• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Our Authors
  • Contact Us

The Punjab Pulse

Centre for Socio-Cultural Studies

  • Areas of Study
    • Social & Cultural Studies
    • Religious Studies
    • Governance & Politics
    • National Perspectives
    • International Perspectives
    • Communism
  • Activities
    • Conferences & Seminars
    • Discussions
  • News
  • Resources
    • Books & Publications
    • Book Reviews
  • Icons of Punjab
  • Videos
  • Academics
  • Agriculture
You are here: Home / Religious Studies / Akal Takth and the concept of Miri and Piri created by Guru Hargobind Ji

Akal Takth and the concept of Miri and Piri created by Guru Hargobind Ji

June 30, 2020 By Jaibans Singh

Share

Jaibans Singh

Much before his martyrdom, Guru Arjan Dev Ji was well aware of the need for the Sikh community to develop a body of dedicated warriors who would become guardians of the oppressed, fight for justice and righteousness and protect their nation and people against repressive powers. It was with this thought in mind that he decided to train his son, Hargobind, who was very young at that point in time, in martial arts.

The responsibility for the same was given to Bhai Budda. Bhai Budda should not be confused with the saintly old Baba Buddha Ji who possessed no such skill. He was a Sikh skilled in soldierly qualities  and proficient in the use of arms.

Guru Arjan Dev Ji also impressed upon his son the need to build a viable force for self defence within the rapidly expanding community. He probably took these steps due to a divine realisation that he would not be in a position to carry forward the evolution of the community beyond the the massive task of compiling the holy Granth and they would fall on the young shoulders of Hargobind.

When the summons came from the Mughal Court for Guru Arjan Dev Ji, he knew that he would not come back. Before leaving, he declared on 25, May, 1606, that young Hargobind, would be the next master of the Sikhs.

On 11, June, 1606, then only 11 years old, Hargobind became the sixth master of the Sikhs on, and came to be known as Guru Hargobind Ji. Some chronicles put his initiation date as 24, June, 1606.

Guru Hargobind Ji, though very young, completely understood what his holy father required of him. During the initiation ceremony itself, he requested Baba Budha Ji to adorn him with a sword rather than the Seli (silk cap) of Guru Nanak Dev Ji as was the tradition. It is said that Baba Budha Ji, who knew nothing about swords, put the sword on the wrong side; Guru Hargobind Ji then requested him to put another sword on the other side and thus started the tradition of his wearing two swords This created the concept of Miri and Piri, implying that henceforth both religious and temporal power would remain vested upon the Guru.

The first step taken by Guru Hargobind Ji was construction of a seat of Temporal Power of the Sikhs. It came up on 15 June 1606, on a high ground opposite the Hari Mandir in the form of a 9 to 11 foot tall platform called the “Akal Bunga.” On this throne like structure sat Guru Hargobind Ji along with Bhai Gurdas and Baba Buddha Ji and held court. He received petitions and dispensed justice. The temporal nature of the Akal Bunga balanced the spiritual nature of the Hari Mandir, thus cementing the concept of Miri and Piri. The building is now a five storey structure with a marble inlay and gold leafed dome and is called the Akal Takht. It is the most important of the five Takhts of the Khalsa community.

Recitation of Gurbani in Akal Takth

Having created the seat of Temporal Power, the young Guru and his dedicated advisors set about strengthening the defences of the holy city of Amritsar. The city was walled and a small fortress named “Lohgarh” was constructed in the outskirts. The Guru initiated his own flag and war drums that were beaten twice a day.

Then began the arming and martial training of the Sikhs; the Guru himself was adept in the use of arms and an avid hunter. Martial Vaars (ballads of heroism) were composed and sung in the Court on a daily basis. The heroic deeds of Sikhs were commemorated. With time the Guru had, under his command, seven hundred horses and considerable Infantry.

Thus, within a few years of becoming the sixth master of the Sikhs, Guru Hargobind was well poised to fructify the dream of his holy father of reconstitution the Sikhs as a separate Nation. The seed was sown even though the tree took almost two centuries to grow to its full potential. It is important to note here that to further the concept of nationhood, the Guru adopted all trappings of royalty, but deep within, and in his own words, he remained a simple ascetic and servant of the Sikhs.


Share
test

Filed Under: Religious Studies, Stories & Articles Tagged With: Akal Takht, Guru Hargobind Ji

Primary Sidebar

News

ਅਕਾਲੀ ਦਲ ਲਈ ਸੌਖਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ ਸ਼੍ਰੋਮਣੀ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਚੋਣਾਂ ਦਾ ਰਾਹ

June 5, 2023 By News Bureau

पंजाब के विश्वविद्यालयों का जलवा

June 5, 2023 By News Bureau

सीमा पार कर रहे पाकिस्‍तानी ड्रोन को BSF ने मार गिराया

June 5, 2023 By News Bureau

जालंधर शहर में मंत्री भी सुरक्षित नहीं

June 5, 2023 By News Bureau

अमेरिका में फिर लहराए गए खालिस्तानी झंडे

June 5, 2023 By News Bureau

Areas of Study

  • Governance & Politics
  • International Perspectives
  • National Perspectives
  • Social & Cultural Studies
  • Religious Studies

Featured Article

The Akal Takht Jathedar: Despite indefinite term why none has lasted beyond a few years?

May 15, 2023 By Guest Author

Kamaldeep Singh Brar The Akal Takth There’s no fixed term for the Jathedar (custodian) of the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat in Sikhism. That means an Akal Takht Jathedar can continue to occupy the seat all his life. Yet, no Akal Takht Jathedar in recent memory has lasted the crown of thorns for more […]

Academics

‘सिंघसूरमा लेखमाला’ धर्मरक्षक वीरव्रति खालसा पंथ – भाग-10 – भाग-11

सिंघसूरमा लेखमाला धर्मरक्षक वीरव्रति खालसा पंथ – भाग-10 विजयी सैन्य शक्ति के प्रतीक ‘पांच प्यारे’ और पांच ‘ककार’ नरेंद्र सहगल श्रीगुरु गोविंदसिंह द्वारा स्थापित ‘खालसा पंथ’ किसी एक प्रांत, जाति या भाषा का दल अथवा पंथ नहीं था। यह तो संपूर्ण भारत एवं भारतीयता के सुरक्षा कवच के रूप में तैयार की गई खालसा फौज […]

‘सिंघसूरमा लेखमाला’ धर्मरक्षक वीरव्रति खालसा पंथ – भाग-8 – भाग-9

सिंघसूरमा लेखमाला धर्मरक्षक वीरव्रति खालसा पंथ – भाग-8 अमृत शक्ति-पुत्रों का वीरव्रति सैन्य संगठन नरेंद्र सहगल संपूर्ण भारत को ‘दारुल इस्लाम’ इस्लामिक मुल्क बनाने के उद्देश्य से मुगल शासकों द्वारा किए गए और किए जा रहे घोर अत्याचारों को देखकर दशम् गुरु श्रीगुरु गोविंदसिंह ने सोए हुए हिंदू समाज में क्षात्रधर्म का जाग्रण करके एक […]

‘सिंघसूरमा लेखमाला’ धर्मरक्षक वीरव्रति खालसा पंथ – भाग-6 – भाग-7

सिंघसूरमा लेखमाला धर्मरक्षक वीरव्रति खालसा पंथ – भाग-6 श्रीगुरु गोबिन्दसिंह का जीवनोद्देश्य धर्म की स्थापना, अधर्म का नाश नरेंद्र सहगल ‘हिन्द दी चादर’ अर्थात भारतवर्ष का सुरक्षा कवच सिख साम्प्रदाय के नवम् गुरु श्रीगुरु तेगबहादुर ने हिन्दुत्व अर्थात भारतीय जीवन पद्यति, सांस्कृतिक धरोहर एवं स्वधर्म की रक्षा के लिए अपना बलिदान देकर मुगलिया दहशतगर्दी को […]

Twitter Feed

ThePunjabPulse Follow

@ ·
now

Reply on Twitter Retweet on Twitter Like on Twitter Twitter
Load More

EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Signup to receive regular updates and to hear what's going on with us.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Phone
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

TAGS

Academics Activities Agriculture Areas of Study Books & Publications Communism Conferences & Seminars Discussions Governance & Politics Icons of Punjab International Perspectives National Perspectives News Religious Studies Resources Social & Cultural Studies Stories & Articles Uncategorized Videos

Footer

About Us

The Punjab Pulse is an independent, non-partisan think tank engaged in research and in-depth study of all aspects the impact the state of Punjab and Punjabis at large. It strives to provide a platform for a wide ranging dialogue that promotes the interest of the state and its peoples.

Read more

Follow Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Phone
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2023 · The Punjab Pulse

Developed by Web Apps Interactive