Religion:Jathedar of the Akal Takht

From HandWiki
Short description: Head of the Akal Takht and head of the Sikhs
Jathedar of the Akal Takht
ਜੱਥੇਦਾਰ ਅਕਾਲ ਤਖ਼ਤ ਸਾਹਿਬ
Incumbent
Disputed between;
Jagtar Singh Hawara (Sarbat Khalsa)[lower-alpha 1]
Raghbir Singh (SGPC)[lower-alpha 2]
Style
  • The Honourable
  • Singh Sahib
Member ofKhalsa
Reports toSikhs
SeatAkal Takht, Amritsar
AppointerSGPC
Sarbat Khalsa
Term lengthNo term limit; at the Khalsa's pleasure
Formation17th century
First holderBhai Gurdas
as custodian of the Akal Takht
Websitewww.shriakaltakhtsahib.com

The Jathedar of the Akal Takht (Punjabi: ਜੱਥੇਦਾਰ ਅਕਾਲ ਤਖ਼ਤ ਸਾਹਿਬ) is the head of the Akal Takht and head of the Sikhs worldwide.[3] The jathedar has the de facto power as the supreme spokesperson of the Khalsa to summon, trial and sentence any person who identifies as a Sikh from the Akal Takht.[4]

The current jathedars are the imprisoned Jagtar Singh Hawara, who was declared by the Sarbat Khalsa on 10 November 2015[5][6] and Raghbir Singh, appointed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on 16 June 2023.[7] Due to the imprisonment of Hawara, Dhian Singh Mand appointed by the Sarbat Khalsa has been serving as the acting jathedar.[8] The jathedars of the five takhts generally make important decisions in consultation within the framework of the Sikh Rehat Maryada while considering the collective will of the Sikhs.[9]

The position of jathedar is not established by any constitutional document, but exists only by long-established convention, whereby a Sarbat Khalsa or an institution authorised by it appoints a person most likely to command the confidence of the Sikhs.[10] The jathedar is supported by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and heads the other four jathedars of the takhts.[11] The jathedar also commands the Akalis, an armed Sikh warrior order started from the Akal Takht by the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind.[12]

The Akal Takht is the building directly opposite the Darbar Sahib founded by Guru Hargobind, as a symbol of political sovereignty and where spiritual and temporal concerns of the Sikh people can be addressed.[13] Along with Baba Buddha and Bhai Gurdas, the sixth Guru built a concrete slab. When Guru Hargobind revealed the platform on 15 June 1606, he put on two swords: one indicated his spiritual authority (piri) and the other, his temporal authority (miri).[14]

History and development

Title and etymology

The word jathedar is a compound of ਜੱਥਾ, jathā, 'collective' and ਦਾਰ, dār, 'keeper of', meaning leader of a people as a collective.[15] The title is used for a commander of a Sikh military unit and applies to a head of a takht.[16]

Origin

After the execution of the fifth Guru, Guru Arjan, his son and successor Guru Hargobind bearing the two swords of ਮੀਰੀ, mīrī, 'politics' and ਪੀਰੀ, pīrī, 'spirituality' declared himself sovereign and defied the imperial edict of the Mugal Empire in 1606.[17] Recognising the necessity of coordinating efforts against the Mughal empire, the Guru simultaneously began the process of militarising the Sikhs.[18] The first hukamnama issued from the Akal Takht on 30 June 1606 commanded the Sikhs to offer arms and horses.[19] The position of jathedar was established, when the Guru appointed Bhai Gurdas as the first custodian of the Akal Takht, which was then known as the Akal Bunga.[20] However, Guru Hargobind had to leave the Akal Takht in 1734 due to the hostilities of the Mughal rulers, and the institution came under the control of the Minas, descendants of Prithi Chand.[21]

Following the establishment of the Khalsa, which took effect on 13 April 1699, the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh sent Bhai Mani Singh to Amritsar with instructions to take possession of the Darbar Sahib and the Akal Takht from the Minas.[22] The Sikhs assigned Bhai Mani Singh as the head granthi of Harmandir Sahib and the jathedar of the Akal Takht. After the passing of Guru Gobind Singh, the Sikh divisions accepted the common leadership and sovereignty of the head of the Akal Takht.[23]

Sarbat Khalsa

In 1733, Zakariya Khan Bahadur attempted to negotiate truce with the Sikhs by offering them a jagir, the title Nawab to their head, and unimpeded access to Amritsar. After discussion at a Sarbat Khalsa, Kapur Singh Virk was chosen head of the Sikhs and took the title of Nawab.[24] He combined the various Sikh militias into two groups; Taruna Dal for under 40 years of age and the Buddha Dal for over 40 years of age, which would collectively be known as Dal Khalsa.[25] The Taruna Dal was further divided in five jathas, each with 1300 to 2000 men and a separate drum and banner.[26] Considering Hari ke Pattan, where the Sutlej and Beas rivers meet as a reference point, the Taruna Dal was assigned to control the eastern area while the Buddha Dal controlled the west.[27]

On 23 March 1748, a Sarbat Khalsa appointed Jassa Singh Ahluwalia to take the command of Dal Khalsa and become the head of the Sikhs.[28] Ahluwalia proclaimed the title of Sultan-ul-Qaum when the Sikhs under his leadership defeated the Afghan forces of Ahmad Shah Abdali and took Lahore without resistance in September 1761.[29] The 40,000 allied forces of Baghel Singh, Jassa Singh Ahluwalia and Jassa Singh Ramgarhia conquered the Red Fort in Delhi and hoisted the Nishan Sahib atop on 11 March 1783. The condition of their retreat included the construction of seven gurdwaras marking Sikh historical sites in Delhi.[30]

Dispute

A Sarbat Khalsa convened by Sikh organisations opposed to the influence of Shiromani Akali Dal over Sikh religious institutions in 2015 appointed Jagtar Singh Hawara as the Jathedar of Akal Takht. The SGPC president at that time, Avtar Singh Makkar, however condemned the convening as against the principles of Sikhism and it's decisions null and void. He added that the removal of Jathedars came under Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 and no one could challenge the authority of the SGPC.[1] Giani Gurbachan Singh continued to remain in his post until his resignation on 18 October 2018. On 23 October, the SGPC appointed Giani Harpreet Singh as the acting jathedar of Akal Takht.[31]

Qualifications and selection

Jathedar Harpreet Singh surrounded by Sikh children at Takanini Gurdwara in New Zealand.

The jathedar serves at the Khalsa’s pleasure, meaning the post does not have a fixed term, and once appointed, the jathedar remains in service until they resign, are dismissed, or die.

Chapter IV, Article V of the Sikh Rehat Maryada only permits an initiated Sikh to enter the hallowed enclosures of a takht; therefore, only a Khalsa Sikh of high regard can become a jathedar. [32] Prior to 1921, jathedars were appointed by the Sarbat Khalsa, a biannual deliberative assembly of the Sikhs held at Amritsar.[33] Since 1921, the jathedar of takhts have generally been appointed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.[34]

Role and authority

Chapter XIII, Article XXVII of the Sikh Rehat Maryada allows for an appeal against a local decision concerning the Sikhs to be made to the Akal Takht.[32] The jathedar of the Akal Takht has the de facto power to summoned Sikhs including those who hold a position of authority to be trialed.[35] Hukamnamas issued by the jathedar from the Akal Takht which are binding may order an acquittal, penalty or excommunication.[36] The Khalsa can hold individuals accountable for violating the decisions of the Akal Takht.[37]

List

Colour key

  Guru   Sarbat Khalsa   Buddha Dal   British Indian Government   SGPC

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term Assigned by Ref.
1 Bhai Gurdas scribing Adi Granth.jpg Gurdas Bhalla
(1551–1637)
1606 1637[ੴ] 31 years Guru Hargobind [38]
2 Detail of Bhai Mani Singh from a painting kept at Takht Damdama Sahib.jpg Mani Singh
(1644–1737)
1699 1737[ੴ] 38 years Guru Gobind Singh [39]
3 Darbara Singh.jpg Darbara Singh
(1644–1734)
1722 1734[ੴ] 12 years Sarbat Khalsa [40]
4 Portret van Kapur Singh, RP-T-1993-409.jpg Kapur Singh Virk
(1697–1753)
1737 29 March
1748
14 years Sarbat Khalsa [39]
5 Equestrian painting of Jassa Singh Ahluwalia on horseback in-front of his haveli with a fly-whisk attendant, circa late 18th century.jpg Jassa Singh Ahluwalia
(1718–1783)
29 March
1748
23 October
1783[ੴ]
35 years, 208 days Sarbat Khalsa [39]
6 Sardar Phula Singh.jpg Phula Singh
(1761–1823)
1800 1823[ੴ] 23 years Sarbat Khalsa [41]
7 Akali Hanuman Singh.jpg Hanuman Singh
(1755–1846)
1823 1846[ੴ] 23 years Buddha Dal [40]
8 Detail of possibly Jathedar Prahlad Singh from a painting depicting a band (jatha) of Akali-Nihang warriors on the march, Company School, ca.1860.jpg Prahlad Singh
(death 1865)
1846 1865[ੴ] 19 years Buddha Dal [40]
9 Akali-Nihang chieftain (possibly Jathedar Giana Singh) and attendants, Company School, ca.1885.jpg Gian Singh Deol 1865 1907[ੴ] 42 years Buddha Dal [40]
10 Arur Singh.jpg Arur Singh Naushehra
(1865-1926)
1907 August
1920
13 years British Indian Government [42]
11 Sin foto.svg Teja Singh Bhuchar
12 October
1920
1921 1 year Sarbat Khalsa [43]
12
1 of 2
Jathedar Teja Singh Akarpuri.jpg Teja Singh Akarpuri
(1892-1975)
29 April
1921
13 October
1923
2 years, 167 days SGPC [44]
13
1 of 2
Udham Singh Nagoke.jpg Udham Singh Nagoke
(1894-1966)
1923 1924 1 year SGPC [40]
14
1 of 2
Jathedar Achhar Singh.jpg Acchar Singh
(1893-1976)
09 February
1924
10 January
1926
1 year, 335 days SGPC [45]

2 of 2
Udham Singh Nagoke.jpg Udham Singh Nagoke
(1894-1966)
10 January
1926
short period Less than a year SGPC [45]

2 of 2
Jathedar Teja Singh Akarpuri.jpg Teja Singh Akarpuri
(1892-1975)
27 November
1926
21 January
1930
3 years, 55 days SGPC [44]
15 Sin foto.svg Didar Singh
1925 short period Less than a year SGPC [40]
16 Sin foto.svg Jawaher Singh Mattu Bhaike
1926 short period Less than a year SGPC [40]
17 Giani Gurmukh Singh Musafir.png Gurmukh Singh Musafir
(1899-1976)
1931 1934 3 years SGPC [40]
18 Visakha Singh.jpg Vaisakha Singh Dadehar
(1877-1957)
October
1934
December
1934
61 days SGPC
19 Mohan Singh Nagoke.jpg Mohan Singh Nagoke
(1898-1969)
1935 1952 17 years SGPC [40]
20
1 of 2
Jathedar Partap Singh.jpg Partap Singh
(1904-1984)
(Acting)
1938 1948 10 years SGPC [46]

2 of 2
Jathedar Partap Singh.jpg Partap Singh
(1904-1984)
1952 1954 2 years SGPC [46]

2 of 2
Jathedar Achhar Singh.jpg Acchar Singh
(1893-1976)
23 May
1955
08 November
1962
7 years, 169 days SGPC [45]
21 Mohan Singh Tur Official portrait 1977.gif Mohan Singh Tur
(1916-1979)
1962 1963 1 year SGPC [40]
22 Sin foto.svg Sadhu Singh Bhaura
(1905-1984)
1964 1980 16 years SGPC [40]
23
1 of 2
Sin foto.svg Kirpal Singh
(1918-1993)
(Acting)
1963 1965 2 years SGPC [47]
24 Sin foto.svg Gurdial Singh Ajnoha
(1927-1982)
2 March
1980
1982[ੴ] 2 years SGPC [40]

2 of 2
Sin foto.svg Kirpal Singh
(1918-1993)
1983 26 July
1986
3 years SGPC [47]
25 Sin foto.svg Jasbir Singh Rode
26 January
1986
28 May 1988 3 years Sarbat Khalsa [48]
26 Bhai sahib.jpg Gurdev Singh Kaunke
(1949-1993)
(Acting)
26 January
1986
1993[ੴ] 7 years Sarbat Khalsa [40]
27 Sin foto.svg Gurbachan Singh Manochahal
(1954-1993)
(Acting)
27 April
1986
26 January
1987
274 days Sarbat Khalsa [49]
28
1 of 2
Sin foto.svg Darshan Singh
(born 1940)
(Acting)
31 December
1986
9 March
1988
1 year, 69 days SGPC [50]

2 of 2
Sin foto.svg Darshan Singh
(born 1940)
1989 1990 1 year SGPC [40]
29 Sin foto.svg Manjit Singh
(Acting)
1994 1997 3 years SGPC [40]
30 Sin foto.svg Ranjit Singh
(born 1955)
1994 March
1999
5 years SGPC [40]
31
1 of 2
Sin foto.svg Puran Singh
(death 2019)
(Acting)
10 February
1999
April
1999
50 days SGPC [51]

2 of 2
Sin foto.svg Puran Singh
(death 2019)
April
1999
28 March
2000
362 days SGPC [51]
32 Sin foto.svg Joginder Singh Vadanti
(death 2021)
28 March
2000
2008 8 years SGPC [52]
33 Sin foto.svg Gurbachan Singh
(born 1948)
06 August
2008
18 October
2018
10 years, 73 days SGPC [53]
34 ਜੱਥੇਦਾਰ ਜਗਤਾਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਹਵਾਰਾ .jpg Jagtar Singh Hawara
(born 1973)
10 November
2015
Incumbent 8 years, 247 days Sarbat Khalsa [54]
35 Sin foto.svg Dhian Singh Mand
(born 1961)
(Acting)
10 November
2015
Incumbent 8 years, 247 days Sarbat Khalsa [55]
36 Jathedar Harpreet Singh on 14 November 2022.jpg Harpreet Singh
(born 1972)
(Acting)
22 October
2018
16 June
2023
5 years, 266 days SGPC [56]
37 Sin foto.svg Raghbir Singh
(born 1970)
16 June
2023
Incumbent 1 year, 28 days SGPC [2]
  • ^ੴ Died during term

Timeline of jathedars

The following timeline depicts the progression of the jathedars.

<timeline>
  1. Jathedar of the Akal Takht

ImageSize = width:1200 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = top:10 bottom:20 right:130 left:10 AlignBars = late DateFormat = x.y Period = from:1604 till:2025.1666666667 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:10 start:1606 ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1605

Define $now = 2024.5833333333

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 id:sarbatkhalsa value:rgb(1, 0.6, 0)
 id:buddhadal value:blue
 id:british value:red
 id:SGPC value:rgb(0.1, 0.5, 1)

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 barset:JathedarLine
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 bar:Akarpuri
 bar:Nagoke
 bar:Acchar
 bar:Didar
 bar:Jawaher
 bar:Musafir
 bar:Dadehar
 bar:Mohan
 bar:Partap
 bar:Tur
 bar:Bhaura
 bar:Kirpal
 bar:Ajnoha
 bar:Rode
 bar:Kaunke
 bar:Manochahal
 bar:Darshan
 bar:Manjit
 bar:Ranjit
 bar:Puran
 bar:Vadanti
 bar:Gurbachan
 bar:Hawara
 bar:Mand
 bar:Harpreet
 bar:Raghbir

PlotData=

width:1 align:right fontsize:S shift:(-3,-4) anchor:from fontsize:8 color:black
barset:JathedarLine
from:1630 till:end text:Jathedars
width:6 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till fontsize:10
barset:Jathedars
from:1606 till:1637 color:guru text:"Gurdas Bhalla"
from:1699 till:1737 color:guru text:"Mani Singh"
from:1722 till:1734 color:sarbatkhalsa text:"Darbara Singh"
from:1734 till:1748 color:sarbatkhalsa text:"Kapur Singh Virk"
from:1748 till:1783 color:sarbatkhalsa text:"Jassa Singh Ahluwalia"
from:1800 till:1823 color:sarbatkhalsa text:"Phula Singh"
from:1823 till:1846 color:buddhadal text:"Hanuman Singh"
from:1846 till:1865 color:buddhadal text:"Prahlad Singh"
from:1865 till:1907 color:buddhadal text:"Gian Singh Deol"
from:1907 till:1920 color:british text:"Arur Singh Naushehra"
from:1920 till:1921 color:sarbatkhalsa text:"Teja Singh Bhuchar"
bar:Akarpuri
from:1921 till:1923 color:SGPC
from:1926 till:1930 color:SGPC text:"Teja Singh Akarpuri"
bar:Nagoke
from:1923 till:1924 color:SGPC 
from:1926 till:1926 color:SGPC text:"Udham Singh Nagoke"
bar:Acchar
from:1924 till:1926 color:SGPC
from:1955 till:1962 color:SGPC text:"Acchar Singh"
bar:Didar
from:1925 till:1925 color:SGPC text:"Didar Singh"
bar:Jawaher
from:1926 till:1926 color:SGPC text:"Jawaher Singh Mattu Bhaike"
bar:Musafir
from:1931 till:1934 color:SGPC text:"Gurmukh Singh Musafir"
bar:Dadehar
from:1934 till:1934 color:SGPC text:"Wasakha Singh Dadehar"
bar:Mohan
from:1935 till:1952 color:SGPC text:"Mohan Singh Nagoke"
bar:Partap
from:1938 till:1948 color:SGPC
from:1952 till:1954 color:SGPC text:"Partap Singh"
bar:Tur
from:1962 till:1963 color:SGPC text:"Mohan Singh Tur"
bar:Bhaura
from:1964 till:1980 color:SGPC text:"Sadhu Singh Bhaura"
bar:Kirpal
from:1963 till:1965 color:SGPC
from:1983 till:1986 color:SGPC text:"Kirpal Singh"
bar:Ajnoha
from:1980 till:1983 color:SGPC text:"Gurdial Singh Ajnoha"
bar:Rode
from:1986 till:1989 color:sarbatkhalsa text:"Jasbir Singh Rode"
bar:Kaunke
from:1986 till:1993 color:sarbatkhalsa text:"Gurdev Singh Kaunke"
bar:Manochahal
from:1986 till:1987 color:sarbatkhalsa text:"Gurbachan Singh Manochahal"
bar:Darshan
from:1986 till:1988 color:SGPC
from:1989 till:1990 color:SGPC text:"Darshan Singh"
bar:Manjit
from:1994 till:1997 color:SGPC text:"Manjit Singh"
bar:Ranjit
from:1994 till:1999 color:SGPC text:"Ranjit Singh"
bar:Puran
from:1999 till:2000 color:SGPC text:"Puran Singh"
bar:Vadanti
from:2000 till:2008 color:SGPC text:"Joginder Singh Vadanti"
bar:Gurbachan
from:2008 till:2018 color:SGPC text:"Gurbachan Singh"
bar:Hawara
from:2015 till:$now color:sarbatkhalsa text:"Jagtar Singh Hawara"
bar:Mand
from:2015 till:$now color:sarbatkhalsa text:"Dhian Singh Mand"
bar:Harpreet
from:2018 till:2023 color:sgpc text:"Harpreet Singh"
bar:Raghbir
from:2023 till:$now color:sgpc text:"Raghbir Singh"

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atpos:108 from:1615 till:1618 color:sarbatkhalsa 
atpos:95 from:1615 till:1618 color:buddhadal
atpos:82 from:1615 till:1618 color:british
atpos:69 from:1615 till:1618 color:sgpc

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#This is the text of the Legend
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text:"Sarbat Khalsa"
text:"Buddha Dal"
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text:"Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee"
</timeline>


Notes

  1. Hawara was appointed by the Sarbat Khalsa on 10 November 2015. However due to his imprisonment, Dhian Singh Mand was appointed as the acting jathedar in his stead. The SGPC however refused to recognize its decisions.[1]
  2. The SGPC refused to recognize the authority of the 2015 Sarbat Khalsa.[1] Raghbir Singh has served as the jathedar of SGPC since 2023.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 At Sarbat Khalsa, hardliners appoint Hawara Akal Takht Jathedar
  2. 2.0 2.1 Barua, Annesha (16 June 2023). "Giani Raghbir Singh appointed as Jathedar of Shri Akal Takht Sahib: A dedicated journey of service". PTC News. https://www.ptcnews.tv/punjab-2/giani-raghbir-singh-appointed-as-jathedar-of-shri-akal-takht-sahib-a-dedicated-journey-of-service-726657. 
  3. Randhir, G. S. (February 1990) (in en). Sikh Shrines in India. New Delhi: Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. ISBN 978-81-230-2260-4. https://books.google.com/books?id=BCyYDQAAQBAJ. Retrieved 10 November 2022. 
  4. Brar, Kamaldeep Singh (6 October 2017). "Akal Takht excommunicates Sucha Singh Langah without a hearing". The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/akal-takht-excommunicates-sucha-singh-langah-without-a-hearing-4876404/. 
  5. "The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News". http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20040123/main2.htm. Retrieved 1 April 2015. 
  6. "Sarbat Khalsa appoints Jagtar Singh Hawara as Akal Takht jathedar" (in en). 2015-11-10. https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/sarbat-khalsa-bhog-ceremony-of-akhand-path-performed-people-start-reaching-the-venue/story-4a7kGuwRRCaP8pPa6zugSL.html. 
  7. ਰੰਧਾਵਾ, ਮਨਵੀਰ (16 June 2023). "ਰਘਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ ਐਲਾਨਿਆ ਗਿਆ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਤਖ਼ਤ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦਾ ਨਵਾਂ ਜਥੇਦਾਰ" (in pa-IN). Pro Punjab Tv. Pro Punjab TV. https://propunjabtv.com/news-jathedar-of-sri-akal-takht-sahib-raghbir-singh-announced-as-the-new-jathedar/. 
  8. Paul, GS (8 November 2018). "Takht Jathedar's address marred by sloganeering". The Tribune. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/punjab/takht-jathedar-s-address-marred-by-sloganeering-680283. 
  9. Sethi, Chitleen (8 December 2022). "Ex-jathedar a 'sinner', dope tests for staff: Akal Takht head's orders spark sit-in at Patna Sahib". The Print. https://theprint.in/india/ex-jathedar-a-sinner-dope-tests-for-staff-akal-takht-heads-orders-spark-sit-in-at-patna-sahib/1253754/. 
  10. Gill, Kamaljit (1983). "Role of the vernacular press during the Gurdwara Reform Movement". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress 44: 463–470. ISSN 2249-1937. https://www.jstor.org/stable/44139886. Retrieved 12 December 2022. 
  11. Ahluwalia, Jasbir Singh (2003) (in en). Liberating Sikhism from 'the Sikhs': Sikhisim's [sic] Potential for World Civilization. Chandigarh: Unistar Books. p. 14. 
  12. Brard, Gurnam (2007). East of Indus: My Memories of Old Punjab. Hemkunt Press. p. 185. ISBN 9788170103608. 
  13. Fahlbusch E. (ed.) "The encyclopedia of Christianity." Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2008. ISBN:978-0-8028-2417-2
  14. Singh, Dr Kuldip. Akal Takht Ate Khalsa Panth. Chandigarh. p. 2. http://panjabdigilib.org/webuser/searches/displayPage.jsp?ID=40833&page=1&CategoryID=12&Searched=W3GX&sbtsro=1&viewall=1. Retrieved 21 October 2016. 
  15. Nabha, Kahn Singh (1930). Gurshabad Ratnakar Mahan Kosh. Amritsar: Sudarshan Press. 
  16. Hawley, John Stratton; Mann, Gurinder Singh (1 January 1993) (in en). Studying the Sikhs: Issues for North America. New York: State University of New York Press. p. 178. ISBN 978-0-7914-1425-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=bTCFDfh7Qv4C&pg=PA178. Retrieved 24 December 2022. 
  17. Dilgeer, Harjinder Singh (1980). The Akal Takht. Jalandhar: Sikh University Press. 
  18. Puri, Sunita (1993) (in en). Advent of Sikh Religion: A Socio-political Perspective. Munshiram Manoharlal Pub.. p. 219. ISBN 978-81-215-0572-7. https://books.google.com/books?id=UI_XAAAAMAAJ. Retrieved 24 December 2022. 
  19. Singh, Surinderpal. "Celebrating the foundation day of Akal Takht Sahib (Akal Bunga)". https://www.sikhri.org/celebrating_the_foundation_day_of_akal_takht_sahib_akal_bunga. 
  20. Singh, Jarnail (1986) (in en). Sikh Symposium 1985. Sikh Social and Educational Society. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-8364-1840-8. https://books.google.com/books?id=XPotAAAAMAAJ&q=jathedar%20of%20akal%20takht%20bhai%20gurdas. Retrieved 10 November 2022. 
  21. (in en) Abstracts of Sikh Studies Volume 9. Institute of Sikh Studies. 2007. p. 32. https://books.google.com/books?id=ibzXAAAAMAAJ. Retrieved 24 December 2022. 
  22. Dhanoa, Surain Singh (2005) (in en). Raj Karega Khalsa. New Delhi: Sanbun Publishers. p. 146. https://books.google.com/books?id=PNgVPP3dq4YC&pg=PA146. Retrieved 24 December 2022. 
  23. Chauhan, G.S. (2005). The Gospel Of The Sikh Gurus. New Delhi: Hemkunt Publishers. p. xiv. ISBN 81-7010-353-3. 
  24. Gandhi, Surjit Singh (1980). Struggle of the Sikhs for Sovereignty. Guru Das Kapur. pp. 335. 
  25. Singha, H. S. (2005). Sikh Studies, Book 6. Hemkunt Press. p. 37. ISBN 8170102588. 
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