Akal Takht now bans using word "Patshahi" by individuals

After imposing a ban on Guru Granth Sahib at home with liquor bar, Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, has now directed one and all not to use the word "Patshahi" along with any individuals' name.

The Jathedar Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh stated that the word "Patshahi" (the word derived from the royal or kingship) is considered as a title given to the Sikh spiritual masters and cannot be used by the common individuals.

Akal Takht jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh on Saturday directed the Dharm Parchar Committee to ensure that the word "Patshahi" is only used with the name of first Sikh master Guru Nanak Dev to Sri Guru Granth Sahib and not by any individual.

He said it cannot be allowed to be used by one and all as only the revered Gurus can be called the 'Patshahi'.

Jathedar Akal Takht given this direction following complaints submitted at the secretariat of the Akal Takht against several self-styled god men who have been using the word "Patshahi" prefix with their names. There had been a mushrooming growth of the deras and heads of these deras usually use the prefix like these and their followers call them "Patshahi".

"But this is entirely wrong and they cannot be called with these titles which are given to our revered Gurus alone," said Giani Gurbachan Singh.

It was recently that the Akal Takht had stated that many of the homes all over the world had been found placing the Guru Granth Sahib in the homes but also have bars or store liquor bottles in the homes.

The Takht had banned these individuals to place the Guru Granth Sahib in such homes. The orders from the Takht had taken many by surprise all over the world and the new directives have come in the light of numerous complaints regarding the use of the word "Patshahi" with the individual's names.