The Rising Tide: Authority of the Akal Takht

The question whether the authority of Akal Takht is symbolized in the  Jathedar or in the structure has been nagging the minds of scholars. Many seminars held to resolve the issue have brought forward a diversity of opinions. Some consider the Jathedar only a pujari whereas others accept the sovereignty of the Akal Takht, but don’t accept the SGPC appointed Jathedar. They propose  an alternative way to appoint the Jathedar who is acceptable to Sikhs all over the world. Some even propose convening Sarbat Khalsa to resolve the tangle. But they don’t know who will convene it?

The controversy of Dasam Granth by Gurtej Singh and Joginder Singh of Spokesman from Mohali again figured in talks of Sikh Sangat. A group celebrated Zafarnama Divas as a black day in Sikh history. Baba Harnam Singh Dhuma declared that  those who were trying to challenge Dasam Granth are questioning sovereignty of Akal Takht. Similar were the views of Akal Takht Jathedar and others who participated in the ‘Fateh Divas.

A section of Sikhs regret the fact that the controversy of Dasam Granth was fanned to disintegrate the very core of Sikhism. The daily prayer (Ardas), daily recitation (Nitnem), and baptization of Khalsa (Amrit Sanchar) are deeply rooted in Dasam Granth.

They view that the clamor has no basis as nobody tried to install Dasam Granth as the substitute of Guru Granth Sahib. The living Guru for Sikhs is undoubtedly the Guru Granth Sahib. However, Dasam Granth still deserves some respect. Adi Granth enjoyed the status of a holy book before being declared as the Guru of the Sikhs. Guru Arjan Dev ji installed Aad Granth in Harminder Sahib in 1604. It was anointed Sikhs’ Guru in 1708. For more than 100 years Aad Granth was revered as a holy book.

Sikhs who respect Dasam Granth as a holy book say that while Guru Granth Sahib is the spiritual capital of Sikhs that will guide them through times of doubt and disturbance,Dasam Granth, however, is a repository of religious, political, cultural and literary desires of the Sikhs. It is a testament of Guru Gobind Singh’s trials and tribulations. It conceptualizes Dharm Yudh by citing from the prevailing beliefs. The concept of divine and demon has been elaborated. Divine comes to the rescue of those who fight against the rising authority of demons. But in the process, victorious gods behave in the same way as demons  they were fighting against. Therefore, Vedas established egoism and racial superiority giving birth to the curse again.

All verses prepare one to fight and  uphold moral values. Discourses of god and demons have not been narrated in a flat manner. They have a great symbolic significance that has been invested with multi-meanings. They show whenever there is a battle for Dharma, the heroes become oppressor after savoring victory. God sends another Avatar to settle score with god turned demon.

The scholars who doubt the authenticity of Dasam Granth believe that it promotes superstitions, faith in gods and goddesses, casteism and eroticism. They project ‘Chauvis Avatar’ and ‘Ath Pakhyaan Charitar Likhyatav’ as highly offensive poetry to the pious believers. The extramarital affairs of queens, sexual alliances of princesses, and insatiable desire of beautiful women for high-ranking men have been  given graphic details. The ravenous hunger for sex outside traditional relationships inspires these women to weave tales of deception on husbands, fathers and brothers. All these women are highly influential, self-assured and daring and deceiving. Some scholars do no believe their Guru can stoop so low as to appeal to their lower depths.