Takhts are the five gurudwaras and these have a
very special significance for the Sikh community.
Takht means a throne. They are considered the seats
of Sikh religious authority. The important decisions
concerning the religious and social life of the
Sikh community have been taken here. |
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| SRI
AKAL TAKHAT SAHIB |
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| "Throne of the Almighty" |
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In the Sikh religion,
Akal Takhat Sahib has a prerogative place. "Akal
Takht" is a combination of two words: Akal (the
Almighty) and Takht (Throne). Meaning thereby: the
"Throne of the Almighty". Sahib is used as a mark
of respect for Guru Sahib and the Sikh institutions.
Akal Takht Sahib represents the Sikh institution
of Miri (temporal)-Piri (transcendental). The Sikh
concept of Miri-Piri is not the unity of the two
domains but it is "oneness" of the two. Both, Miri
and Piri, don't stand apart from one another but
they resonate each other. Meaning thereby that a
man of Miri is obliged to impart Dharma (righteousness)
and a man of Piri must not be a silent observer
to tyranny, injustice and in-humanism. He has to
follow the pat of Guru Sahib. The same is echoed
in the words of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib when he
says that a Sikh should utter the Name of the Almighty
with his tongue but in his heart of hearts, he must
be ready for battle for Righteousness (Mukh te Har
chitt mai-n yudh bichărai). The Sikh concept of
Miri-Piri is the saviour of humanity, justice, righteousness
and spirituality.
Akal Takhat Sahib, as it represents the Almighty,
could be made by the Almighty Himself. For humanity
Guru Hargobind Sahib, the Sixth Nanak revealed it.
Guru Hargobind Sahib laid down the foundation stone
of the building of Akal Takhat Sahib (in 1609).
The rest of the structure was completed by Sikh
saint Baba Buddha and Sikh intellectual Bhai Gurdas.
It is here that Guru Hargobind Sahib used to hold
his Court and receive ambassadors, emissaries, diplomats
and other dignitaries. In the evenings this was
a place for signing of heroic ballads by the "dhadis"(ballad
singers), in order to infuse the spirit of "Charhdi
Kala" (the Sikh concept of Euphoria) among the Sikhs.
Whenever any important issue arose the Sikh nation
held a meeting of the Sarbat Khalsa (the Sikh Commonwealth)
at Akal Takht Sahib. Sarbat Khalsa does not mean
a big gathering of the thousands of the Sikhs. It
is a meeting of the representatives of all the sections
of the Sikhs who are loyal to Akal Takht Sahib.
This "representative house of the Sikh nation" resolves
a Gurmata (the Sikh consensus) with regard to a
particular question. This Gurmata is issued as a
Hukamnama to the Sikh nation by the caretaker of
Akal Takht Sahib.
Akal Takht Sahib is the senior-most seat of Sikh
authority. The Hukamnamas issued from Akal Takht
Sahib are obligatory for each and every Sikh. A
Sikh daring to defy the Hukamnama of Akal Takht
Sahib ceases to be a member of the Sikh Panth.
On October 12, 1920, the priests performing the
routine duties at Akal Takht Sahib left the throne
unattended. At this the Sikhs present there selected
a Jatha (band) of 25 Sikhs to take care of Akal
Takht Sahib. Jathedar Teja Singh Bhucher was appointed
the Jathedar (leader) of this Jatha. Since then,
by mistake or due to ignorance, the term Jathedar
has come to be used for Akal Takht Sahib.
The destination of "Jathedar" of Akal Takht Sahib
has become so popular among a large number of Sikhs
that this is being considered a dictatorship or
kingship. In the Sikh philosophy and throughout
the history of the Sikh nation, there is no mention
of a designation such as "Jathedar of Akal Takht
Sahib". As evidenced by the Sikh history, the decisions
with regard to the Sikh nation issues, had been
taken by the Sarbat Khalsa (the Sikh Commonwealth)
and the Gurmatas (resolutions) of the Sarbat Khalsa
were released as Hukamnamas by the caretaker of
Akal Takhat Sahib. The caretaker of Akal Takht Sahib
can not issue any orders by himself according to
his whim. (it is strange that the Sikh intelligentsia
has exhibited impotency by acquiescing the mutilation
of the institution of Akal Takht Sahib. On the other
hand, the anti - Sikh forces, under the command
of the Anti-Sikhism School, too, have collaborated
to make attempts at degrading the status of Akal
Takht Sahib). |
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| Akal Takht Sahib and
its Hukamnama represent the will of the Sikh nation
and it is binding on every Sikh. |
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TAKHAT SRI DAMDAMA SAHIB |
| Takht Sri Damdama Sahib
is situated in the village of Talwandi Sabo near
Bhatinda. At this place Guru Gobind Singh stayed
here for approximately a year and compiled the final
edition of Guru Granth Sahib also known as the Damdama
Sahib Bir in 1705. The only difference in this Bir
and the Bir compiled by the fifth Nanak, Guru Arjan,
was that the Bani of the ninth Nanak, Guru Tegh
Bahadur, was added to it. |
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| TAKHAT
SRI KESHGARH SAHIB |
| Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib
is situated at Anandpur Sahib. It is the birthplace
of the Khalsa. The order of the Khalsa was founded
here by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. Some of the weapons
of Guru Gobind Singh are displayed here. The most
precious of these is the actual Khanda (double edged
sword) used by Guru Gobind Singh to prepare amrit
used in the first Khalsa initiation ceremony. |
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| TAKHAT SRI HAZOOR SAHIB |
| Takht Sri Hazoor Sahib
is situated on the banks of Godavari river in Maharashtra
state. This is the place where Guru Gobind Singh
left for Heavenly abode. The inner room of the gurdawara
is called Angitha Sahib and is built over the place
where Guru Gobind Singh was cremated in 1708. The
Gurdwara has fallen prey to designs of forces inimical
to Sikhs. As a result, many rituals have crept into
the service of the Gurdwara which are totally against
the Sikh worldview. |
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| TAKHAT SRI PATNA SAHIB |
| Takht Sri Patna Sahib
is situated in Patna city which is also the capital
of Bihar state. Guru Gobind Singh was born here
in 1666 and he spent his early childhood here before
moving to Anandpur Sahib. Besides being the birthplace
of Guru Gobind Singh , Patna was also visited by
Guru Nanak and Guru Tegh Bahadur at different points
of time. Like Takht Sri Hazoor Sahib, here too the
anti-Sikh forces have succeeded to a great extent
in bringing in practices completely against Sikh
worldview. |
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