Takht or Taḵẖata (Punjabi: ਤਖ਼ਤ) which literally means a throne or seat of authority is a result of historical growth of religion of Sikhism. There are five Takhts and these Takhts are the five gurudwaras which have a very special significance for the Sikh community. The first and the most important one was established by Guru Hargobind in 1609. It is called ‘Akal Takht’ (the Throne of the Timeless God) and is situated just opposite the gate of Harmandir Sahib – The Golden Temple, Amritsar. While the Harmandir Sahib, or Golden Temple, represents Sikh spiritual guidance, the Akal Takht symbolizes the dispensing of justice and temporal activity. It is the highest seat of temporal authority of the Khalsa and the seat of the Sikh religion’s earthly authority. Here the Guru held his court and decided matters of military strategy and political policy. Later on, the Sikh Nation (Sarbat Khalsa) took decisions here on matters of peace and war and settled disputes between the various Sikh groups. The Sarangi singers sung the ballads of the Sikh Gurus and warriors at this place and ‘Robes of Honour’ (saropas) were awarded to persons who rendered distinguished services of the community of men in general.
In order to retain noblest standardization of this eternal throne, in modern society, a detailed set of ‘roles & responsibilities’ of its interim cabinet (comprising ‘Jathedar(s) or Superior Priest(s)’), who are selected by Sikh Sangat, across globe, through timely gatherings of ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ needs to be detailed and personified in sequential form of their established hierarchies. This detailed scripture will also signify their way of holding authoritative decisions and debates, under transparent peripherals of ‘Gurmata’.
Whereas, A Gurmata (literally, guru’s intention) is an order paon a subject that affects the fundamental principles of Sikh religion and is binding upon all Sikhs. Gurmata is similar to Fatwa in the Muslim tradition with a difference that Fatwa is not binding on all Muslims while Gurmata is binding on all Khalsa, it is not binding on non-Khalsa Sikhs.
GO BACK TO INTRODUCTION PAGE A SET OF STANDARDS & OBLIGATIONS