AKAL TAKHAT

‘Akal Takhat’ or ‘The Eternal Throne’ is one of the oldest takhats of Sikhism which holds the supreme power over the community. It is above all the other takhats. This throne resides in Amritsar, Punjab. The architecture of this building consists of five storeys and is constructed just opposite to  Harmandir Sahib connecting both with a passage. Whereas Harmandir Sahib bestows spiritual guidance to sikh followers, Akal Takhat ensures the spiritual and temporal peace and order by making  favourable decisions for the welfare of community. The foundation of this Takhat was led by Guru Hargobind Ji. Akal Takhat has gone through destructions many times by the hands of Ahmed Shah Abdali, Massa Rangar and Indian Army(Operation Bluestar). But no matter how many times it is destroyed, it stood again with all its glory and supreme power.   TAKHAT SHRI KESHGARH SAHIB This throne is residing in the city of Anandpur(Punjab), where Guru Gobind Singh Ji spent 25 years of his life. It is also the place where ‘Khalsa’ was born. This takhat is securing some of the historical relics that belonged to Guru Gobind Singh Ji, among which are- ‘Khanda’ used by the Guru while preparing Amrit, ‘Kataar’ ( a dagger which was always with Guru ji), ‘Saif’ ( a double edged weapon gifted to Guru Ji by Bahadur Shah) , etc.   TAKHAT SACHKHAND SHRI PATNA SAHIB This is also the place where Guru Gobind Singh Ji was born in 1966. This takhat resides in Patna, Bihar. Charles Wilkins has written about this place and the ceremonies held by the Sikhs which he witnessed on one of his visits to the Gurudwara Patna Sahib.   TAKHAT SHRI DAMDAMA SAHIB (TALWANDI SABO KI) ‘Damdama’ means ‘a place to have a break and rest’. This throne resides in Bhatinda, Punjab. This is the place where Guru Gobind Singh Ji completed the revised version of Adi Granth in the form of ‘Guru Granth Sahib Ji’, the holy book and the eleventh Guru of Sikhs.   TAKHAT SACHKHAND SHRI HUZOOR SAHIB This ‘seat of authority’ is residing in Nanded, Maharashtra. This is the place where Guru Gobind Singh Ji finally met his creator i.e. he left the mortal body to meet the ‘Ek Onkar’. This throne forms the last and final takhat of sikhism completing the Panj Takhats.   If one wants to know more about Sikh history, these are the some of the interesting and important Sikh Gurudwaras one should definitely visit.     References: www.sikhwiki.org