Sri Akal Takhat is symbol of the sovereignty, integrity and distinct identity of the Sikhs as a nation. It has been the rallying point for the Sikhs for about five centuries whenever Sikhs came under oppression by the Mughal Afghan aggressors in the past as well as the Indian state during the present time. This volume traces the origin, the Sikh doctrine governing its creation and its role in shaping the Sikh polity in future. It also makes a guess about the possible challenges to the Sikh religion, its identity and its survival. The account is scholarly and speculative[edit]