#Ranjit-Singh | [Instagram: @ranjitsingh.ma](https://www.instagram.com/ranjitsingh.ma/) | [Substack: @ranjitsinghma](https://substack.com/@ranjitsinghma) | <br> **Authority for the Sikh Panth has always been with the Guru, not buildings or the caretakers of them.** # Spiritual “Authority” The Akaal Takht is often portrayed as a be-all-end-all institution with unquestionable authority over all Sikhs. The position of “Jathedar” of the Akaal Takht is often elevated and equated to a kind of “Pope” for Sikhs. This is a critical error many in the Panth are making and stems from the ignorance that the Guru is still here. First we must recognise that “spiritual authority” for Sikhs has always been with the Guru. The Akaal Takht is just a building. It is the presence of the Guru that gave it any legitimacy. If the Guru was not there, then the Akaal Takht itself had no authority. Authority was wherever the Guru was. Simple. There are two major examples to support this view: 1. Guru Tegh Bhadur was denied entry to the whole Harmandir Sahib complex during his travels by the Masands under the direction of Mina (Prithi Chand). 2. Guru Gobind Singh never even once visited Amritsar, let alone the Akaal Takht. Yet, in both cases, no one would argue the leadership of Sikhs and the Khalsa was with whoever resided in the Akaal Takht and not with the Guru. Otherwise, that logic would mean Massa Rangar had legitimate authority. Leadership was always with the Guru. And it still is to this day… # Guru Granth & Guru Panth ![58aAsset [email protected]](https://codahosted.io/docs/-P8VwHSBHL/blobs/bl-Q8D24ldRqB/373efdc0359ec02c1355b1c144ea92a4ed43e603f6f231f269d91585d845af5ab3b5d86b5ac585708b3b143c39a53500c6230fe1cf7eb0de40d54a6dea38259abc7ea29d96d0847fa4620e0fcf85dbc82ac17e25a4bc8aa69fbabac322fc8b28063af7a3) The Guru is still present today in two forms: the Guru Granth Sahib (mind) and Guru Khalsa Panth (body). So many forget about the latter. If we accept, the Akaal Takht has no authority in of itself, and is only functional as a political institution when the Guru is present there, then similarly today, if there is no indication that any serious presence of the Guru Khalsa is present there, then there is no obligation to treat it as anything more than a Sikh heritage site. Especially, when traditional Guru Khalsa Maryada such as _Jhatka_ or _Shikaar_ are not conducted nor supported. Nor is the space made available for independent Khalsa Jathai or Misls to congregate there to deliberate and participate in statecraft, arbitrate disputes, establish strategies and regular plans. It has become a mere tourist attraction, a spectacle not an effective institution prepared and able to platform the Guru Khalsa. --- - Read | [The Khalsa Is The Guru](https://bungaazaadi.com/Khalsa+Revival/Khalsanama/Khalsa+Status/01+The+Khalsa+Is+The+Guru) --- Whilst the architectural aesthetics are still largely present (for now), the functional aesthetics in other aspects are sorely lacking. Take for instance, the Peherdaars. Instead of an elite military guard, they are more akin to Disneyland guards. They wear no _Kamarkasse_ so their _Cholai_ flow like women’s dresses, and they wield spears rather than firearms so therefore would be useless in any actual altercation or security breach. If the SGPC appointed puppet _Pujaris_ are going to pretend to be Popes and Bishops, then at least have the “guards” match the quality of the Swiss Guard used by the Vatican. How completely embarrassing, and yet so many Sikhs give legitimacy to these clowns and turn a blind eye to this circus. We must open our eyes to this Beadbi of our shared heritage. The fool Pujaris residing there have adopted labels of “_Jathedars_”, deluding themselves and others into thinking they possess some kind of legitimate authority to issue dictates. This is perhaps one of the most egregious violations to the self-autonomy and sovereignty of every member of the Guru Khalsa today. It is a direct insult to the mission of the prior Sikh Gurus, who spent over two centuries forging a sovereign, enlightened civilisation that reached its highest form in the creation of the Khalsa. However, these Pujaris, without consent or consensus, have elevated themselves above the Khalsa, speaking on behalf of the entire Panth and telling Sikhs what to think, say, or do. Whilst they may wear their long white Cholai, neatly tie their Dastars, and speak in humble tones, but their attempts at a Sikh Catholocism and posturing as Sikh Popes exposes their false humilty. They are the same Bhamans our Gurus contested and thus I, as a Khalapanthi, reject them and their false hierachy. They are illegitmate squatters who have taken over one of the Guru Khalsa’s poltical buildings. # Ideal Akaal Takht At its core, the Akaal Takht should function solely as a meeting ground for the Guru Khalsa — who, in my view, ought to be organised into Misls (with a few strategic Azadist tweaks). Its purpose should be to coordinate activity, set bi-annual targets, and review outcomes from the previous six months. In other words, it should serve as a _Sarbat Khalsa_ gathering point, nothing more, nothing less. It should not be reduced to a Sikh tourist attraction. It should not be coated in marble that scalds the feet of the Sangat. It should not be so overcrowded that it becomes unusable for its true purpose. Instead, it should have ample space to accommodate the Guru Khalsa forces. It should be a strategic and dignified zone where sovereignty can actually be exercised. One day, I hope to see the Khalsa conducting military parades and Nagar Kirtans past the Akaal Takht, in a similar fashion to how you may see in places like Russia, when troops march past St. Basil’s Cathedral or the Kremlin, showcasing their arsenals and military prowess. Even North Korea puts on a more cohesive display than us. Where are our Hathis (tanks)? Where are our Baaz (fighter jets)? # The Role of Jathedar A Jathedar is a caretaker, not a pope. The Jathedar(s) should only be maintaining the building and facilities in service of the Guru Khalsa when it wishes to organise there. That is it. They are: **NOT Political Decision makers for the whole Panth.** Each Khalsa makes his/her own decisions as they are sovereign individuals with a personal relationship with Akaal, and so follow Akaal’s Hukam as a first priority. Any political strategy others may suggest is just that — a _suggestion_, nothing more. They have no right to give orders, and it is up to each individual Khalsa to assess through employing GurMat (thinking influenced by the Guru Shabad) to make up their own minds. This is true Khalsa Singh mentality, as opposed to the sheep mentality of so many today. **NOT the “spiritual leader” or Pope of the Panth.** If a Sikh or a Khalsa requires spiritual guidance they use the Shabad Guru (“Jo Prabh Ko Milbo Chahe Khoj Sabad Mein Leh”). Any (Brahm)Gyaani, Kathavachak, Sant Baba etc are only guidance — not gospel. They may only help inform the positions of each free-thinking Khalsa, not set a unquestionable standard. They can be advisers to the Khalsa, but never the dictators of them. The validity of their advice depends on how successful the Khalsa who adopt their suggestions are in their engagement in Dharam Yudh and pursuit for Khalsa Raaj. **NOT even a position to be that highly sought after.** It is an administrative role that should hold next no political power, nor even any spiritual weight. Yes, the people hired to do that role may need to be at a certain level of competency, but the Guru Khalsa shouldn’t be dependent on them. The Khalsa itself is a roaming Takht that could and should establish itself anywhere. We just have to detach from our stockhold syndrome and psychological reliance on the corrupted institutions of today and recognise the status of our Gurgaddi as the Guru Khalsa Panth. --- <div align=center><b>ਹਮ ਪਤਿਸ਼ਾਹੀ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਦਈ ਹੰਨੈ ਹੰਨੈ ਲਾਇ।</b></div> <div align=center><b>ਜਹਿਂ ਜਹਿਂ ਬਹੈਂ ਜਮੀਨ ਮਲ ਤਹਿਂ ਤਹਿਂ ਤਖਤ ਬਨਾਇਂ</b></div> <br> <div align=center>Satguru had conferred sovereignty on the Khalsa Panth, As well as on each individual Singh of that fraternity. Wherever a Singh sets his foot and settles on earth, He establishes his own self-reliant/autonomous sovereignty (Takht). </div> <br> <div align=center><small> — Sri Prachin Panth Prakash, Epidode 90 </small> </div> --- Notice, the word used in the Gurmukhi is “Takht”. To summarise, the Akaal Takht was originally the building where the human manifestation of Akaal themselves stood in the form of Guru Hargobind Sahib. But now, the Akaal Takht is wherever the army of Akaal stands in the form of the Guru Khalsa Panth. Anyone today, be they an individual or a so-called “Panthic” institution, who draws from Akaal Takht authority to justify their positions or push their agendas as incontestable is either deeply misinformed on the status of the Guru Khalsa Panth as independent, sovereign and decentralised Takht or is a deceitful snake aiming to keep you subservient and forget your own Guru-given status.