Damdami Taksal

The Damdami Taksal is a 300 years old educational organization^[1] said to have been founded by the tenth Sikh Master, Guru Gobind Singh.^[2][3] 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.^[4]

History

The Damdami Taksal is claimed by its followers to have been started by Guru Gobind Singh^[3] and later headed by Baba Deep Singh,^{[citation needed]} although Harjot Oberoi's research indicates that "No major work on Sikh religion, society, or history, alludes to this body".^[5] In 1706, when Guru Gobind Singh was encamped at Sabo Ki Talwandi, he is said to have "founded a distinguished school of exegesis".^[5] 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).^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[6][dubious – discuss]}

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 Committee.^[7]

The Damdami Taksal has been linked to the Khalistan movement.^[8]

References

1. ^ http://www.tribuneindia.com/2004/20041225/punjab1.htm#5
2. ^ http://www.damdamitaksal.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3&Itemid=8
3. ^ ^{a b} http://www.sikh-heritage.co.uk/arts/musicPunjab/Music%20of%20Punjab.htm
4. ^ Mahmood 1997, p. Page 75
5. ^ ^{a b} Martin E. Marty, R. Scott Appleby, John H. Garvey, ed (1996). Fundamentalisms and the state: remaking polities, economies, and militance. The Fundamentalism Project. 3. University of Chicago Press. pp. 266. ISBN 0226508846, 9780226508849. http://books.google.com/books?id=doCmVaOnh_wC. "In 1706, when Gobind Singh...he is said to have founded a distinguished school of exegesis." 
6. ^ Low intensity conflicts in India By Vivek Chadha, United Service Institution of India page 196.
7. ^ "Gurmat Rehat Maryada". Damdamitaksaal.org. http://damdamitaksaal.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=80&Itemid=68. Retrieved 2009-08-09. 
8. ^ Sikhism and history by Pashaura Singh, Norman Gerald Barrier Page 208

External links

• Website of Damdami Taksal (Damdami Taksaal)
• Damdami Taksal leader listing page