Sikhism: ranks and lineage

IColours

Colour used for this page of the library: Basanti yellow #4B5D78. Every colour code is approximate, since most paths name their colours without publishing codes.

Principal colour the colour of the path

Place of worship real sanctuaries

Ritual colours by occasion and season

Mourning and avoided colours

IIRanks

Sikhism has no intermediary priesthood. The highest authority on communal matters is the Akal Takht in Amritsar, headed by a Jathedar appointed by the SGPC committee, together with four other Takhts. The common code is the SGPC's Sikh Rehat Maryada. A Granthi is only a reader and caretaker of the Guru Granth Sahib, and may be a man or a woman.

1. 1
   Jathedar of the Akal Takht ਜਥੇਦਾਰ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ ਤਖ਼ਤ ਸਾਹਿਬ · Jathedar of the Akal Takht

   Head of the Akal Takht and the highest spokesman of the Khalsa. May summon, judge and penalise (tankhah) anyone who claims to be Sikh, and issues hukamnamas. Appointed by the SGPC since 1921, and must be an Amrit-initiated Khalsa. Incumbent: Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, appointed 07/03/2025, replacing Giani Raghbir Singh.

2. 2
   Jathedars of the other four Takhts and the council of five leaders (Panj Singh Sahiban) Singh Sahiban · Five High Priests

   The five Takht leaders meet when convened by the Jathedar of the Akal Takht to issue joint resolutions, such as the resolution on the Nishan Sahib colour of 15/07/2024.

3. 3
   Panj Pyare (the Five Beloved Ones) ਪੰਜ ਪਿਆਰੇ (pañj piāre) · Five Beloved Ones

   The first five in 1699: Bhai Daya Singh, Bhai Dharam Singh, Bhai Himmat Singh, Bhai Mohkam Singh, Bhai Sahib Singh. Today at every Amrit ceremony five Amrit-initiated Sikhs serve as the Panj Pyare who give Amrit. It is a collective role for each ceremony, not a standing office.

4. 4
   Granthi (reader of the Guru Granth Sahib), with a Head Granthi at major gurdwaras ਗ੍ਰੰਥੀ (granthī) · Granthi

   A man or woman who reads the Guru Granth Sahib in services, preaches and cares for the scripture. Not a priest, as Sikhism has no intermediaries. Must be Amritdhari and usually serves an apprenticeship of at least three years.

5. 5
   Khalsa (Amrit-initiated Sikhs, Amritdhari) ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ (khālsā) · Khalsa

   The community of Sikhs who have received Amrit and keep the five Ks. A grade of believers, not a clerical rank.

Followers: Sikhs (followers of Sikhism). Amritdhari or Khalsa (Amrit-initiated) and Sikhs who have not received Amrit. Sects such as the Nihang and Namdhari have their own dress.

IIIForms of address

IVVestments by rank

Flat drawings made from the descriptions in the sources, with no people shown. Colours are approximate.

VLine of succession

Sikhism was transmitted through ten human Gurus, each choosing a successor, from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh. In 1708 Guruship passed permanently to the scripture Guru Granth Sahib and the Khalsa community, so there are no more human Gurus. Authority to speak on communal matters lies with the Akal Takht, headed by a Jathedar, now appointed by the SGPC.

The Ten Gurus and the Guru Granth Sahib

1. #1 · 1469 to 1539Guru Nanak ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ

   Founder of Sikhism and first of the ten Gurus.

2. #2 · 1504 to 1552, Guru from 1539Guru Angad ਗੁਰੂ ਅੰਗਦ

   Chosen successor of Nanak, standardised the Gurmukhi script.

3. #3 · 1479 to 1574, Guru from 1552Guru Amar Das ਗੁਰੂ ਅਮਰ ਦਾਸ

   Organised the community through the manji system and expanded langar.

4. #4 · 1534 to 1581, Guru from 1574Guru Ram Das ਗੁਰੂ ਰਾਮ ਦਾਸ

   Founded the city of Amritsar (Ramdaspur).

5. #5 · 1563 to 1606, Guru from 1581Guru Arjan ਗੁਰੂ ਅਰਜਨ

   Compiled the Adi Granth (1604), built the Harmandir Sahib, first martyr Guru.

6. #6 · 1595 to 1644, Guru from 1606Guru Hargobind ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿਗੋਬਿੰਦ

   Established the Akal Takht (1606) and the miri piri doctrine.

7. #7 · 1630 to 1661, Guru from 1644Guru Har Rai ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਰਾਇ

   Guided the community in a peaceful period, known for healing work.

8. #8 · 1656 to 1664, Guru from 1661Guru Har Krishan ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਕ੍ਰਿਸ਼ਨ

   Became Guru at five, died after tending smallpox victims in Delhi.

9. #9 · 1621 to 1675, Guru from 1665Guru Tegh Bahadur ਗੁਰੂ ਤੇਗ ਬਹਾਦਰ

   Martyred in Delhi in 1675 defending freedom of belief.

10. #10 · 1666 to 1708, Guru from 1675Guru Gobind Singh ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ

    Founded the Khalsa (1699) and vested eternal Guruship in the Guru Granth Sahib (1708).

11. #11 · compiled 1604, Guru from 1708 to presentGuru Granth Sahib (scripture, the eternal Guru) ਗੁਰੂ ਗ੍ਰੰਥ ਸਾਹਿਬ

    The scripture honoured as the living, eternal Guru, with no human Guru after 1708.

Jathedars of the Akal Takht

1. #1 · 1551 to 1637, in charge of the Akal Takht from 1606Bhai Gurdas ਭਾਈ ਗੁਰਦਾਸ

   Appointed by Guru Hargobind to the Akal Takht, scribe of the Adi Granth, venerated in Sikh tradition.

2. #2 · 1644 to 1737, in office from 1699Bhai Mani Singh ਭਾਈ ਮਨੀ ਸਿੰਘ

   Appointed by Guru Gobind Singh, martyred in 1737 and venerated as a martyr.

3. #5 · 1718 to 1783, in office 1748 to 1783Jassa Singh Ahluwalia ਜੱਸਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਆਹਲੂਵਾਲੀਆ

   Leader of the Dal Khalsa chosen by the Sarbat Khalsa in the misl era.

4. #6 · 1761 to 1823, in office 1800 to 1823Akali Phula Singh ਅਕਾਲੀ ਫੂਲਾ ਸਿੰਘ

   Nihang leader under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, known for summoning even the king.

5. #9 · 1887 to 1939, in office 1920 to 1921Teja Singh Bhuchar ਤੇਜਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਭੁੱਚਰ

   First Jathedar after the Sikhs regained the Takht from British appointed managers (1859 to 1920).

6. #10 · 1892 to 1975, in office 1921 to 1923 and 1926 to 1930Teja Singh Akarpuri ਤੇਜਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਅਕਰਪੁਰੀ

   First Jathedar appointed by the SGPC, the practice still in use.

7. #17 · in office 1935 to 1952Mohan Singh Nagoke ਮੋਹਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਾਗੋਕੇ

   Long serving Jathedar through the 1947 Partition.

8. #21 · in office 1964 to 1980Sadhu Singh Bhaura ਸਾਧੂ ਸਿੰਘ ਭੌਰਾ

   One of the longest modern tenures.

9. #22 · in office 1982 to 1986 (earlier acting 1963 to 1965)Kirpal Singh ਕਿਰਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ

   In office during Operation Blue Star (1984), which damaged the Akal Takht.

10. #30 · in office 2000 to 2008Joginder Singh Vedanti ਜੋਗਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਵੇਦਾਂਤੀ

    Jathedar in the early 21st century, issued edicts on the Sikh code.

11. #31 · in office 2008 to 2018Giani Gurbachan Singh ਗਿਆਨੀ ਗੁਰਬਚਨ ਸਿੰਘ

    Ten year tenure marked by disputes over the Nanakshahi calendar and pardons.

12. #32 · chosen by the Sarbat Khalsa of 2015Jagtar Singh Hawara (parallel, not recognised by the SGPC) ਜਗਤਾਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਹਵਾਰਾ

    Named Jathedar by a 2015 Sarbat Khalsa while imprisoned, with Dhian Singh Mand acting. Not recognised by the SGPC.

13. #34 · acting Jathedar 2018 to 2023Giani Harpreet Singh ਗਿਆਨੀ ਹਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ

    Acting Jathedar, also Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib.

14. #35 · in office 2023 to 2025Giani Raghbir Singh ਗਿਆਨੀ ਰਘਬੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ

    Relieved by the SGPC in March 2025.

15. #36 · acting Jathedar in office from 07/03/2025Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj ਗਿਆਨੀ ਕੁਲਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਗੜਗੱਜ

    Current head of the Akal Takht per the SGPC, still styled acting, in office as of September 2026 reports.

A venerated figure: the library shows no portrait, only the name inside a round seal.

VIOrdination and transmission

After Guru Gobind Singh, Guruship passed to the scripture Guru Granth Sahib and the Khalsa community, and there are no more human Gurus. There is no ordination. One enters the Khalsa through the Amrit Sanchar, given by five Amrit-initiated Sikhs serving as the Panj Pyare, with a sixth attending the Guru Granth Sahib. Jathedars are appointed by the SGPC, Granthis are hired by gurdwara committees.

1. Receiving Amrit (joining the Khalsa)Requirement: Keeping the five Ks and committing to the RehatRite: Six Amrit-initiated Sikhs officiate (women may be included), all having bathed and washed their hair. The five who give Amrit may not be disabled or chronically ill.
2. Becoming a GranthiRequirement: Amritdhari, able to read and expound Gurbani, versed in the etiquette of the scripture, usually after an apprenticeship of at least three yearsRite: Hired by the gurdwara committee, with no ordination rite
3. Becoming Jathedar of the Akal TakhtRequirement: An Amrit-initiated Khalsa who is widely respectedRite: Appointed by the SGPC (formerly chosen by the Sarbat Khalsa)

VIIWhere the sources disagree

• Most important point: the old basis 'blue turban, orange Nishan flag' is outdated. From 15/07/2024 the Akal Takht decided that the Nishan Sahib may only be basanti or surmai, kesri is not accepted, and the SGPC changed the flag at the Golden Temple in August 2024. The 'kesri colour' in the assignment should be recorded as a historical colour.
• Surmai is translated differently: Wikipedia says navy blue in one place and greyish blue in another, and the English Rehat says greyish blue. Hex #4B5D78 is an estimate.
• The old code #1F5C7A (greenish blue) matches no colour name in Sikh sources. Proposal: change to surmai.
• Whether the Panj Pyare may be women: the Rehat Maryada says the six officiants may include women, but many traditional Sikhs hold that only men may serve. The 3HO movement allows women.
• The Jathedar of the Akal Takht changes often (Giani Raghbir Singh 2023 to 2025, Kuldeep Singh Gargaj from 07/03/2025). Check again before building the page.
• Required dress colours for Granthis and Jathedars, and the colour of the romala: no source found.
• No reliable source was found on an active gurdwara in Vietnam or on Vietnamese forms of address. There are only old social media photos of a gurdwara in Saigon, not used as a source.
• mau-that.json records the bright hall and gilded gold of Harmandar Sahib, which matches the SikhiWiki source.
• Numbering of the Jathedars follows English Wikipedia. Some held office twice, and in some periods several acted at once (1986 to 1990). Other Sikh sources number them differently.
• From 1859 to 1920 the Akal Takht was run by sarbarahs installed by the British authorities, who are not counted in the line of Jathedars.
• In 2015 a Sarbat Khalsa chose Jagtar Singh Hawara as a parallel Jathedar. The SGPC does not recognise him. Both are recorded to cover all lines.
• Kuldeep Singh Gargaj is still styled acting Jathedar, and some question the legitimacy of the 2025 appointment. According to reports of 20/09/2026, he still presides over meetings of the Panj Singh Sahiban.
• Bhai Gurdas and Bhai Mani Singh are marked sacred because they are venerated as saints and martyrs, and their pictures hang in gurdwaras. This is a cautious choice.
• No source was found on an organised Sikh community in Vietnam today, so no Vietnam line is included.

VIIISources

?Quick Questions

›Read Next