Akal Takht is the primary seat of Sikh
religious authority and central altar for Sikh political assembly. Through
hukamnamas edicts or writs, it may issue decrees providing guidance or
clarification on any point of Sikh doctrine or practice referred to it, may
summon and order penance on persons charged with violation of religious discipline or with
activity prejudicial to Sikh interests or solidarity and may place on record its
appreciation of outstanding services rendered or sacrifices made by individuals
furthering the cause of Sikhism. The Akal Takht stands in the Darbar Sahib facing Sri Harmandir Sahib, now famous as the Golden Temple.
The word Akal, a negative of kal(time), is
the equivalent of timeless, beyond time, everlasting, and takht, in Persian,
that of royal throne or chair of state. Akal Takht would thus mean "timeless or
everlasting throne" or throne of the Timeless One, i.e. God.
In the Sikh
system, God is postulated as Formless (Nirankar), yet to proclaim His
sovereignty over His creation, He is sometimes referred to as sultan, patshah,
sacha Patshah, or the True King. His seat is referred to as sacha Takht. the
True Throne, sitting on which he dispenses sachcha niao, true justice (cc 84,
1087). It also became common for Sikhs, at least by the time of Guru Arjan
(1563-1606), to refer to the Guru as sacha patshah and to his gaddi or
spiritual seat as Takht and the congregation he led as darbar or court. For the ceremonies of succession, he had a
platform constructed opposite the Harmandir Sahib, naming it Akal Takht on 15th June 1606. The Guru
laid the cornerstone and Bhai Buddha and Bhai Gurdas completed the construction,
no third person being allowed to lend a helping hand. From here, he conducted
the secular affairs of the community and said to have issued the first hukamnama (q.v.) to far flung sangats or Sikh centers announcing the creation of
Akal Takht and asking them to include in their offerings thenceforth gifts of
weapons and horses. Bhai Gurdas was named in charge of the Akal
Takht. A building subsequently raised over the Takht was called Akal Bunga
(house) so that the Takht is now officially known as Takht Sri Akal Bunga
although its popular name Akal Takht is more in common use.
The Sikhs recognize four other holy places
as Takhts, namely Takht
Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur; Takht
Sri Harimandar Sahib,
Patna; Takht Sachkhand
Hazoor Sahib, Abchalnagar, Nanded; and Takht
Sri Damdama
Sahib, Talwandi Sabo. All four are connected with the life of Guru Gobind Singh
(1666 - 1708). All five Takhts are equally venerated, but the Akal Takht at
Amritsar enjoys a special status. Historically, this is the oldest of the Takhts
and along with Harimandir Sahib, across the yard, constitutes the capital of Sikhism.
Meetings of the Sarbatt Khalsa or general assembly representative of the
entire Panth are traditionally summoned at Akal Takht and it is only there that
cases connected with serious religious offences committed by prominent Sikhs are
heard and decided. Hukamnamas or decrees issued by the Akal Takht are
universally applicable to all Sikhs and all institutions.
