Damdami Taksal
Encyclopedia
The Damdami Taksal is a 300 years old educational organization said to have been founded by the tenth Sikh Master, Guru Gobind Singh
. According to the Damdami Taksal, it was entrusted with the responsibility of teaching the reading (santhyia), analysis (vichar) and recitation of the Sikh scriptures
by Guru Gobind Singh. It was brought to wider attention by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwala and the Khalistan
movement.
Its headquarters are located in the town of Chowk Mehta, approximately 25 miles north of the city of Amritsar
.
and later headed by Baba Deep Singh
, although Harjot Oberoi
's research indicates that "No major work on Sikh religion, society, or history, alludes to this body". In 1706, when Guru Gobind Singh was encamped at Sabo Ki Talwandi, he is said to have "founded a distinguished school of exegesis
". According to Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer (Sikh Twareekh, vols 2 and 5) the term Damdami Taksal never existed before 1977; the term 'Damdami taksal' does not appear in a single book published prior to 1977; in fact it was Jatha Bhindran, and, even the publications by this group used the name Jatha Bhindra (Mehta); in one publication of pre 1977 perid they had used Bhindran Taksal. Hence, it is Jatha Bhindran which has assumed the name Damdami Taksal. Guru Gobind Singh did not establish any so-called Taksal.
Sunder Singh was succeeded by Gurbachan Singh
in 1930, after whom Kartar Singh continued his work. In 1977, after the death of Kartar Singh, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale
became the head of Damdami Taksal.
.
The Damdami Taksal has been linked to the Khalistan movement
.
Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh is the tenth and last Sikh guru in a sacred lineage of ten Sikh gurus. Born in Patna, Bihar in India, he was also a warrior, poet and philosopher. He succeeded his father Guru Tegh Bahadur as the leader of Sikhs at a young age of nine...
. According to the Damdami Taksal, it was entrusted with the responsibility of teaching the reading (santhyia), analysis (vichar) and recitation of the Sikh scriptures
Sikh scriptures
The principal Sikh scripture is the Adi Granth , more commonly called the Guru Granth Sahib. The Sikhs do not regard this as their "holy book" but as their perpetual and current "Guru", Guide or Master...
by Guru Gobind Singh. It was brought to wider attention by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwala and the Khalistan
Khalistan
Khalistan refers to a global political secessionist movement to create a separate Sikh state, called Khālistān , carved out of parts mostly consisting of the Punjab region of India, depending on definition....
movement.
Its headquarters are located in the town of Chowk Mehta, approximately 25 miles north of the city of Amritsar
Amritsar
Amritsar is a city in the northern part of India and is the administrative headquarters of Amritsar district in the state of Punjab, India. The 2001 Indian census reported the population of the city to be over 1,500,000, with that of the entire district numbering 3,695,077...
.
History
The Damdami Taksal is claimed by its followers to have been started by Guru Gobind SinghGuru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh is the tenth and last Sikh guru in a sacred lineage of ten Sikh gurus. Born in Patna, Bihar in India, he was also a warrior, poet and philosopher. He succeeded his father Guru Tegh Bahadur as the leader of Sikhs at a young age of nine...
and later headed by Baba Deep Singh
Baba Deep Singh
Baba Deep Singh is revered among Sikhs as one of the most hallowed martyrs in Sikhism and as a highly religious person. He is remembered for his sacrifice and devotion to the teachings of the Sikh Gurus....
, although Harjot Oberoi
Harjot Oberoi
Harjot Singh Oberoi is a Professor of Asian Studies at the University of British Columbia. He formerly held the chair of Sikh studies there until he was forced to resign it and wrote The Construction of Religious Boundaries: Culture, Identity, and Diversity in the Sikh Tradition.His book is...
's research indicates that "No major work on Sikh religion, society, or history, alludes to this body". In 1706, when Guru Gobind Singh was encamped at Sabo Ki Talwandi, he is said to have "founded a distinguished school of exegesis
Exegesis
Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text. Traditionally the term was used primarily for exegesis of the Bible; however, in contemporary usage it has broadened to mean a critical explanation of any text, and the term "Biblical exegesis" is used...
". According to Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer (Sikh Twareekh, vols 2 and 5) the term Damdami Taksal never existed before 1977; the term 'Damdami taksal' does not appear in a single book published prior to 1977; in fact it was Jatha Bhindran, and, even the publications by this group used the name Jatha Bhindra (Mehta); in one publication of pre 1977 perid they had used Bhindran Taksal. Hence, it is Jatha Bhindran which has assumed the name Damdami Taksal. Guru Gobind Singh did not establish any so-called Taksal.
Leadership
Sunder Singh 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 standardised code of conduct (Rahit).Sunder Singh was succeeded by Gurbachan Singh
Gurbachan Singh
Baba Gurbachan Singh was the leader of the Sant Nirankari sect, considered to be heterodox by mainstream Sikh. He was declared Satguru by his predecessor Baba Avtar Singh in 1962.He should not be confused with Gurbachan Singh Manochahal.-Events of 1978-1980:...
in 1930, after whom Kartar Singh continued his work. In 1977, after the death of Kartar Singh, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was the leader of the Damdami Taksal, a Sikh religious group based in India, who supported implementation of the Anandpur Sahib Resolution. In 1981, Bhindranwale was arrested for his suspected involvement in the murder of Jagat Narain, the proprietor of the Hind...
became the head of Damdami Taksal.
Beliefs
The Damdami Taksal have their own version of the Sikh Code of Conduct, the Gurmat Rehat Maryada, which differs from the Rehat Maryada published by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak CommitteeShiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is an organization in India responsible for the upkeep of gurdwaras, Sikh places of worship in three states of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. SGPC also administers Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar. Gurdwaras in Delhi are the administered by Delhi Sikh...
.
The Damdami Taksal has been linked to the Khalistan movement
Khalistan movement
Khalistan refers to a global political secessionist movement to create a separate Sikh state, called Khālistān , carved out of parts mostly consisting of the Punjab region of India, depending on definition....
.