ਦਮਦਮੀ ਟਕਸਾਲ | |
 | |
 | |
| Formation | 7 August 1706 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Guru Gobind Singh |
| Purpose | Sikh seminary |
| Headquarters | Gurdwara Gurdarshan Parkash |
| Location |
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| Coordinates | 31°40′01″N75°14′52″E / 31.66690°N 75.24788°E /31.66690; 75.24788 |
| Harnam Singh Khalsa | |
| Website | https://www.damdamitaksal.com/ |
TheDamdamī Ṭaksāl,Jatha Bhindra(n), orSampardai Bhindra(n)[1] is anorthodoxKhalsaSikh cultural and educational organization, based in India.[2] They are known for their teachings ofvidya as well asgurbanisanthiya. Its headquarters are located in the town of Mehta Chowk, approximately 40 km north of the city ofAmritsar.[3] It has been described as a seminary or “moving university” of the Sikh countryside.[4]
The Damdami Taksal borrows many foundational aspects from theGiani Samparda (headed by the Giani family), the Girivari Samparda, the Damdami Samparda, the Namdhari Samparda and the Dera Naurangabad.
In 1706, after theBattle of Muktsar, theKhalsa Army ofGuru Gobind Singh camped at Sabo Ki Talwandi. This acted as adamdamā, or halting place (lit. "breathing place"), and is now the site ofTakht Sri Damdamā Sahib.[5] That year, Guru Gobind Singh is said to have founded a distinguished school of exegesis,[6] later headed up byBaba Deep Singh.[7] Damdamā Sahib was considered to be the highest seat of learning for the Sikhs during the 18th century,[8] and Damdami Taksal claims direct historical ties toGuru Gobind Singh,[4] who entrusted it with the responsibility of teaching the reading (santhiya), analysis (vichār) and recitation of theSikh scriptures, andBaba Deep Singh.[9] The wordṭaksāl (lit. 'mint') refers to an education institute; which is a community of students who associate themselves with a particularsant (lit. spiritual leader or saint).[10]
The main center of the present-day Damdami Taksal (Jatha Bhindran-Mehta) is located atGurdwārā Gurdarshan Parkāsh inMehta, Amritsar.[11] It is actually a branch of a major school of traditional Sikh learning known as theBhindrāṅ Ṭaksāl which is based Mehta. Although, this Taksal was established in 1906 by Sundar Singh (1883–1930) of Boparai Kalan inLudhiana. It achieved prominence through its second incumbent, Gurbachan Singh Khalsa (1902–1969) ofBhindran Kalan, hence its name.[11] He devoted his entire life to teaching the enunciation and intonation in reciting the Sikh scriptures. He trained a large number ofgianīs, traditional Sikh scholars, through his mobile seminary. When he died in 1969 he was succeeded by two contenders, Giani Mohan Singh (1919–2020), leading the originalBhindrāṅ Kalāṅ branch in Ludhiana and Kartar Singh Khalsa (1932–1977), leading theMehtā branch in Amritsar district.[11]
During much of the mid-1900s, Gurbachan Singh Khalsa was a prominentsant teaching a large number of students[12] and remains an influential figure. The influence of Bhindran Taksal is attested by the fact that its alumni include themukkh granthī (chief narrator) at theGolden Temple,jathedārs of variousSikh takhts, andgranthīs (narrators) of majorgurdwaras.[11]
The Damdami Taksal also had a history of dispute with theGovernment of India, as a previous leader, Kartar Singh Khalsa, had been a severe critic of the excesses of Indira Gandhi'sEmergency rule.[3][4] In 1975, a large event to commemorate the 300th anniversarymartyrdom ofGuru Tegh Bahadur was attended byIndira Gandhi and Kartar Singh Khalsa. This was the starting point of tensions between Damdami Taksal and theCentral Government under Congress.[13] The dispute[note 1] was about who was the leader and who had the greater authority over the Sikh people, theGuru Granth Sahib or Indira Gandhi.[14]
The Damdami Taksal was first brought to wider attention in the whole of India byJarnail Singh Bhindranwale during the1978 Sikh–Nirankari clashes,[15] theAnandpur Resolution, theDharam Yudh Morcha of 1982,[16] and laterOperation Blue Star and theKhalistan movement and insurgency.[17]
The following table lists the Jathedars of Damdami Taksal:[18]
| Term | Description | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Name (Birth–Death) | Image | Start | End | Citation(s) | |
| 1. | Baba Deep Singh (1682–1757) |  | 1706 | 1757 | [19] | |
| 2. | Baba Gurbaksh Singh (1688-1761) |  | 1757 | 1761 | [20] | |
| 3. | Bhai Soorat Singh | 1761 | [21] | |||
| 4. | Bhai Gurdas Singh[note 2] (b. 1773) | [22] | ||||
| 5. | Giani Sant Singh (1768–1832) |  | 1832 | [23] | ||
| 6. | Sant Giani Daya Singh | 1832 | [24] | |||
| 7. | Sant Giani Bhagwan Singh | [25] | ||||
| 8. | Sant Giani Harnam Singh Bedi | 1885 | [26] | |||
| 9. | Sant Bishan Singh Muralewale (1852–1905) |  | 1885 | 1907 | [27] | |
| 10. | Sant Sundar Singh Bhindranwale (1883–1930) | 1907 | 1930 | [28] | ||
| 11. | Sant Gurbachan Singh Bhindranwale (1902–1969) |  | 1930 | 1969 | [29][30] | |
| 12. | Sant Kartar Singh Bhindranwale (1932–1977) |  | 1969 | 1977 | [31] | |
| 13. | Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale (1947–1984) | 1977 | 1984 | [32][33] | ||
| 14. | Baba Thakur Singh Bhindranwale (1915–2004) | 1984 | 2004 | |||
| 15. | Sant Baba Harnam Singh |  | 2004 | Present | ||
DuringBritish colonial rule, Sunder Singh Bhindranwala[note 3] set about purging diversity in Sikh doctrine, ritual and practice, hoping to have a uniform Sikh community. Part of this strategy was to have a standardizedRehat Maryada (Code of Conduct) .[35]
Sunder Singh was succeeded by Gurbachan Singh Khalsa in 1930, after whom Kartar Singh Bhindranwala continued his work in 1961. Kartar Singh established Gurdwara Gurdarshan Parkash at Mehta,Amritsar.[11] In 1977, after the death of Kartar Singh, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwala became the Jathedar of Damdami Taksal.[11][36]
Thakur Singh Bhindranwala[37] took over his Taksal when Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was killed in 1984 by theParachute Regiment andSpecial Group inHarmander Sahib, referred to asOperation Bluestar.[38] Baba Thakur Singh famously said that Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was not dead, was the last jathedar, and was in "chardi kala", and was to return soon. It is unclear if he meant that Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale would come again viatransmigration.
After the death of Gurbachan Singh, there was a succession dispute between Giani Mohan Singh and Kartar Singh, the later of whom would later be accepted as thejathedar (leader). Furthermore, after the death of Thakur Singh, the leadership of Taksal as was handed over toGiani Ram Singh Sangrawa by theSGPC in January 2005.[39][40] Despite this, senior leadership and members of Taksal accepted Harnam Singh Khalsa as the successor.[39] In July 2017, Taksal chief Harnam Singh Khalsa was hailed as the successor to Jarnail Singh Bhindrawala by the SGPC.[41] Giani Ram Singh Sangrawa now heads a breakaway group as "mukhsevadar" (chief servicemember).[42][43][44] Controversy exists over whether or not Baba Harnam Singh or Giani Ram Singh can claim "jathedari" (leadership status), or if the individuals are merely "mukh sevadar" (chief servicemembers) or "mukhi" (chiefs).
The Damdami Taksal follow their own code of conduct called theGurmat Rehat Maryada, which is different from the mainsteamSikh Rehat Maryada followed by the Akal Takht and published by theShiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee.[45] Some differences include the reading ofRagmala afterAkhand Path and requiring its Amritdharis to be strict lacto-vegetarians.[46] It is well known for prioritizing extreme discipline & strictness within the Sikh lifestyle.
The Damdami Taksal advocates a strictlacto-vegetarian diet.[47][48] Eating meat is not allowed in any form includingeggs,fish andgelatine.[48]
Although mainstream Amritdhari Sikhs may freely eat any meat, eggs and fish that it is not Kuthha Maas (ritually slaughtered meat, ie: Halal or Kosher), those taking Amrit from the Damdami Taksal are required to be strict lacto-vegetarians and cannot eat meat, eggs or food which contain these products (such as animal fat or cakes with egg in it).[citation needed]
It should be noted, however, that this is not the case for Amritdharis following the official rules of theAkal Takht (which is followed in the Golden Temple andKesgarh Sahib) orNihang Sikhs. TheSikh Gurus also never restricted the consumption of meat, eggs or fish during any of their lifetimes, provided the meat was not Kuthha Maas.[citation needed]
Damdami Taksal is somewhat influenced by theNirmala school of thought as the eleventh leader of Damdami Taksal, Bishan Singh Muralewale, studied under NirmalaSants such asPundit Tara Singh and Pundit Sadhu Singh during the late 19th century.[49][50] Sant Gurbachan Singh Bhindranwale studied the famous Faridkot Teeka authored by Nirmala scholars.[51]
In 1706, when Gobind Singh...he is said to have founded a distinguished school of exegesis.
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