Damdami Taksal

The Damdami Taksal (Punjabi: ਦਮਦਮੀ ਟਕਸਾਲ; [Damadamī ṭakasāl]) is a Sikh educational organization in India. Its headquarters are located in the town of Chowk Mehta, approximately 25 miles north of the city of Amritsar.

In 1706, after the Battle of Muktsar, Guru Gobind Singh camped at Sabo Ki Talwandi. The place became known as Damdama i.e. a halting place (or breathing place), this place is now referred to as Damdama Sahib (In 1737, Damdama Sahib was considered to be the highest seat of learning for the Sikhs). Damdami Taksal claims to be over 300 years old and names Guru Gobind Singh as its founder However, some scholars, such as Harjot Oberoi, assert that there is no firm evidence to support this claim. According to Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgeer (Sikh Twareekh, vols 2 and 5) the term Damdami Taksal never existed before 1977.

The word taksal (literally 'mint') refers to an education institute or community of students who associate themselves to a particular sant or prominent spiritual leader. "In 1706..... Gobind Singh...... is said to have founded a distinguished school of exegesis". It was later headed up by Baba Deep Singh 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.

Jatha Bhindran Mehta or Bhindran Taksal is considered the current Damdami Taksal.

In 1975, a large event to commemorate the 300th anniversary martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur was attended by Indira Gandhi and the then leader of the Damdami Taksal (Kartar Singh Bhindranwale). This was the starting point of tensions between Damdami Taksal and the Indian Congress Government. The dispute was about who was the leader and who had the upmost authority over the Sikh people, the Guru Granth Sahib or Indira Gandhi.

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