The Panj Pardhani Ideal

A Sikh Model of Collective Leadership and Its Relevance to Contemporary Sikh Governance

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Abstract: The principle of Panch Pardhan-rooted in the Gurmat concept of collective wisdom and spiritual sovereignty-has played a central role in Sikh history and theology.

Epitomized by the formation of the Panj Pyare by Guru Gobind Singh Sahib in 1699, this model of decentralized yet divinely guided authority has not only sustained the Khalsa Panth during its trials but has also served as a moral compass for religious, social, and political decision-making.

This paper explores the evolution of the Panch Pardhani system, from its spiritual conception by Guru Nanak Sahib to its political implications in institutions such as the Dal Khalsa, Sarbat Khalsa, and the Singh Sabha Movement. In light of this tradition, the modern governance of Sikh bodies such as the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the Shiromani Akali Dal are critically evaluated. The essay argues for the re-invigoration of the Panj Pardhani principle as a corrective to personality cults and centralization within Sikh political structures.

Introduction: The concept of Panch Parvan Panch Pardhan-"the five are approved, the five are supreme”-is not merely a theological construct but a revolutionary framework for egalitarian and collective decision-making in Sikhism.

From Guru Nanak Sahib's articulation of cosmic order through the five Khands (GGS, p. 8), to Guru Gobind Singh Sahib's historic embodiment of this principle in the form of the Panj Pyare, the number five has carried sacred authority. The essence of this ideal lies in dissolving authoritarian power structures and replacing them with collective wisdom and accountability-values which remain relevant in today's fragmented religious and political landscape.

The Spiritual Genesis of 'Five': From Creation to Khalsa

The notion of five-fold creation is articulated in the Guru Granth Sahib:

“ਪੰਚ ਪਰਵਾਣ ਪੰਚ ਪਰਧਾਨੁ॥

ਪੰਚੇ ਪਾਵਹਿ ਦਰਗਹਿ ਮਾਨੁ ॥”