Takht Sri Damdama Sahib
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One of the Five Takhts or Seat of Temporal Authority of Sikhism, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib is situated at Bathinda in Punjab, India and is the place where Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, prepared the full version of the Sikh Scriptures called Sri Guru Granth Sahib in 1705. The other four Takhts are the Akal Takht, Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Takht Sri Patna Sahib and Takht Sri Hazur Sahib.
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[edit] History
The Takht is located at village Talwandi Sabo, 28 km Southeast of Bathinda. Literally, Damdama means breathing place. Guru Gobind Singh stayed here after fighting battles against the Mughals. Before his arrival at Talwandi Sabo, two of the Guru’s younger sons, Zorawar Singh and Fateh Singh, aged 9 and 7 respectively, were bricked alive by Wazir Khan,the Nawab of Sirhind(Today, the place is known as Fatehgarh Sahib). His two elder sons, Ajit Singh and Jujhar Singh, laid down their lives while fighting Mughal forces at Chamkaur Sahib. After writing the Zafarnama, Guru Gobind Singh fought a successful battle at Muktsar and then moved towards Talwandi Sabo.
[edit] Guru Ki Kashi
Kashi means a great learning centre.(Kashi is also another name of the Hindu holy city of Varanasi, which was a great centre for Learning in ancient India). This title was given because of the intense literary activities that Guru Gobind Singh engaged in during his stay here(the compilation of Sikh Scriptures).It is said that one day Guru Gobind flung a handful of reed pens over the heads of the congregation('Sangat'), saying: "Here we will create a pool of literature. No one of my Sikhs should remain illiterate." The Damdame Wali Bir as it is sometimes called was completed here by the Guru. It was transcribed by Bhai Mani Singh. The hymns of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, the ninth Guru and father of Guru Gobind Singh were added into the Bir.
[edit] Recognition as Takht
This Takht was officially recognized as the fifth Takht of Sikhism on Novemver 18, 1966. On a demand from the Sikhs, a sub-committee was appointed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Amritsar by a General Meeting Resolution No: 789 on July 30, 1960. A report of the sub-committee containing 183 pages was received to declare Damdama Sahib or Guru Ki Kashi as the fifth Takht of the Sikhs. A general body meeting of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee at Amritsar approved the recommendations through resolution number 32 on November 18, 1966. It has been declared as the fifth Sikh Takht by the Government of India in April 1999 during tricentennial celebrations of the formation of the Khalsa.
[edit] Other Gurdwaras at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib
- Gurdwara Manji Sahib Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur
- Gurdwara Manji Sahib Padshahi Nauvin and Dasvin
- Gurdwara Likhansar Sahib
- Gurdwara Jandsar Sahib
- Gurdwara Tibbi Sahib
- Gurdwara Sri Nanaksar
- Gurdwara Niwas Asthan Padshahi Dasvin
- Gurdwara Mata Sundari and Sahib Devan
[edit] See also
- Akal Takht in Amritsar (beside the Golden Temple)
- Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib (Birthplace of the Khalsa)
- Takht Sri Patna Sahib (Birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh)
- Takht Sri Hazur Sahib (place where Guru Gobind Singh breathed his last breath)
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