Jathedar of the Akal Takht

Jathedar of the Akal Takht
ਜੱਥੇਦਾਰ ਅਕਾਲ ਤਖ਼ਤ ਸਾਹਿਬ
Seal of the Akal Takht
Flag of the Akal Takht
Incumbent
Disputed between
Dhian Singh Mand[a]
Giani Raghbir Singh[b]
Style
Member ofKhalsa
Reports toSikhs
ResidenceAkal Takht
SeatAmritsar
AppointerSGPC
Sarbat Khalsa
Term lengthNo term limit;
at the Khalsa's pleasure
Formation1606
First holderBhai Gurdas
WebsiteSGPC
Akal Takht Sahib

The Jathedar of the Akal Takht (Punjabi: ਜੱਥੇਦਾਰ ਅਕਾਲ ਤਖ਼ਤ ਸਾਹਿਬ) is the head of the Akal Takht and head of the Sikhs worldwide.[3] The jathedar has the de facto power as the supreme spokesperson of the Khalsa to summon, trial and sentence any person who identifies as a Sikh from the Akal Takht.[4]

The current jathedar, Giani Raghbir Singh was appointed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on 22 June 2023.[5] Jagtar Singh Hawara,[6][7] was declared jathedar of the Akal Takht by the Sarbat Khalsa on 10 November 2015 due to the imprisonment of Hawara, Dhian Singh Mand appointed by the Sarbat Khalsa has been serving as the acting jathedar.[8] The jathedars of the five takhts generally make important decisions in consultation within the framework of the Sikh Rehat Maryada while considering the collective will of the Sikhs.[9]

The position of jathedar is not established by any constitutional document, but exists only by long-established convention, whereby a Sarbat Khalsa or an institution authorised by it appoints a person most likely to command the confidence of the Sikhs.[10] The jathedar is supported by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and heads the other four jathedars of the takhts.[11] The jathedar also commands the Akali Nihangs, an armed Sikh warrior order started from the Akal Takht by the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind.[12]

The Akal Takht, the building directly opposite the Darbar Sahib, was founded by Guru Hargobind, as a symbol of political sovereignty and where spiritual and temporal concerns of the Sikh people can be addressed.[13] Along with Baba Buddha and Bhai Gurdas, the sixth Guru built a concrete slab. When Guru Hargobind revealed the platform on 15 June 1606, he put on two swords: one indicated his spiritual authority (piri) and the other, his temporal authority (miri).[14]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Hawara was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Raghbir was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Randhir, G. S. (February 1990). Sikh Shrines in India. New Delhi: Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. ISBN 978-81-230-2260-4. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  4. ^ Brar, Kamaldeep Singh (6 October 2017). "Akal Takht excommunicates Sucha Singh Langah without a hearing". The Indian Express. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  5. ^ ਰੰਧਾਵਾ, ਮਨਵੀਰ (16 June 2023). "ਰਘਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ ਐਲਾਨਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਤਖ਼ਤ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦਾ ਨਵਾਂ ਜਥੇਦਾਰ". Pro Punjab Tv (in Punjabi). Pro Punjab TV. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  6. ^ "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News". Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  7. ^ "Sarbat Khalsa appoints Jagtar Singh Hawara as Akal Takht jathedar". Hindustan Times. 2015-11-10. Retrieved 2023-05-11.
  8. ^ Paul, GS (8 November 2018). "Takht Jathedar's address marred by sloganeering". The Tribune. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  9. ^ Sethi, Chitleen (8 December 2022). "Ex-jathedar a 'sinner', dope tests for staff: Akal Takht head's orders spark sit-in at Patna Sahib". The Print. Archived from the original on 8 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  10. ^ Gill, Kamaljit (1983). "Role of the vernacular press during the Gurdwara Reform Movement". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 44: 463–470. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44139886. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  11. ^ Ahluwalia, Jasbir Singh (2003). Liberating Sikhism from 'the Sikhs': Sikhisim's [sic] Potential for World Civilization. Chandigarh: Unistar Books. p. 14.
  12. ^ Brard, Gurnam (2007). East of Indus: My Memories of Old Punjab. Hemkunt Press. p. 185. ISBN 9788170103608.
  13. ^ Fahlbusch E. (ed.) "The encyclopedia of Christianity." Archived 7 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2008. ISBN 978-0-8028-2417-2
  14. ^ Singh, Dr Kuldip. Akal Takht Ate Khalsa Panth. Chandigarh. p. 2. Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.


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