Damdama means the breathing or resting place. Damdama
Sahib is one of the Five Takhts of the Sikhs. (The
other four Takhts are Akal Takht, Amritsar, Takht
Keshgarh Sahib, Anandpur, Takht Hazur Sahib, Nanded
(Maharashtra) and Takht Harmandir Sahib Patna (Bihar).
It is located at village Talwandi Sabo, 28 km southeast
of Bathinda. It is also known as Talwandi Sabo and
Guru Ki Kashi. Guru Gobind Singh stayed here after
fighting battles against Mughal atrocities. Before
his arrival at Talwandi, two of the Guru’s sons
were bricked alive at Sarhind and two laid down their
lives at Chamkaur Sahib. After writing Zafarnama,
Guru Gobind Singh fought a successful battle at Muktsar
and then moved towards Talwandi Sabo Ki.
While at Talwandi, Sikhs started
coming to the Guru from all over Punjab and other
places. Here a Gurudwara was erected in Guru's memory.
This place is also known as Guru -Ki -Kanshi as it
was made a center of the Sikh learning. Damdame Wali
Bir of Sri Guru Granth Sahib was prepared here by
Guru Gobind Singh. It was transcribed by Bhai Mani
Singh. The hymns of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib were added
into the Bir.
It was at Dam Dama Sahib that Bhai Dalla was tested
for his bravery by Guru Gobind Singh and brought into
the order of Khalsa. It was from Damdama Sahib that
the Guru moved towards south. In the meantime, Aurangzeb
died and the Guru helped Bahadur Shah, Aurangzeb's
eldest son to sit on the throne. The Guru was honored
by Bahadur Shah at Agra. The new Emperor also left
for south but parted from the Guru at Nanded. It is
said that Bahadur Shah did not fulfill his promise
to punish the officials who had committed atrocities
upon the Sikhs and killed Guru's young children. The
Guru commissioned Banda Bahadur to Go to Punjab and
punish the guilty and bring peace to the state.
Guru Gobind Singh arrived here on 20-21 January, 1706
and camped outside the village. The magnificent Gurudwara
Sri Damdama Sahib marks the place of his stav. Here
local Chaudhari Bhai Dalla looked after Guruji with
great devotion. He refused to arrest the Guru as directed
by Wazir Khan, Nawab of Sirhind. Mata Sundri and Mata
Sahib Kaur escorted by Bhai Mani Singh came here from
Delhi to meet Guruji. Guruji spent nine months of
intense literary activities.
Here Bhai Mani Singh prepared the holy volume under
the guidance of Guruji. Talwandi thus became a seat
of learning and assumed the status of Guru Ki Kashi.
It was here that Chaudhari Tiloka and Rama, ancestors
of the Pulkian (Patiala, Nabha and Jind) rulers received
Amni from the blessed hands of the Guru. Sacred articles
of the tenth Guru, namely Sri Sahib (Sword), a mirror,
a match lock, a portrait of the tenth Guru, a pothi.
(book) transcribed by Baba Deep Singh, Sword of Baba
Deep Singh and a Persian sword are displayed in the
Gurudwara Damdama Sahib. The other sacred place at
Talwandi Sabo are, Jand Sahib, Tibbi Sahib, Likhansar
and Gurusar. Besides, there are two Gurudwaras in
memory of the ninth Guru Sri Tegh Bahadur, known as
Wada Darbar Sahib and Gurusar. Guru Gobind Singh had
come to Talwandi Sabo at the request of Bhai Dala,
a devoted follower. He was the Chief of Brar jats
of Ma!wa area. He liked the place immensely and stayed
here for over nine months. During his stay, the place
was transformed into abode of the Khalsa and became
a second Anandpur.
At Damdama Sahib as it is now called, the Guru preached
complete sacrifice of personal and family interests
at the altar of the good of mankind. The following.
words of the great Guru expressing his firm faith
in the Khalsa, are inscribed on a pillar installed
by the Punjab Government,
"To the Khalsa does belong all,
My home, my body, and all I possess"
Other Gurudwaras at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib are :
-
- Gurudwara Manji Sahib Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur
- Gurudwara Manji Sahib Padshahi Nauvin and Dasvin
- Gurudwara Likhansar Sahib
- Gurudwara Jandsar Sahib
- Gurudwara Tibbi Sahib
- Gurudwara Sri Nanaksar
- Gurudwara Niwas Asthan Padshahi Dasvin
- Gurudwara Mata Sundari and Sahib Devan
This Takht was officially recognized as the fifth
Takht on Novemver 18, 1966. On demand from the Sikhs,
a sub-committee was appointed by the Shiromani Gurudwara
Parbandhak Committee Amritsar vide General Meeting
Resolution No: 789 on July 30, 1960. A report of the
sub-committee containing 183 pages was received to
declare Damdama Sahib, Guru Ki Kashi as the fifth
Takht of the Sikhs. A general body meeting of the
Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee Amritsar
approved the recommendations through resolution number
32 on November 18, 1966. It has been declared as fifth
Takht in April 1999 during tercentennial celebrations
of the advent of Khalsa.
