Holy Destinations of India

Damdama Sahib

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..

Photos of Damdama Sahib

HISTORY

The Takhat 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.

Recognition as Takhat

This Takhat was officially recognized as the fifth Takhat 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 Takhat 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 Takhat by the Government of India in April 1999 during tricentennial celebrations of the formation of the Khalsa.

Other Gurdwaras at Takhat 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

Location: Bathinda, Punjab, India

HOW TO REACH THERE

Air: The nearest airports are located at New Delhi and Chandigarh which are 381 km and 217 km away by road respectively.

Rail: It is connected by rail and situated on the Ambala–Bathinda branch line of Northern Railway.

Road: The entire state(Punjab) is connected through an extensive network of medalled roads. State Highways connect major cities to the state capital.