Takht Sri Damdama Sahib

Sikh religious site in Talwandi Sabo, Punjab, India

Not to be confused with Damdami Taksal.

Takht Sri Damdama Sahib

Flag of Takht

General information
Status| Takht of the Sikhs[1]
Architectural style| Sikh architecture
Address| Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda district, Punjab, India
Town or city| Talwandi Sabo
Country|  India
Coordinates| 29°59′13″N 75°04′43″E﻿ / ﻿29.9869°N 75.0786°E﻿ / 29.9869; 75.0786
Part of a series on

Sikhism

* People
* Topics
* Outline
* History
* Glossary

Sikh gurus

* Guru Nanak
* Guru Angad
* Guru Amar Das
* Guru Ram Das
* Guru Arjan
* Guru Hargobind
* Guru Har Rai
* Guru Har Krishan
* Guru Tegh Bahadur
* Guru Gobind Singh
* Guru Granth Sahib

Selected revered saints

* Bhagat Kabir
* Bhagat Ravidas
* Bhagat Farid
* Bhagat Ramanand
* Bhagat Beni
* Bhagat Namdev
* Bhagat Sadhana
* Bhagat Bhikhan
* Bhagat Parmanand
* Bhagat Sain
* Bhagat Dhanna
* Bhagat Pipa
* Bhagat Surdas
* Bhagat Jaidev
* Bhagat Trilochan
* Bhatt Kalshar
* Bhatt Balh
* Bhatt Bhalh
* Bhatt Bhika
* Bhatt Gayand
* Bhatt Harbans
* Bhatt Jalap
* Bhatt Kirat
* Bhatt Mathura
* Bhatt Nalh
* Bhatt Salh
* Baba Sundar
* Satta Doom
* Balvand Rai

Philosophy

* Naam Japo
* Kirat Karō
* Vand Chakkō
* Charhdi Kalā
* Guru Maneyo Granth
* Five Thieves
* Five Virtues

Practices

* Sikh Rehat Maryada
* Prohibitions
* Ardās
* Kirtan
* Amrit Velā
* Dasvand
* The Five Ks
* Langar
* Sewa
* Simran
* Nitnem
* Dastaar (Turban)
* Naam Karan
* Amrit Sanskar
* Anand Karaj
* Antam Sanskar

Scripture

* Guru Granth Sahib
* Dasam Granth
* Sarbloh Granth
* Five Banis

Places and Takhts

* Gurdwara
* Harmandir Sahib
* Akal Takht
* Keshgarh Sahib
* Damdama Sahib
* Patna Sahib
* Hazur Sahib

Culture

* Literature
* Music
* Names
* Khanda
* Khalsa

General topics

* Ik Onkar
* Waheguru
* Panj Pyare
* Nirgun and Sargun
* Nanakshahi calendar
* Criticism
* Jathedar of Akal Takht
* War
* Sects

Sikhism and other religions

* Sikhism and Hinduism
* Sikhism and Islam
* Sikhism and Jainism

* Religion portal

* v
* t
* e

The Takht Sri Darbar Sahib Damdama Sahib, is one of the five takhts or Seat of Temporal Authority of Sikhism, located in Talwandi Sabo, near the city of Bathinda in Bathinda district of Punjab, India.[2] At this place 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.

## History

[edit]

The Takht is in the Talwandi Sabo, 28 km southeast of Bathinda. Literally, Damdama means resting place. Guru Gobind Singh stayed here after the Sikhs fought several defensive battles.

Detail of a mural depicting a santhiya scene, from the Bhai Dalla samadh at Talwandi Sabo, ca.1710–40. The mural depicts 48 Sikhs being trained in scriptural elocution.

A combination of Mughals and hill chiefs besieged Anandpur Sahib on the orders of emperor Aurangzeb. Finally the stock of food in the town ran out. The Mughals promised safe passage to Punjab for the Sikhs if they would hand over the fortress of Anandpur. At first Guru Gobind tested their promise of safe passage by staging a test which the attackers failed miserably. Later, with promises written in the margins of the Muslims' Holy Qur'an and some of the sacred writings of the Hindu elements of the army that had all but starved his small contingent of family and Sikhs and a personal promise of safety by Aurangzeb sent by an agent of the Emperor who was fighting in the distant Deccan, the Guru was persuaded to agree to their offer, leaving Anandpur with his family and a small band of retainers. During the flight from Anandpur when the Sikhs were promised safe passage to Punjab, Sahibzada Fateh Singh was, with his elder brother Sahibzada Zorawar Singh, put under the care of his grandmother, Mata Gujari ji. Unfortunately in the confusion of the rain-swollen Sarsa (normally little more than a creek) and an attack by Mughal pursuers, the Guru's two youngest sons and their grandmother were separated from the main body of Sikhs. Managing to get across, they were befriended by one of the Guru's former cooks. Later betrayed and handed off by the authorities of the small village where they had been given sanctuary, they were handed over to agents of Wazir Khan, carted off to Sirhind, and placed under arrest in the Khan's Thanda Burj (cold tower). The Thanda Burj was built to capture the cool night breezes of air drawn over water channels in the hot summers, during the dead of winter the unheated burj offered no comfort for the Guru's mother and sons.

On 26 December 1705, Fateh and his elder brother Zorawar were martyred at Sirhind. Fateh Singh is probably the youngest recorded martyr in history: He knowingly laid down his life at the age of six years.[citation needed] Brothers Sahibzada Fateh Singh and Sahibzada Zorawar Singh are among the most hallowed martyrs in Sikhism.

Today, the place is known as Fatehgarh Sahib. An unequal but grim battle commenced with the sunrise on 7 December 1705 in the words of Guru Gobind Singh's Zafarnamah, a mere forty defying a hundred thousand (lakh). The besieged, after they had exhausted the meagre stock of ammunition and arrows, made sallies in batches of five each to engage the encircling host with sword and spear. Sahibzada Ajit Singh led one of the sallies and laid down his life fighting in the thick of the battle. He was 18 years old at the time of his supreme sacrifice for his faith. Gurdwara Qatalgarh now marks the spot where he fell, followed by Sahibzada Jujhar Singh, 14, who led the next sally. The valour displayed by the young sons of Guru Gobind Singh has been poignantly narrated by a modern Muslim poet Allahyar Khan Jogi who used to recite his Urdu poem, "ShahidaniWafa." from Sikh pulpits during the second and third decades of the twentieth century.

By nightfall Guru Gobind Singh was left with only five Sikhs in the fortress. These five urged him to escape so that he could rally his followers again and continue the struggle against oppression. The Guru agreed. He gave his own attire to Sangat Singh, who resembled him somewhat in features and physical stature. Under cover of darkness, he made his way through the encircling host slackened by the fatigue of the day's battle. Daya Singh, Dharam Singh and Man Singh also escaped leaving behind only two Sikhs: Sangat Singh and Sant Singh. The next morning as the attack was resumed, the imperial troops entered the garhi without much resistance and were surprised to find only two occupants who, determined to die rather than give in, gave battle till the last. Having reached safety Gobind wrote a letter in Persian prose, called the Zafarnamah (Epistle of Victory), to the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb calling him to task as he had guaranteed safe passage to the Punjab for the Sikhs who had abandoned the city of Anandpur and its forts only to be attacked. Guru Gobind Singh fought a successful battle at Muktsar and then moved towards Talwandi Sabo.

## Guru Ki Kashi

[edit]

Before leaving to visit Sikh Sangats in the Deccan, Guruji blessed Talwandi Sabo, as Guru Ki Kashi. Now known better as Damdama Sahib after the Gurdwara became one of the five temporal Takhats of the Sikh religion. Another great Shaheed (Martyr) of Sikhi, Baba Deep Singh ji was installed as the first Jathedar (head) of this temporal seat. He penned additional copies of the Adi Sri Granth Sahib ji and sent them to the other four temporal seats.

Historical photograph of Damdama Sahib (Sabo Ki Talwandi) in the 1920s.

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 Damdama Wali Bir as the Guru Granth Sahib is sometimes called was completed here, being dictated by the Guru to one of his disciples Bhai Mani Singh. It was at this time when the hymns of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, the ninth Guru and father of Guru Gobind Singh were added to the Bir.

## Recognition as Takht

[edit]

This Takht was officially recognized as the fifth Takht of Sikhism on 18 November 1966. On a demand from the Sikhs, a sub-committee was appointed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Amritsar by General Meeting Resolution No: 789 on 30 July 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.[3]

A general body meeting of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee at Amritsar approved the recommendations through resolution number 32 on 18 November 1966. It was declared as the fifth Sikh Takht by the government of India in April 1999 during tricentennial celebrations of the formation of the Khalsa.

## Jathedars of Takht Damdama Sahib

[edit]

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (September 2023)

|

Name  | Assigned by  | Term  | Reference(s)

|
|
|

Baba Deep Singh | Guru Gobind Singh | 7 August 1708 - 13 November 1757  |
Sudh Singh  | ?  | ?  |
Karam Singh  | ?  | ?  |
Natha Singh  | ?  | ?  |
Ran Singh  | ?  | ?  |
Bhagwan Singh  | ?  | ?  |
Baghel Singh | ?  | ?  |
Diwan Singh  | ?  | ?  |
Ram Singh  | ?  | ?  |
Harchand Singh Longowal | SGPC | 1962 - 1964  |
Sant Lakha Singh  | SGPC | \- 1987  |
Giani Jaswant Singh  | Sarbat Khalsa | 26 January 1986 -  |
Giani Jagir Singh Poohla  | SGPC | 1988 -  |
Avtar Singh Brahma | ?  | 1988  | [4]
Sanjh Hakam Singh  | ?  | ?  |
Mehar Singh  | ?  | ?  |
Giani Kewal Singh  | SGPC | 1993 - 12 January 2002  |
Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh | SGPC | 6 January 2003 - 17 January 2015  | [5]
Giani Gurmukh Singh  | SGPC | 27 January 2015 - 21 April 2017  | [6]
Baba Baljit Singh Daduwal  | Sarbat Khalsa | 10 November 2015 - 26 August 2020  |
Giani Harpreet Singh  | SGPC | 21 April 2017 - 9 February 2025  | [7]
Giani Jagtar Singh
Acting | SGPC | 9 February 2025 - 7 March 2025  | [8]
Baba Tek Singh Dhanaula  | SGPC | 7 March 2025 - Incumbent  | [9]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Nabha, Kahan Singh (13 April 1930). Gur Shabad Ratanakar Mahankosh (1 ed.). Languages Department of Punjab, Patiala. p. ਅਕਾਲਬੁੰਗਾ. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
2. ^ "Railways halts survey to finalise the Talwandi Sabo rail route". hindustantimes.com. 25 August 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
3. ^ "Sikh Encyclopedia". Sikh Encyclopedia. 19 December 2000. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
4. ^ Journal of Government and Political Studies. Department of Political Science, Punjabi University. 1989. p. 23.
5. ^ "Nandgarh installed Jathedar". The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Punjab. 6 January 2003. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
6. ^ Rambani, Vishal; Nagpal, Atul (21 April 2017). "Giani Gurmukh Singh removed as Takht Damdama Sahib jathedar; he hits back". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
7. ^ "Takhat Sahiban Jathedar". Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee www.dsgmc.in. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
8. ^ "Giani Harpreet Singh removed as Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar". The Tribune. 10 February 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
9. ^ Singh, Surjit (8 March 2025). "Young Sikh preacher Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj is acting jathedar of Akal Takht". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 9 March 2025.

* v
* t
* e

Sikhism

Glossary and History

Gurus|

* Guru Nanak
* Guru Angad
* Guru Amar Das
* Guru Ram Das
* Guru Arjan
* Guru Hargobind
* Guru Har Rai
* Guru Har Krishan
* Guru Tegh Bahadur
* Guru Gobind Singh
* Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy book)

Philosophy|

* Beliefs and principles
* Guru Maneyo Granth
* Sikh Rehat Maryada
* The 52 Hukams
* Prohibitions
* Cannabis and Sikhism
* Diet in Sikhism

Practices|

* Khalsa
* Sikh practices
* Sikh rites
* Ardās
* Kirtan
* Langar
* Naam Karan
* Anand Karaj
* Amrit Sanchar
* Amrit Velā
* Antam Sanskar
* Three Pillars
* Kirat Karo
* Naam Japo
* Vand Chhako
* The Five Ks
* Simran
* Sewa
* Charhdi Kala
* Dasvand
* Jhatka

Scripture|

* Guru Granth Sahib
* Dasam Granth
* Sarbloh Granth
* Gurbani
* Mul Mantar
* Japji Sahib
* Chaupai
* Jaap Sahib
* Rehras
* Sukhmani Sahib
* Tav-Prasad Savaiye

Architecture|

* Gurdwara
* Harmandir Sahib
* Janam Asthan
* Darbar Sahib Kartarpur
* List
* Africa
* Asia
* Europe
* North America
* Bahadurgarh Fort
* Fateh Burj
* Hazuri Bagh Baradari
* Kesgarh Qila
* Khanda museum
* Moti Bagh Palace
* Nanak Shahi bricks
* Pul Kanjri
* Qila Mubarak, Patiala
* Ramgarhia Bunga
* Samadhi of Ranjit Singh
* Well of Dina Nath

By country|

* Diaspora
* Afghanistan
* Australia
* Austria
* Bangladesh
* Belgium
* Canada
* Vancouver
* China
* Denmark
* Fiji
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* India
* Jammu and Kashmir
* Kochi
* Punjab
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Iraq
* Italy
* Japan
* Malaysia
* Nepal
* Netherlands
* New Zealand
* Niue
* Norway
* Pakistan
* Panama
* Poland
* Singapore
* South Africa
* South Korea
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Thailand
* United Arab Emirates
* United Kingdom
* England
* Scotland
* Wales
* Northern Ireland
* United States
* U.S. Military

Groups, sects
and communities|

* Sects of Sikhism
* Khalsa
* Mina
* Namdhari
* Nanakpanthi
* Nihang
* Nirankari
* Sewapanthi
* Nirmala
* Ramraiya
* Udasi
* Mazhabi Sikh
* Piara Singh Bhaniara
* Agrahari Sikh
* Jatha
* Damdami Taksal
* Akhand Kirtani Jatha
* Singh Sabha
* Contemporary Sant Mat movements
* 3HO

Sikh Empire|

* v
* t
* e

Sikh Empire

Rulers|

* Ranjit Singh
* Kharak Singh
* Nau Nihal Singh
* Chand Kaur
* Sher Singh
* Jind Kaur
* Duleep Singh

Military
conflicts|

| Mughal-Sikh Wars|

* Battle of Bhangani
* Nadaun
* Basoli
* 1st Anandpur
* 2nd Anandpur
* Chamkaur
* Sarsa
* Muktsar
* Sonepat
* Samana
* Sirhind
* Sadhaura
* Chappar Chiri
* Rahon
* Lohgarh
* Jalalabad
* Jammu
* Gurdas Nangal
* Delhi

|

Afghan–Sikh wars|

* Battle of Attock
* Battle of Multan
* Battle of Shopian
* Battle of Nowshera
* Battle of Peshawar
* Battle of Jamrud

First Anglo-Sikh War|

* Battle of Mudki
* Battle of Ferozeshah
* Battle of Aliwal
* Battle of Sobraon

Second Anglo-Sikh War|

* Battle of Ramnagar
* Battle of Chillianwala
* Siege of Multan
* Battle of Gujrat

Others|

Nepal–Sikh War, Sino-Sikh war, Katoch–Sikh War, Hill States–Sikh Wars, Panchayati Revolution, List of battles involving the Sikh Empire

Military forces|

* Sikh Khalsa Army
* Fauj-i-Khas
* Fauj-i-Ain
* Kampu-i-mu'alla

Adversaries|

* Mughal Empire
* Durrani Empire
* Emirate of Afghanistan
* British East India Company
* Kingdom of Nepal
* Qing Empire
* Hill States Alliance
* Kingdom of Mankera
* Namgyal dynasty
* Barakzai dynasty
* Sudhans of Poonch
* Maqpon Dynasty

Forts|

* Jamrud Fort
* Multan Fort
* Harkishangarh
* Lahore Fort
* Zorawar Fort
* Bahu Fort
* Gobindgarh Fort
* Phillaur Fort
* Firozpur Fort

Officials and warriors|

| Natives|

* Dhian Singh
* Diwan Dina Nath
* Diwan Bhawani Das
* Diwan Buta Singh
* Pratap Singh
* Misr Diwan Chand
* Diwan Mulraj
* Hari Singh Nalwa
* Mahan Singh Mirpuri
* Dewan Mokham Chand
* Khushal Singh Jamadar
* Zorawar Singh
* Tej Singh
* Lal Singh
* Gulab Singh
* Balbhadra Kunwar
* Jawahar Singh
* Mehta Basti Ram
* Sham Singh Attariwalla
* Sher Singh Attariwalla
* Chattar Singh Attariwalla
* Desa Singh Majithia
* Amar Singh Majithia
* Lehna Singh Majithia
* Ranjodh Singh Majithia
* Surat Singh Majithia
* Mangal Singh Ramgarhia
* Akali Phula Singh
* Chandu Lal
* Ajit Singh Sandhawalia
* Kahan Singh Nakai
* Sangat Singh Saini
* Hukma Singh
* Veer Singh
* Jarnail Ghaus Khan
* Ilahi Bakhsh
* Fakir Azizuddin
* Sultan Mahmud Khan
* Malik Fateh Khan Tiwana
* Sohan Lal Suri
* Moti Ram
* Diwan Ram Dayal
* Diwan Kirpa Ram

|

Foreigners|

* Jean-François Allard
* Jean-Baptiste Ventura
* Claude Auguste Court
* François Henri Mouton
* Alexander Gardner
* Paolo Avitabile
* Josiah Harlan
* Johann Martin Honigberger
* Henry Lawrence

Influential families|

* Sandhawalia family
* Majithia family
* Tiwana family

Treaties|

* Treaty of Amritsar (1809)
* Tripartite Treaty (1838)
* Treaty of Chushul (1842)
* Treaty of Lahore (1846)
* Treaty of Amritsar (1846)

Miscellaneous|

* Khalsa Darbar records

Festivals|

* Bandi Chhor Divas
* Hola Mohalla
* Maghi
* Mela Maghi
* Vaisakhi

Culture|

* Art
* Music
* Films
* Literature
* Music
* Names

Other topics|

* History
* Ik Onkar
* Waheguru
* Khanda
* Panj Pyare
* Places
* Politics
* Sikhs in the British Indian Army
* 11th Sikh Regiment
* Sikh Regiment
* Sikh Light Infantry
* Nanakshahi calendar
* Ramananda
* Fariduddin Ganjshakar
* Kabir
* Sardar
* Dastar
* Dharamyudh
* Islam
* Jainism
* Hinduism
* Rama
* Sikhs
* Ravidassia
* Women in Sikhism
* Sikhism and sexual orientation
* In Fiction
* Idolatry in Sikhism
* Criticism
* Punjab
* History
* Punjabis
* Punjabi language (Gurmukhī)
* Sacred trees

Takht|

* Akal Takht
* Damdama Sahib
* Kesgarh Sahib
* Hazur Sahib
* Patna Sahib

Outline Category
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template