The origins of statehood: the concept of power of the ruler in sikhism in the 17th - 18th centuries

The article analyzes the formation and evolution of the concept of the ruler's power in Sikhism in the 17th-18th centuries. The characteristic features of the power of the Sikh gurus are distinguished, beginning with the fifth guru Arjun, who are at the same time both spiritual leaders and bearers of elements of secular power. Conclusions about transformation of the concept of the power of the ruler at the beginning of the 18th century after the death of the last 10th guru are drawn. On the base of the analysis of the code of behavior of the Sikh Prem Sumarag features of ideal model of the power of the ruler come to light. The power belongs to the secular ruler who does not have the highest spiritual power. The ruler closes on himself all spheres of management, and delegates a part of power to representatives of bureaucratic apparatus. Despite the absolute nature of the power, the ruler acts as servant of a Sikh community, as ensuring happiness of the people is his main task. Thus, in the 18th century a Sikh community developed the doctrine about an ideal form of the power of the ruler, which was realized in the 19th after formation of the united Sikh state.