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The
Akal Takhat
Akal
Takhat of Sikh Dharma
Amritsar, India
Preface
The Akal
Takhat was first constructed by Guru Hargobind in 1609 to represent the
Authority over the matters and affairs of the Sikh society. It was constructed
at an angle to symbolize its position was to guard and protect the sacred
seat of authority in humility and to be in serve to the grace of the sacred
light practiced in the Golden Temple. It is at the Akal Takhat that all
matters of importance to Sikhs are deliberated. Historically twice a year,
on Baisaikhi and Divali, the Guru would issue Hukamnamas from the Akal
Takhat. Later, this Takhat was the court from which the Amrit Ceremony
was given to Sikhs, as well as the place where any transgressions against
the Panth were confessed with appropriate measures taken to clear the
offence and restore balance to the spirit of the Sikh community. Throughout
history there were times the Akal Takhat was destroyed by events which
later lead the community to reclaim and rebuild their Throne of Authority
as a community. The Martyrdom of the Akal Takhat in 1984 is the reason
why we celebrate in our Gurdwara every 6th of the Month starting in 1984.
The Siri Singh Sahib
Bhai Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji
The
Siri Singh Sahib explained what the Akal
Takht means in a lecture on June 6, 1990.
“Why Akal Takhat? Akal means that which cannot come in the lap and
collapse of death; that which is death free. Kaal means time or death.
Akal means deathlessness. Why did Guru Hargobind create a Takhat and call
it Akal Takhat? It was actually a spiritual, most powerful, virtuous place
of worship. It represented deathlessness. Wherever the Sikhs are, whether
they have visited it or not, it rules the command and the jurisdiction
of the territory and totality of the human being. So in our mind and heart,
there is no virtual definition that we do not belong to something. This
is one act you have to understand. You have been taken away from territorial
rulership, geographical rulership and time rulership. You have been taken
away from culture, association, habits and understanding, and taken to
the status of achieving nirvana, beyond that mukhti (liberation), beyond
that ecstasy, beyond that self-recognition and self-illumination which
are the highest. In the Sikh religion, the very aspect that we have Akal
Takhat is unique. What does it do? It takes us from infinity to infinity.
It gives us a combination and a jurisdiction to which we belong and to
which we relate."
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