The Sovereign Panth

Shiromani – Ultimate, Panth – Collective, Akaali – Immortal, Buddha – Wise, Dal – Army,

Chakar Varti – Forever Roaming, Chalda Vaheer – Eternal, Panjva Takht – 5th Throne
 
The Guru Khalsa Panth - the eternal, forever roaming, ultimate, wise army that belongs only to
Vaheguru (Wondrous Enlightener - God). They are not like an army who sit at a single base -
they are scattered and forever roaming; jungles or streets, they are eternal in their nature and
presence. It, as a collective, is blessed with the title of Panjva Takht - 5th throne. This is a throne
like no other: its foundations are the Name of the Lord as opposed to bricks & mortar; its cement
akin to the virtues it holds of Humility, Detachment and Courage and its dwelling is the Mothers
bounty. It is the Guru Khalsa Panth of Guru Gobind Singh Ji that is mobile and in the service of
all mankind. A common belief within the Sikh Sangat is that Sri Damdama Sahib P.10 is the
Panjva Takht. However, it was only in 1966 that Sri Damdama Sahib P.10 was made the Panjva
Takht by the SGPC. That too was very cleverly chosen because in the year 1966, Sri Damdama
Sahib P.10 was the headquarters of BD (under the command of 96Krori Singh Sahib Jathedar
Baba Santa Singh Ji) and was therefore seen to be the Panjva Takht anyway. The initial historical
Takht has always been this Chakarvarti army that breathes with the lungs of each Singh that lives
within it. This was the greatness in the philosophy of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, they gave us
something that will be here as long as time keeps ticking. So where does this idea of Shiromani
Panth Akaali Buddha Dal being the Panjva Takht originate from? The conceptualization of the
Panjva Takht originates from the origins of Sikhi itself. Sahib Sri Satguru Nanak Dev Ji Maharaj
was definitively and conceptually Nihang (meaning to have no attachment/ego) Khalsa (pure
one). They are the ones who introduced the very laws that Dal Panth operates by today; the laws
of Compassion, Simran & Seva. They lived and introduced the Chakarvarti lifestyle, where they
travelled over many years educating and preaching the message of truth. The “then Baba Nanak
went to Mecca” references the fact Guru Sahib was always on the move from place to place. Sri
Suraj Prakash (written by the Great Poet Bhai Santokh Singh) documents Guru Sahibs travels
which is said to have spanned approximately 30 years covering tens of thousands of kilo-meters’
of land. They are said to have come as far as Italy, visiting Rome in the 15th century. This was at
a time that the only form of travel was either on a horse or by foot; this was the greatness of Guru
Nanak Dev Ji. Moreover, they were fearless in the face of a world that sometimes did not want to
accept the message they were preaching & it is documented they adorned Shaster (holy weapons).
They were God themselves, put on this planet to show how to be sampooran (full) in Bani (Gurus
teaching) and Baana (Gurus lifestyle). Guru Sahib’s physical apparel (in this instance) is also in
direct correlation to how the Guru Khalsa Panth is ordained to dress. The blue colour of the
Baana and the staff in the hand highlights royalty & inclusivity; the same philosophy used by
Nihang Singhs today. Guru Sahib, in Gurbani, highlights the spiritual importance of the outward
appearance that Nihang Singhs abide by. From Guru Angad Dev Ji (2nd Guru) to Guru Arjun
Dev Ji (5th Guru), this warrior spirit was a subtle back-tone however did exist (for example, Guru
Angad Dev Ji started the 'Mal Akhara' - Wrestling). This concept was however first formalized
and further embraced by the wider Sikh community under the guidance of the 6th Guru, Sahib Sri
Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji. The Mughal Empire’s oppressive policy on non-Muslims culminated in
the Shaheedi of the 5th Guru, Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji. Their tyrannical rule was met with great
foresight by Sri Guru Arjun Dev Ji who was responsible for initiating the martial spirit in the
Sikh faith through their son, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji.
Before their Shaheedi (martyrdom), they instructed Baba Buddha Ji (an extremely respected
Gursikhs who lived through 6 Guru Saharans) to give their son the status of Guru and ensure they
militarised the Sikhs to protect themselves from what was to commence in the following
centuries (Baba Buddha Ji were infect the ones who instilled the first 6 Gurus into command). It
was from these instructions that Baba Buddha Ji began to train an 11 year old Hargobind who
quickly transformed into Miri Piri de Malik, Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji. Baba Buddha Ji had
infact taught 'Shaster Vidya' (Weaponry) from Guru Nanak Dev Ji and were the master of it and
were thus put in charge of this army that was to be created. Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji then created
the Akaal Sena (Timeless Army) which became the first army of the Sikh faith. This army was
trained by Baba Buddha Ji at Sri Akaal Bunga Sahib Ji (as it was known at the time) and were
deployed in 4 wars - all of which were victorious. It is after the same Baba Buddha Ji that the
name Shiromani Panth Akaali Buddha Dal comes from. When Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji were
imprisoned at Gwalior Kila (the fort of Gwalior), Baba Buddha Ji had taken an army there to free
them. When Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji saw Baba Buddha Ji commanding an army, they were
extremely pleased and stated that one day there will be an army in the name of Baba Buddha Ji.
This bachan (message) of Guru Ji came true when Shiromani Panth Akaali Buddha Dal became
formalised as the head of the Sikh army. Before Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji left the planet, they
gave instructions to the 7th Guru, Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji, to never enter into warfare. They
were instructed to maintain the army and warrior lifestyles however never to deploy the forces
they had with them at all times. It was the will of Vaheguru (God), bound by the words of the 6th
Guru, that there were to be no wars before the 10th Guru. The 10th Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh
Ji, then came & shifted the paradigm even further. They were the son of the 9th Guru who were
beheaded to prevent Mughal tyranny wiping out Hinduism. Upon receiving the beloved sees
(head) of their father, Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Ji, they were disappointed no Sikh stood up &
rather chose to blend in. It was at this point they decided to make their Sikhs stand out in crowds
of millions. They strongly encouraged all Sikhs to take up arms, train & get ready. Guru Gobind
Singh Ji’s first war was in 1686 at the age of 19 and this gave life to an extremely potent martial
period. The Guru was involved in several wars before they gave the final stamp on the Sikh faith. 
In the year 1699, they revolutionized the way of the army formed by Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji
(Akaal Sena). They formalised all of the ideals of the previous 9 Guru’s into a code of conduct by
which the 'Guru Khalsa Panth' would now abide by. This was affirmed through the heavenly &
divine Khanda Pahul Amrit (Elixir of Immortality) which was to be administered by the Guru
Khalsa Panth when Guru Sahib left their physical form. Therefore, this Akaal Sena became
Khalsa Akaal Purakh Ki Fauj – The Pure Army of the Timeless Being. Those who took this
Amrit gave their head to the Guru, signing the ‘Khalsa contract’ – stating they will follow the
code of conduct and if not, are accountable to ‘5 Pyare’ (5 Beloved Ones). All Sikhs were
instructed to take this elixir & prove their service to the Guru. This isn’t as simple as wearing the
5K’s and reciting prayers, it's about using the Amrit to meet the Creator Lord & experiencing His
Glory. Mahaan (Great) Kavi (Poet) Bhai Santokh Singh (the author of Sri Sooraj Prakash written
in 1843) wrote during the sombre period of Poh (December/January) that in the Jungle of
Machhiwara, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji gave the Guruship to 5 Singhs in the form of the Guru
Khalsa Panth (Bhai Daya Singh, Bhai Dharam Singh, Bhai Maan Singh, Bhai Sangat Singh &
Bhai Sant Singh). Thus, the Guru Khalsa Panth had been created. It was infact Guru Sahib’s
mission to start this Panth (path). The other key element of their revolution was the roop (form)
they gave to this restructured army.