Information of The Akal Takht, Amritsar, Punjab

The Akal Takht is located within the Golden Temple or the Harmandir Sahib complex in the district of Amritsar, in the state of Punjab, in Northwestern India. It is situated 400 km or 250 miles northwest direction of New Delhi. According to the local legends and Sikh religious experts, Akal Takht means throne of the timeless one. It is one of five takhts or seats of power of the Sikh religion. The Akal Takht was built in a successful manner by Guru Hargobind as a spot of justice plus consideration of different types of temporal issues. It is largely considered as the highest seat of the collective body of the Sikhs or earthly authority of the Khalsa. Moreover, the place of the jathedar is where the highest spokesman of the Sikhs is perfectly placed in this building structure.

The Akal Takht Religious Significance

In 1606, a life size statue of Hargobind was successfully erected at this site. It is to be remembered that the Akal Takht was actually built by the sixth Sikh guru named Guru Hargobind. It was built as a perfect symbol of political sovereignty. It is a right place where spiritual and different types of temporal concerns or issues of the Sikh people could be immediately addressed with a lot of perfection. It is to be highly noted that Massa Rangar and Ahmed Shah Abdali led a series of attacks on Harmandir Sahib and the Akal Takht in the 18th century. The Akal Takht was decorated with gold by Hari Singh Nalwa who was a general of Maharaj Ranjit Singh. The Akal Takht was seriously damaged when the Indian Army suddenly stormed Sri Darbar Sahib during military intelligence operation named Operation Blue Star on 4 June 1984.

The Akal Takht Architectural Significance

The original Akal takht was just a simple platform that measured 11ft or 3.5 meters high, on which Guru Hargobind would actually sit in court in order to receive petitions from the public and administer immediate justice. The present structure was built on a plot across a wide open space where there existed only a high mound of earth. Actually, it was a place where Hargobind played wholeheartedly as a child. The guru was surrounded by insignia of royalty like the flywhisk and the parasol. On marble pillars plus a gilded interior section, there was an open-air semi-circular structure built much later. On the other hand, there were also different types of painted wall panels that largely depicted Europeans and their activities. A five storey structure is the modern building that is made up with marble inlay plus a gold-leafed dome. In the 1700s, three of the stories were successfully added by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. This building structure has many rooms with broad windows and doors that act as good ventilation. Each and every room is wide which is apt for conducting Sikh religious activities and functions. The halls of this building structure is suitable for accommodating a good number of devotees and local people in any given circumstances and situations.

Festivals at The Akal Takht

At Akal Takht, most of the major and minor Sikh festivals and auspicious days are grandly celebrated in a religious manner. A large number of local people and adherent devotees along with pilgrims attend special prayer meeting at this spot. They hear to the lecture of religious nature given by eminent personalities belonging to the Sikh religion to a great extent. The building structure is well-decorated during these festive and auspicious days.