Guru Ki Kashi
Takht Sri Damdama Sahib
Significance
Where the final, definitive 1430-page recension of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was compiled. Known as 'Guru Ki Kashi' — the supreme seat of Sikh learning.
History
Takht Sri Damdama Sahib is located at Talwandi Sabo in the Bathinda district of Punjab. The word 'Damdama' means 'a place of rest', and indeed it was here that Guru Gobind Singh Ji rested after the turbulent battles with the Mughal forces.
In 1706 CE, Guru Gobind Singh Ji spent approximately nine months at this location, which became known as 'Guru Ki Kashi' — the Varanasi (Kashi) of the Guru, a centre of Sikh learning and scholarship. Thousands of Sikh scholars gathered here to learn from the Guru.
The most significant event here was the completion of the final authoritative recension of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Guru Gobind Singh Ji dictated the entire Gurbani from memory to Bhai Mani Singh Ji, adding the compositions of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib Ji (9th Guru) which had not been included in the original compilation by Guru Arjan Dev Ji.
This final 1430-page recension (the Damdami Bir) became the definitive and sacred form of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji that is used by Sikhs worldwide to this day.