# Jathedar

Part of a series on :
Sikhism :
People
Topics
Outline
History
Glossary :
Sikh gurus
Guru Nanak
Guru Angad
Guru Amar Das
Guru Ram Das
Guru Arjan
Guru Hargobind
Guru Har Rai
Guru Har Krishan
Guru Tegh Bahadur
Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Granth Sahib :
Selected revered saints
Bhagat Kabir
Bhagat Ravidas
Bhagat Farid
Bhagat Ramanand
Bhagat Beni
Bhagat Namdev
Bhagat Sadhana
Bhagat Bhikhan
Bhagat Parmanand
Bhagat Sain
Bhagat Dhanna
Bhagat Pipa
Bhagat Surdas
Bhagat Jaidev
Bhagat Trilochan
Bhatt Kalshar
Bhatt Balh
Bhatt Bhalh
Bhatt Bhika
Bhatt Gayand
Bhatt Harbans
Bhatt Jalap
Bhatt Kirat
Bhatt Mathura
Bhatt Nalh
Bhatt Salh
Baba Sundar
Satta Doom
Balvand Rai :
Philosophy
Naam Japo
Kirat Karō
Vand Chakkō
Charhdi Kalā
Guru Maneyo Granth
Five Thieves
Five Virtues :
Practices
Sikh Rehat Maryada
Prohibitions
Ardās
Kirtan
Amrit Velā
Dasvand
The Five Ks
Langar
Sewa
Simran
Nitnem
Dastar (Turban)
Naam Karan
Amrit Sanskar
Anand Karaj
Antam Sanskar :
Scripture
Guru Granth Sahib
Dasam Granth
Sarbloh Granth
Five Banis :
Places and Takhts
Gurdwara
Harmandir Sahib
Akal Takht
Keshgarh Sahib
Damdama Sahib
Patna Sahib
Hazur Sahib :
General topicsCulture
Literature
Music
Names
Ik Onkar
Khalsa
Waheguru
Panj Pyare
Nirgun and Sargun
Khanda
Nanakshahi calendar
Criticism
Jathedar of Akal Takht
War
Sects :
Sikhism and other religions
Sikhism and Hinduism
Sikhism and Islam
Sikhism and Jainism :
Religion portal :
vte :
A jathedar (Punjabi: ਜੱਥੇਦਾਰ) is a leader of high regard chosen to head and ensure discipline within a jatha, a troop of Sikhs. In modern-times, the term is used to in-reference to leaders of Sikh spiritual organizations, such as any of the Panj Takhts.

## History

During the early-to-mid 18th century, the term was used to refer to a leader of a Jatha. However, it began to be replaced by titles, such as Sardar, due to Afghan influence from the mid-18th century onwards. The terms "jatha" and "jathedar" were revived during the Singh Sabha Movement to refer to "bands of preachers and choirs", an association which survives until the present-day. However, during the later Gurdwara Reform Movement, the terms began to take on a martial tone once again, resuscitating and harking back to the 18th century's context for the word.

## Jathedars of the Akal Takht

* Gurdas Bhalla (c. 1606–c. 1637) Usurped by Minas from 1640 to 1698
* Mani Singh (c. 1699–c. 1737)
* Darbara Singh (c. 1722–1734)
* Kapur Singh Virk (1733–1748)
* Jassa Singh Ahluwalia (1748–1783)
* Phula Singh (c. 1800–1823) †
* Hanuman Singh (1823–1846) †
* Prahlad Singh (1846–1865) † Usurped by Sarbarahs appointed by the British Indian Government from 1859 to 1920
* Teja Singh Bhuchar (1920–1921) X
* Teja Singh Akarpuri (1921–1923) & (1926–1930)
* Udham Singh Nagoke (1923–1924) & (1926-short period)
* Acchar Singh (1924–1926) & (1955–1962)
* Didar Singh (1925-short period)
* Jawaher Singh Mattu Bhaike (1926-short period)
* Gurmukh Singh Musafir (1931–1934)
* Wasakha Singh Dadehar (1934)
* Mohan Singh Nagoke (1935–1952)
* Partap Singh (1938–1948) (1952–1954) X
* Mohan Singh Tur (1962–1963)
* Sadhu Singh Bhaura (1964–1980)
* Kirpal Singh (1963–1965) (1983–1986)
* Gurdial Singh Ajnoha (1980–1982)
* Jasbir Singh Rode (1986–1989)
* Gurdev Singh Kaunke (1986–1993)
* Gurbachan Singh Manochahal (1986–1987) †
* Darshan Singh (1986–1988) (1986–1988) (1989–1990)
* Manjit Singh (1994–1997)
* Ranjit Singh (1994–1999)
* Puran Singh (1999–2000)
* Joginder Singh Vedanti (2000–2008)
* Gurbachan Singh (2008–2018)
* Jagtar Singh Hawara (2015–Incumbent)
* Dhian Singh Mand (2015–Incumbent)
* Harpreet Singh (2018–2023)
* Raghbir Singh (2023–2025)
* Kuldeep Singh Gargaj (2025–Incumbent)

## Jathedars of Takht Kesgarh Sahib

* Karam Singh
* Kharak Singh
* Budh Singh
* Puran Singh
* Puran Singh
* Resham Singh
* Partap Singh
* Bir Singh
* Ajit Singh
* Fauja Singh
* Bachitar Singh
* Guridal Singh
* Harcharan Singh
* Shavinder Singh
* Labh Singh †
* Balbir Singh
* Manjit Singh
* Tarlochan Singh
* Mal Singh (2013-2017)
* Amrik Singh Ajnala (2015–2017)
* Raghbir Singh (2017–2023)
* Sultan Singh (2023-2025)
* Kuldeep Singh Gargaj (2025–Incumbent)

## Jathedars of Takht Damdama Sahib

* Deep Singh †
* Sudh Singh
* Karam Singh
* Natha Singh †
* Ran Singh
* Bhagwaan Singh
* Baghel Singh
* Diwan Singh
* Ram Singh
* Harchand Singh Longowal X
* Jagir Singh
* Avtar Singh Brahma †
* Sabh Lakha Singh †
* Jaswant Singh
* Sanjh Hakam Singh
* Mehar Singh
* Kewal Singh
* Balwant Singh Nandgarh
* Gurmukh Singh
* Baljit Singh Daduwal (2015–2020)
* Harpreet Singh (2018–2025)
* Jagtar Singh (2025-short period)
* Tek Singh Dhanaula (2025–Incumbent)

## Jathedars of Takht Patna Sahib

* Maan Singh (–2000)
* Iqbal Singh (2000–2019)
* Ranjit Singh (2019–2022)
* Baldev Singh (2022–Incumbent)

## Jathedars of Takht Hazur Sahib

* Santokh Singh (1709–1715)
* Khushal Singh (1715–1722)
* Lal Singh (1722–1730)
* Bakhtawar Singh (1730–1736)
* Charat Singh (1736–1786)
* Mohar Singh (1786–1793)
* Ram Singh (1793–1804)
* Dharam Singh (1804–1812)
* Charat Singh (1812–1817)
* Sahib Singh (1817–1818)
* Aaya Singh (1818–1824)
* Jassa Singh (1824–1839)
* Isher Singh (1839–1841)
* Waryam Singh (1841–1844)
* Tara Singh (1844–1858)
* Atar Singh (1858–1867)
* Prem Singh (1867–1875)
* Deva Singh (1875–1876)
* Brij Singh (1876–1877)
* Jawahar Singh (1877–1883)
* Nanu Singh (1883–1890)
* Maan Singh (1890–1913)
* Daya Singh (1913–1914)
* Hari Singh (1914–1919)
* Hira Singh (1919–1945)
* Bahadur Singh (1945–1946)
* Hira Singh (1946–1950)
* Harnam Singh (1950–1956)
* Joginder Singh (1956–1984)
* Hajura Singh (1984–2000)
* Kulwant Singh (2000–Incumbent)

## Jathedars of Damdami Taksal

* Baba Deep Singh Ji † (1708-1757)
* Baba Gurbaksh Singh (1757-1764)
* Soorat Singh (1764-Unknown)
* Gurdas Singh
* Sant Singh (Unknown-1832)
* Daya Singh (1832-Unknown)
* Bhagwan Singh
* Harnam Singh Bedi
* Bishan Singh Muralewale (Unknown-1905)
* Sundar Singh Bhindranwale (1905-1930)
* Gurbachan Singh Bhindranwale (1930-1961)
* Kartar Singh Bhindranwale (1969–1977)
* Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale (1977–1984)
* Thakur Singh Bhindranwale (1984–2004)
* Harnam Singh (2004–Incumbent)

## Jathedars of Budha Dal

* Binod Singh (1708–1716) †
* Darbara Singh (1716–1734) †
* Nawab Kapur Singh (1737–1753)
* Jassa Singh Ahluwalia (1753–1783)
* Akali Baba Naina Singh (1783–1800)
* Akali Baba Phula Singh (1800–1823) †
* Akali Baba Hanuman Singh (1823–1846) †
* Akali Baba Prahlad Singh (1846–1865) †
* Akali Baba Gian Singh (1865–1907)
* Akali Baba Teja Singh (1907–1929)
* Akali Baba Sahib Singh Kaladhari (1929–1942)
* Akali Baba Karam Singh (1942–1944)
* Akali Baba Chet Singh (1944–1969)
* Akali Baba Santa Singh (1969-2007)
* Akali Baba Balbir Singh (2007–Incumbent)

## Jathedars of Tarna Dal

* Baba Deep Singh †
* Gurbakhsh Singh †
* Sudha Singh
* Karam Singh
* Natha Singh
* Ram Singh Bedi
* Jassa Singh
* Nand Singh
* Ram Singh
* Gurmukh Singh
* Sadhu Singh
* Bishan Singh
* Kirtan Singh (1994-2001)
* Makhan Singh (2001-2016)
* Gajjan Singh (2016-2023)
* Joga Singh (2023-current)

## Jathedars of Bidhi Chand Dal

* Bidhi Chand Chhina
* Lal Chand
* Gurdial Chand
* Hukam Chand
* Jeoun Singh
* Jaspat Singh
* Bhag Singh
* Labh Singh
* Natha Singh
* Sohan Singh
* Daya Singh Sur Singh (1975-2014)
* Avtar Singh Sur Singh (2014-Incumbent)