Q. Takht (Throne) is a seat of temporal authority for Sikhs. In this respect, consider the following statements: 
1. At present Sikhs recognize five places as takhts which are in Punjab. 
2. Four takhts are linked to Guru Gobind Singh. 
3. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee appoints the jathedars to all the takhts. 
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation by: Indresh Gehalot

• Recently Delhi Assembly has passed an amendment bill to “Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1971” which recognizes the “Takht Damdama Sahib” as the fifth Takht of Sikhs.

 • What are Sikh takhts? o Takht is a Persian word that means imperial throne. Takht (Throne) is a seat of temporal authority for Sikhs. The Sikh Takhts issue hukumnamas from time to time on issues related to the Sikh community. At present Sikhs recognize five places as takhts. Three are in Punjab —Akal Takht (Amritsar); Takht Keshgarh Sahib (Anandpur Sahib); Takht Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo) — and the other two are Takht Patna Sahib (Bihar) and Takht Hazur Sahib (Nanded, Maharashtra). Hence, statement 1 is not correct. 
o Akal Takht (Throne of the Timeless One) is the oldest of the takhts, and considered supreme among the five. It was set up in 1606 by Guru Hargobind, whose succession as the sixth Guru after the execution of his father, Guru Arjan Dev, is considered a turning point in Sikh history. The Akal Takht, a raised platform that he built in front of the causeway leading to the sanctum sanctorum of the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), symbolized the coming together of the temporal authority and the political sovereignty of the Sikh community (miri) with the spiritual authority (piri). It is seen as the first marker of Sikh nationalism. The Akal Takht is a five-story building today; the first storey houses the Guru Granth Sahib. o The other four takhts are linked to Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

 • What is the role of takhts? 
o Takhts are known to issue hukumnamas from time to time on issues that concern the community. Akal Takht is supreme because it is the oldest and was created by a Sikh guru himself, say Sikh historians and scholars. Any edict or order concerning the entire community is issued only from Akal Takht. Also, it is from Akal Takht that Sikhs found to be violating the Sikh doctrine and code of conduct are awarded religious punishment (declared tankhaiya) and even excommunicated, depending on the degree of violation and failure of adherence to directives of the highest temporal seat of Sikhs. 

• Who appoints the jathedars of takhts?
 o The three takhts in Punjab are directly controlled by the SGPC, which appoints the jathedars for these. The two takhts outside Punjab have their own trusts and boards. There is no fixed tenure. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.