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Damdami Taksal

Not to be confused with Takht Sri Damdama Sahib.

The Damdamī Ṭaksāl, Jatha Bhindra(n), or Sampardai Bhindra(n)[1] is an orthodox Khalsa Sikh cultural and educational organization, based in India.[2] 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.[3] It has been described as a seminary or “moving university” of the Sikh countryside.[4]

Damdami Taksal
Jatha Bhindran-Mehta
ਦਮਦਮੀ ਟਕਸਾਲ
Formation7 August 1706
FounderGuru Gobind Singh
PurposeSikh seminary
HeadquartersGurdwara Gurdarshan Parkash
Location
Coordinates31°40′01″N 75°14′52″E / 31.66690°N 75.24788°E / 31.66690; 75.24788
Harnam Singh Khalsa
Websitehttps://www.damdamitaksal.com/

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

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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.[5] That year, Guru Gobind Singh is said to have founded a distinguished school of exegesis,[6] later headed up by Baba 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 to Guru Gobind Singh,[4] who entrusted it with the responsibility of teaching the reading (santhiya), analysis (vichār) and recitation of the Sikh scriptures, and Baba Deep Singh.[9] 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).[10]

The main center of the present-day Damdami Taksal (Jatha Bhindran-Mehta) is located at Gurdwārā Gurdarshan Parkāsh in Mehta, Amritsar.[11] 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.[11] 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.[11]

During much of the mid-1900s, Gurbachan Singh Khalsa was a prominent sant 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 the mukkh granthī (chief narrator) at the Golden Temple, jathedārs of various Sikh takhts, and granthīs (narrators) of major gurdwaras.[11]

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.[3][4] 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.[13] The dispute[note 1] was about who was the leader and who had the greater authority over the Sikh people, the Guru Granth Sahib or Indira Gandhi.[14]

The Damdami Taksal was first brought to wider attention in the whole of India by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale during the 1978 Sikh–Nirankari clashes,[15] the Anandpur Resolution, the Dharam Yudh Morcha of 1982,[16] and later Operation Blue Star and the Khalistan movement and insurgency.[17]

Jathedars of Damdami Taksal

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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

[34]

15. Sant Baba Harnam Singh   2004 Present

Leadership

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During British 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 standardized Rehat 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 the Parachute Regiment and Special Group in Harmander Sahib, referred to as Operation 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 via transmigration.

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

Succession disputes

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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.[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 "mukh sevadar" (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).

Beliefs

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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.[45] Some differences include the reading of Ragmala after Akhand Path.[46] It is well known for prioritizing extreme discipline & strictness within the Sikh lifestyle.

Vegetarianism

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The Damdami Taksal who cite the Guru Granth Sahib advocate a strict lacto-vegetarian diet.[47][48] Eating meat is not allowed in any form including eggs, fish and gelatine.[48]

Relationship with other sects

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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.[49][50] Sant Gurbachan Singh Bhandranwale studied the famous Faridkot Teeka authored by Nirmala scholars.[51]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ 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.[14] 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.[13]
  2. ^ This is not the same "Bhai Gurdas Singh" who wrote the 41st Vaar
  3. ^ Sunder Singh was from the Bhindran village[10] and thus was referred to as Bhindranwale, "the one from Bhindran"

References

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  1. ^ Singh, Nirbhai. Philosophy of Sikhism: Reality and its manifestations. Atlantic Publishers & Distri, 1990.
  2. ^ "Baba Thakur Singh of Damdami Taksal dead". Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  3. ^ a b Mahmood, Cynthia Keppley (November 1996). Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues with Sikh Militants. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 75. ISBN 978-0-8122-1592-2.
  4. ^ a b c C. K. Mahmood (1996). Why Sikhs Fight (Anthropological Contributions to Conflict Resolution). The University of Georgia Press. p. 17. ISBN 9780820317656.
  5. ^ Dhillon, Dalbir (1988). Sikhism Origin and Development. Atlantic Publishers & Distri. p. 152.
  6. ^ Harjot Oberoi (1996). "Sikh Fundamentalism: Translating History into Theory". In Martin E. Marty; R. Scott Appleby (eds.). Fundamentalisms and the state: remaking polities, economies, and militance. The Fundamentalism Project. Vol. 3. University of Chicago Press. pp. 266. ISBN 978-0-226-50884-9. In 1706, when Gobind Singh...he is said to have founded a distinguished school of exegesis.
  7. ^ H. S. Singha (2000). The Encyclopedia of Sikhism. Hemkunt Press. p. 57. ISBN 9788170103011.
  8. ^ Kapoor, Sukhbir (2003). Dasam Granth An Introductory Study. Hemkunt Press. p. 12. ISBN 81-7010-325-8.
  9. ^ "Damdami Taksaal - The official website of the Damdami Taksaal". Damdami Taksaal. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  10. ^ a b Schomer, Karine (1987). The Sants: Studies in a Devotional Tradition of India. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 262. ISBN 9788120802773.
  11. ^ a b c d e f Singh, Pashaura, Michael Hawley (2012). Re-imagining South Asian Religions: Essays in Honour of Professors Harold G. Coward and Ronald W. Neufeldt. BRILL. p. 38. ISBN 9789004242371.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Singh, Pashaura (2003). The Guru Granth Sahib: Canon, Meaning and Authority. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199087730.
  13. ^ a b Pande, B. N. (1989). Indira Gandhi: Builders of modern India. Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India.
  14. ^ a b Judge, Paramjit (2005). Religion, Identity, and Nationhood: The Sikh Militant Movement. Rawat Publications. ISBN 9788170339496.
  15. ^ Tambiah, Stanley (1997). Leveling Crowds: Ethnonationalist Conflicts and Collective Violence in South Asia. California: University of California Press. p. 106. ISBN 0520200020.
  16. ^ Singh, Harjinder (2008). Game of Love (Second ed.). Walsall: Akaal Publishers. p. 61.
  17. ^ Singh Tatla, Darshan (1999). "6 Demand for Homeland - Sikhs in Britain" (PDF). The Sikh Diaspora: The Search For Statehood. England: UCL Press. pp. 116 onwards. ISBN 1-85728-301-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  18. ^ Damdami Taksaal De Mahanpurkh (PDF) (in Punjabi). Damdami Taksal. Taken from "Damdami Taksaal - Leaders". www.damdamitaksal.com. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  19. ^ "Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Ji - the first Jathedar of Damdami Taksal and Shaheedan Misl". Damdami Taksal. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  20. ^ "Baba Gurbaksh Singh Ji - Damdami Taksal". Damdami Taksal. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  21. ^ "Baba Soorat Singh Ji". Damdami Taksal. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  22. ^ "Baba Gurdas Singh Ji". Damdami Taksal. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  23. ^ "Baba Sant Singh Ji". Damdami Taksal. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  24. ^ "Baba Daya Singh Ji". Damdami Taksal. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  25. ^ "Baba Bhagwan Singh Ji". Damdami Taksal. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  26. ^ "Baba Harnam Singh Ji Bedi". Damdami Taksal. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  27. ^ "Sant Bishan Singh Ji". Damdami Taksal. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  28. ^ "Sant Sundar Singh Ji". Damdami Taksal. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  29. ^ "Sant Gurbachan Singh Ji". Damdami Taksal. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  30. ^ "GURBACHAN SINGH KHALSA BHINDRANVALE, SANT GIANI". The Sikh Encyclopedia. 19 December 2000. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  31. ^ "Sant Kartar Singh Ji". Damdami Taksal. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  32. ^ "Revisiting Punjab's turmoil before and after Op Bluestar". Hindustan Times. Chandigarh. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  33. ^ Singh, Tarlochann (29 October 2022). "The unanswered questions about the 1984 Punjab tragedy". Carava Magazine. Haryana.
  34. ^ "Damdami Taksaal - Sant Baba Thakur Singh Jee Khalsa (Acting Jathedar)". www.damdamitaksal.com. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  35. ^ Marty, Martin (1996). Fundamentalisms and the State: Remaking Polities, Economies, and Militance, Volume 3. University of Chicago Press. p. 267. ISBN 9780226508849.
  36. ^ Low intensity conflicts in India By Vivek Chadha, United Service Institution of India page 196.
  37. ^ Singh, Gurharpal (2006). Sikhs in Britain: The Making of a Community. Zed Books. p. 92. ISBN 9781842777176.
  38. ^ Tully, Mark (1991). The defeat of a congressman: and other parables of modern India. Knopf. p. 154. ISBN 9780394573991.
  39. ^ a b Walia, Varinder (3 January 2005). "Baba Harnam Singh acting chief of Taksal Ram Singh heads breakaway faction". Tribune. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  40. ^ "Damdami Taksal". Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  41. ^ "Taksal chief Dhumma hailed as heir to 'warrior' Bhindranwala at SGPC function; Badals mark presence". Hindustan Times. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  42. ^ "Op/Ed: History and Background of Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma". Sikh24. 17 June 2016.
  43. ^ Rana, Yudhvir (24 May 2013). "Breakaway faction of Damdami Taksal and Sant Samaj disapproves present form of memorial to Operation Blue Star". The Times of India.
  44. ^ "Damdami Taksal factions clash ahead of Bluestar anniversary". The Indian Express. 29 May 2013.
  45. ^ "Gurmat Rehat Maryada". Damdamitaksaal.org. Retrieved 9 August 2009.
  46. ^ Singh, Harjinder; Singh, Sukha; Singh, Jaskeerth (2015). Sikh Code of Conduct (4th ed.). Akaal Publishers. p. 82. ISBN 978-0-9554587-4-3.
  47. ^ Nesbitt, Eleanor (2015). "The Fools Argue about Flesh and Meat': Sikhs and Vegetarianism". Religions of South Asia. 9 (1): 81–101. doi:10.1558/rosa.v9i1.22123.
  48. ^ a b "The Fools Argue about Flesh and Meat’: Sikhs and Vegetarianism". damdamitaksal.com. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  49. ^ Damdami Taksal De Mahapurkh. Amritsar: Damdami Taksal (Jatha Bhindran). p. 22.
  50. ^ Dilgira, Harjindar (1997). The Sikh Reference Book. Sikh Educational Trust for Sikh University Centre. p. 318. ISBN 9780969596424.
  51. ^ "Damdami Taksaal - Sant Giani Gurbachan Singh Jee Khalsa Bhindranwale". www.damdamitaksal.com. Retrieved 31 March 2023.

Further reading

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  • Giani Jaswant singh Manji Sahib Book ~ Chita Chola
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