Akal Takht
The Akal Takht is one of the five Takhts of the Sikh religion. It is located
in the Harmandir Sahib complex in Amritsar, Punjab, about 250 miles
northwest of New Delhi. 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.
Akal Takht was built by the Guru Hargobind Sahib, whose statue was
ceremonially installed there in 1606. It symbolizes the interlocking of the
temporal with the spiritual in Sikhism.
History
The Akal Takht was built by the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind, as a symbol
for political sovereignty of Sikhs. It was established as a place from where
the spiritual and temporal concerns of the Sikh people could be acted upon.
It stood as a symbol of political and military resistance against the
tyranny and cruelty of the 17th- and 18th-century rulers. In the 18th
century, Ahmed Shah Abdali and Massa Rangar led a series of attacks on the
Akal Takht and Harmandir Sahib.
On June 4, 1984, the Akal Takht was badly damaged when the Indian Army
stormed Sri Darbar Sahib during Operation Blue Star. The Jathedar of the
Akal Takht is the highest spokesperson of the Sikh religion.
Khande-Bate-Dee-Pahul, or the initiation with the sword, initiated by Guru
Gobind Singh, continues to be routinely performed at the Akal Takht. Hari
Singh Nalwa, a General under Maharaja Ranjit Singh the leader of the Sikh
Kingdom, wished to make the Akal Takht resplendent with gold and had donated
a part of his wealth for this purpose.
Architecture
On the original plot of land of the Akal Takht, there existed only a high
mound of earth across a wide open space where Guru Hargobind used to play as
a child. The original Takht is said to have been a simple platform, 3.5
metres high, on which the Guru would sit like a king at court, surrounded by
insignia of royalty such as the parasol and the flywhisk, and perform kingly
tasks of receiving petitions and administering justice.
Today’s Akal Takht is a large 5-storey modern structure (3 storeys were
added by Maharaja Ranjit Singh) with marble inlays and a gold-leafed dome
that does not convey the design of Guru Hargobind’s simple Takht or plinth.
However, recent restoration work has uncovered a layer of lime plaster, with
painted decoration, that may have been part of the original Takht. That
plinth was higher than the plinth of the Harmandir yet the absence of a
superstructure kept the original Akal Takhat at a level lower than the
shrine.
The elaboration of the structure on marble pillars, as a semi-circular
platform with an open view to the courtyard, is reminiscent of an air-house
and must have grown from the original use to which the Durbar hall was put.
The gilding of the ceiling with ornamentation like that in the interior of
the Hari Mandir Sahib is perhaps dated later than in the holy of holies. The
wall paintings belong to a later period, as there are panels showing
Europeans.
The total effect of the Akal Takht and the open courtyard, in front of the
Darshani Deori and the view of the Amritsar beyond, is of a unique and noble
structure.
Re-building of the Akal Takht
At first the Akal Takht was rebuilt by contractors of the Indian Government.
A few Sikhs were then excommunicated from Sikhism, for Sikhs saw this as
siding with the Indian Government. The rebuilt Akal Takht became known as
the 'Sarkari Takht' - Sarkari meaning one of the Government and not one of
Akal (meaning Immortal and related to Sikh religion).
Buta Singh who was appointed home minister in the Rajiv Gandhi Cabinet was
excommunicated from the Sikh Panth for his role in rebuilding a 'sarkari'
Akal Takht after Operation Blue Star. He finally had to undergo the
'punishment' of cleaning the devotees's utensils and shoes at the Golden
Temple for being taken back into the faith.
The Jathedar
The Jathedar of the Akal Takht along with the Jathedars of the other four
holy Takhts are the religious and political authority of the Sikhs.
Best Time
Best time to visit Amritsar is in the winter, between October and March.
Getting There
Nearest airport is Sri Guru Ram
Das Jee International Airport, located about 11 kilometres (7 mi)
northwest of the city of Amritsar.
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