The Akal Takhat

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.

Siri Singh 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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