The Five Takhts

Takht is the Persian word for a throne. In scripture it can mean God's seat of true justice. By the time of Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji, Sikhs also used it for Guru Ji's seat. A Takht is a place from which the community's affairs are addressed, as well as a place of worship.[EoS]

The Akal Takht at Amritsar faces Harmandir Sahib. Sri Guru Hargobind Ji raised it as a high platform in 1606. A building later raised over it was called the Akal Bunga.

The other four are linked to Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Takht Sri Harimandar Sahib at Patna marks Guru Ji's birthplace. Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib at Anandpur marks the creation of the Khalsa in 1699. Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib at Nanded marks where Guru Ji passed away in 1708. Takht Sri Damdama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo marks where Guru Ji stayed for some months in 1706.[EoS][Src]

The Encyclopaedia of Sikhism says the first four were recognised in the Sikh Gurdwaras Act of 1925. Damdama Sahib was declared a Takht at a general meeting of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee on 18 November 1966. The 1997 English text of the Sikh Rehat Maryada lists all five.[EoS]

Jathedars lead the Takhts. By convention, only the Jathedar of the Akal Takht can summon a Sarbat Khalsa, and serious religious offences by prominent Sikhs are heard there. Its edicts take precedence. The convention described in the Encyclopaedia is that Takhts avoid political or administrative disputes unless faith is at stake, with gurdwara management left to the SGPC. In practice, it notes, agitations have often been launched from the Akal Takht since the Akali movement began.

The Sikh Rehat Maryada allows only an Amritdhari Sikh who keeps the discipline to enter the Takht enclosures. It says Ardas may be offered at a Takht on behalf of anyone, Sikh or not, except for a Sikh who has fallen away or is under penance.[EoS][EoS][Src]