Damdami Taksal

The Damdamī Ṭaksāl, Jatha Bhindra(n), or Sampardai Bhindra(n)<ref>Singh, Nirbhai. Philosophy of Sikhism: Reality and its manifestations. Atlantic Publishers & Distri, 1990.</ref> is an orthodox Khalsa Sikh cultural and educational organization, based in India.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They are known for their teachings of vidya as well as gurbani santhiya. Its headquarters are located in the town of Mehta Chowk, approximately 40 km north of the city of Amritsar.<ref name="lal75">Template:Cite book</ref> It has been described as a seminary or “moving university” of the Sikh countryside.<ref name="Mahmood_WY">Template:Cite book</ref>

The Damdami Taksal borrows many foundational aspects from the Giani Samparda (headed by the Giani family), the Girivari Samparda, the Damdami Samparda, the Namdhari Samparda and the Dera Naurangabad.

History

In 1706, after the Battle of Muktsar, the Khalsa Army of Guru Gobind Singh camped at Sabo Ki Talwandi. This acted as a damdamā, or halting place (lit. "breathing place"), and is now the site of Takht Sri Damdamā Sahib.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> That year, Guru Gobind Singh is said to have founded a distinguished school of exegesis,<ref name="MartyAppleby">Template:Cite book</ref> later headed up by Baba Deep Singh.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Damdamā Sahib was considered to be the highest seat of learning for the Sikhs during the 18th century,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and Damdami Taksal claims direct historical ties to Guru Gobind Singh,<ref name="Mahmood_WY" /> who entrusted it with the responsibility of teaching the reading (santhiya), analysis (vichār) and recitation of the Sikh scriptures, and Baba Deep Singh.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The word ṭaksāl (lit. 'mint') refers to an education institute; which is a community of students who associate themselves with a particular sant (lit. spiritual leader or saint).<ref name="Schomer 1987 262">Template:Cite book</ref>

The main center of the present-day Damdami Taksal (Jatha Bhindran-Mehta) is located at Gurdwārā Gurdarshan Parkāsh in Mehta, Amritsar.<ref name="HawleyBhindran" /> It is actually a branch of a major school of traditional Sikh learning known as the Bhindrāṅ Ṭaksāl which is based Mehta. Although, this Taksal was established in 1906 by Sundar Singh (1883–1930) of Boparai Kalan in Ludhiana. It achieved prominence through its second incumbent, Gurbachan Singh Khalsa (1902–1969) of Bhindran Kalan, hence its name.<ref name="HawleyBhindran">Template:Cite book</ref> He devoted his entire life to teaching the enunciation and intonation in reciting the Sikh scriptures. He trained a large number of gianīs, 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 original Bhindrāṅ Kalāṅ branch in Ludhiana and Kartar Singh Khalsa (1932–1977), leading the Mehtā branch in Amritsar district.<ref name="HawleyBhindran" />

During much of the mid-1900s, Gurbachan Singh Khalsa was a prominent sant teaching a large number of students<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and remains an influential figure. The influence of Bhindran Taksal is attested by the fact that its alumni include the mukkh granthī (chief narrator) at the Golden Temple, jathedārs of various Sikh takhts, and granthīs (narrators) of major gurdwaras.<ref name="HawleyBhindran" />

The Damdami Taksal also had a history of dispute with the Government of India, as a previous leader, Kartar Singh Khalsa, had been a severe critic of the excesses of Indira Gandhi's Emergency rule.<ref name="lal75" /><ref name="Mahmood_WY" /> In 1975, a large event to commemorate the 300th anniversary martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur was attended by Indira Gandhi and Kartar Singh Khalsa. This was the starting point of tensions between Damdami Taksal and the Central Government under Congress.<ref name="Pande 1989">Template:Cite book</ref> The dispute<ref group="note">When Indira Gandhi came onto the stage in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib, while all those on the stage arose to welcome and respect her, but it was only Kartar Singh Bhindranwale remained seated.<ref name="Judge 2005">Template:Cite book</ref> On the stage Kartar Singh spoke saying no one is more powerful than our Guru and we are not required to get up and pay respect to her, he was applauded by the people.<ref name="Pande 1989"/></ref> was about who was the leader and who had the greater authority over the Sikh people, the Guru Granth Sahib or Indira Gandhi.<ref name="Judge 2005" />

The Damdami Taksal was first brought to wider attention in the whole of India by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale during the 1978 Sikh–Nirankari clashes,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> the Anandpur Resolution, the Dharam Yudh Morcha of 1982,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and later Operation Blue Star and the Khalistan movement and insurgency.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Jathedars of Damdami Taksal

The following table lists the Jathedars of Damdami Taksal:<ref>Template:Cite book Taken from {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

			Term		Description
No.	Name	Image	Start	End		Citation(s)
1.	Baba Deep SinghTemplate:Small	File:Baba Deep Singh fresco from Gurdwara Baba Atal, Amritsar.jpg	1706	1757		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2.	Baba Gurbaksh Singh	File:Fresco of Baba Gurbaksh Singh Nihang from Gurdwara Baba Atal, Amritsar.jpg	1757	1761		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
3.	Bhai Soorat Singh		1761			citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
4.	Bhai Gurdas SinghTemplate:Efn					citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
5.	Giani Sant Singh	File:Illustration from a lithographed ‘Ramcharitarmanas’ translated by Giani Sant Singh.jpg		1832		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
6.	Sant Giani Daya Singh		1832			citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
7.	Sant Giani Bhagwan Singh					citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
8.	Sant Giani Harnam Singh Bedi			1885		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
9.	Sant Bishan Singh Muralewale	File:Photograph of Bishan Singh Muralewale, 10th Jathedar of the Damdami Taksal.jpg	1885	1907		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
10.	Sant Sundar Singh Bhindranwale		1907	1930		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
11.	Sant Gurbachan Singh Bhindranwale	File:Sant Gurbachan Singh Bhindranwale reading the Guru Granth Sahib, holding a fly whisk.png	1930	1969		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
12.	Sant Kartar Singh Bhindranwale	File:Sant Kartar Singh standing over the dead body of Gurbachan Singh.png	1969	1977		citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
13.	Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale		1977	1984		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
14.	Baba Thakur Singh Bhindranwale		1984	2004		<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
15.	Sant Baba Harnam Singh	File:Harnam Singh Dhumma.jpg	2004	Present

Leadership

During British colonial rule, Sunder Singh Bhindranwala<ref group="note">Sunder Singh was from the Bhindran village<ref name="Schomer 1987 262"/> and thus was referred to as Bhindranwale, "the one from Bhindran"</ref> 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 standardized Rehat Maryada (Code of Conduct) .<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

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.<ref name="HawleyBhindran" /> In 1977, after the death of Kartar Singh, Jarnail Singh Bhindranwala became the Jathedar of Damdami Taksal.<ref name="HawleyBhindran" /><ref>Low intensity conflicts in India By Vivek Chadha, United Service Institution of India page 196.</ref>

Thakur Singh Bhindranwala<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> took over his Taksal when Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was killed in 1984 by the Parachute Regiment and Special Group in Harmander Sahib, referred to as Operation Bluestar.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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 via transmigration.

File:Image of Sant Mohan Singh Bhindranwale.png

Mohan Singh and Kartar Singh would both contend for the jathedari (leadership) of the taksal

Succession disputes

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 the jathedar (leader). Furthermore, after the death of Thakur Singh, the leadership of Taksal as was handed over to Giani Ram Singh Sangrawa by the SGPC in January 2005.<ref name="Tribune">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Despite this, senior leadership and members of Taksal accepted Harnam Singh Khalsa as the successor.<ref name="Tribune" /> In July 2017, Taksal chief Harnam Singh Khalsa was hailed as the successor to Jarnail Singh Bhindrawala by the SGPC.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Giani Ram Singh Sangrawa now heads a breakaway group as "mukh sevadar" (chief servicemember).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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).

Beliefs

File:Students of the Sikh University, Damdami Taksal, learning Santhiya-Santhya.webp

Students of the Sikh University, Damdami Taksal, learning Santhiya

The Damdami Taksal have their own Sikh Code of Conduct, the Gurmat Rehat Maryada, which differs from the Rehat Maryada published by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Some differences include the reading of Ragmala after Akhand Path.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It is well known for prioritizing extreme discipline & strictness within the Sikh lifestyle.

Vegetarianism

The Damdami Taksal advocates a strict lacto-vegetarian diet.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name="Vegetarian">"The Fools Argue about Flesh and Meat’: Sikhs and Vegetarianism". damdamitaksal.com. Retrieved 12 March 2023.</ref> Eating meat is not allowed in any form including eggs, fish and gelatine.<ref name="Vegetarian" />

Relationship with other sects

Damdami Taksal is somewhat influenced by the Nirmala school of thought as the eleventh leader of Damdami Taksal, Bishan Singh Muralewale, studied under Nirmala Sants such as Pundit Tara Singh and Pundit Sadhu Singh during the late 19th century.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Sant Gurbachan Singh Bhandranwale studied the famous Faridkot Teeka authored by Nirmala scholars.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

See also

• Khalsa
• Nirmala
• Sects of Sikhism

Further reading

• Giani Jaswant singh Manji Sahib Book ~ Chita Chola

External links

• Damdami Taksal – Official Website