Did Guru Gobind Singh Ji Establish a School for Learning 'Gurbani'?

The pure belongs to the 'Wonderous Enlightener'. The victory belongs to 'Wonderous Enlightener'.

As word spread of Guru Ji explaining the meanings of 'Guru Granth Sahib Ji' through Katha' (sermons) in the evenings, countless people would congregate daily. Fourty eight Sikhs in particular whose names are recorded in history, managed to listen to the entire course of the 'Katha' without missing a single session. As a result of listening to the meanings of 'Gurbani' from the mouth of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, all fourty eight 'Sikhs' had obtained the spiritual state of ‘Jeevan Mukath’ and ‘Bi-deh Mukath’, in which there is no attachment to the body and the mind constantly remains immersed in the supreme bliss of God. Hence, these 'Sikhs' wanted to spend the rest of their life in an isolated place where there would be pure solitude so that they could enjoy this spiritual state until they leave this world. It is intriguing that most of them still have history attributed to them after this incident meaning that they carried their accomplished 'Avasthas' (mental states) to whatever they did here after.

The names of the fourty eight Sikhs that had studied 'Gurbani' from Guru Gobind Singh Ji are as follows:

1.    Shaheed Bhai Mani Singh (from the village 'Longowal')

2.    Shaheed Baba Deep Singh (The first head of the ‘Guru Kanshi’)

3.    Binod Singh

4.    Shaheed Baba Gurbakhs Singh (the martyr who fought until his last breath)

5.    Kaan Singh

6.    Gurbakhs Singh 'Ram Koir Ji' (seventh in the lineage of Baba Budha Ji)

7.    Daan Singh (from the 'Brar' clan of 'Mehma Sarja')

8.    Param Singh (one of Roop Chand Ji's sons)

9.    Dharam Singh (one of Roop Chand Ji's sons)

10. Chameer Singh (from 'Deena Kangar' who served Guru Ji when he sent the 'Zafarnamah')

11. Daya Singh (from 'Jeendh')

12. Bheeva Singh (from 'Bathinda')

13. Piara Singh (from 'Amritsar')

14. Bir Singh (father of Dheer Singh from the 'Rangrete' clan)

15. Dheer Singh (son of Bir Singh from the 'Rangrete' clan)

16. Sundar Singh (from 'Dharamkot')

17. Amar Singh (from 'Meera Kot')

18. Tara Singh (from 'Delhi')

19. Jagjeevan Singh (from 'Ambala')

20. Gopal Singh (from 'Manimajra')

21. Dhian Singh

22. Bishambar Singh (father of Hargopal Singh, from 'Ujjain')

23. Hargopal Singh (son of Bishamabar Singh from 'Ujjain')

24. Dhanna Singh (‘Kaviraj’, grass keeper from 'Nusaihran Pannooaan')

25. Nand Singh (the famous court poet)

26. Maan Singh (known for his 'Chaur' Service)

27. Rai Singh (from 'Rampur')

28. Makhan Singh ( from 'Nabha')

29. Madhan Singh (from 'Aethiana')

30. Dharam Singh (from the village 'Bhindar' in 'Ferozpur')

31. Sujaan Singh (from 'Ropar')

32. Jeevan Singh (from 'Boparai Kot')

33. Akaal Singh (from the village 'Akhara' in 'Ludhiana')

34. Prathipal Singh (from 'Raval Pindi')

35. Daiaal Singh ( from 'Goindval Sahib')

36. Bakhtavar Singh ‘Sodi’ (from 'Anandpur Sahib')

37. Deva Singh (from 'Tarn Taran Sahib')

38. Meva Singh (from 'Khadoor Sahib')

39. Dhiaan Singh (from 'Nankana Sahib')

40. Achal Singh (who became well known at the 'Guru Kanshi' of 'Talvandi Sabo')

41. Jai Singh ‘Svaee’ ( the King of Jaipur)

42. Bishan Singh (the King of Jodhpur)

43. Bhag Singh (from 'Anandpur Sahib')

44. Vasava Singh (from 'Chola Sahib' in 'Amritsar')

45. Khanaiya Singh (from 'Takhthoopura')

46. Ram Singh (King of 'Nabha', 'Patiala' and 'Jeendh')

47. Trilok Singh (from whom the 'Phool' lineage commenced)

48. Maliagar Singh (known as 'Santokhi' for his content nature)

However, from the fourty eight Sikhs, two were ordered by Guru Ji to propagate what they had learned to the common people. These included Baba Deep Singh Ji to whom Guru Ji said that "even if his head was to be separated from his body, even then there would be no affect on the sensational bliss that he experiences". In the same way, holding the arm of Bhai Mani Singh Ji, Guru Ji stated that "even if he was to be cut limb by limb, there will be no affect on the bliss that he was experiencing. Thus, both Sikhs would never feel physical pain of any torture as their minds will be forever immersed within God’s wisdom. Thus, after Guru Gobind Singh Ji would later leave this world in 1708 AD, Baba Deep Singh Ji would travel back to 'Sabo Ki Talvandi' and would further teach the meanings of 'Gurbani' in the school that was called ‘Guru Kanshi’ by Guru Gobind Singh Ji. '

'Kanshi' is originally a city in the state of 'Uttar Pardesh', India that is famous for its preparation of scholars through its schools of ancient knowledge. Thus, Guru Ji declared his newly established school as his own ‘Kanshi’, a beacon of light for all to be guided by the priceless teachings of 'Gurbani'. This school was slowly known as ‘Taksal Sri Damdama Sahib’ among the people which soon would be referred to as ‘Damdami Taksal’ for short. The place where this historical event happened was renamed ‘Takhat Sri Damdama Sahib, Guru Ki Kanshi’ by Guru Ji and at the same time Guru Ji stated that "whoever would come to this school to learn would progress quickly even if their intellect is like that of a fool". Many historical sources speak of this, which are as follows:

“Satguru sat at the Damdama, where they threw the 'Kalams' (pens used for scribing) in a pool of water. 'This is now my established Kanshi, where fools will come and learn'. 23.”

('Bhangu' Rattan Singh, Pracheen Panth Parkash, Episode 24)

This reference can be interpreted to mean that Guru Ji metaphorically left the medium (the kalams) through which they transferred the wisdom of God with the future students that would come to learn. This can be understood as a token of Guru Ji’s blessings to Sikhs that would bathe in the Sarovar (pool of water) that the Kalams were thrown into. This Sarovar is called ‘Likhansar’ Sahib' and named after ‘Likhan’ which means writing. Hence, students would become scholars after studying here. Thus, many Sikhs travel to this place even today and after bathing in the pool of water, write the thirty five letters of the 'Gurmukhi' alphabet and then supplicate to 'God' for the blessing of ‘Brahm Vidhya’ (the knowledge of the omnipresent 'God').

“For nine months and nine days, residence was kept at Talvandi. Moving the abode towards the South direction, leaving the land where the Turks had great dominance. 8.”

(Bhangu Rattan Singh, Pracheen Panth Parkash, Episode 26, Page 117)

Interesting to learn here is the duration of this task which is associated with the number nine. 9 is considered as a number of perfections within ancient philosophy because all multiples of 9 total back to 9. For example, 9x2=18 and 1+8=9. 9x3=27 and 2+7=9 and so on. So, by completing this task within the numerals of 9,9,9,9, Guru Ji metaphorically symbolised the perfection of the job, in regards to the perfect 'God', whose words are perfect and they perfect those that become obedient to them. Hence, perfection, perfection, perfection, perfection! We can also take many other meanings from this, but in this case, one example is just.

“Choupay (four lined stanza). This is the establishment of my Kanshi. Where even those with the intelligence of a bull will be educated. Writers, virtuous, poets, scholars. The intellect will become an ocean of knowledge coming here. 63.

Dohra (couplet). For the sake of those (that were uneducated in divine knowledge), Kalams (pens) were fashioned, which we have thrown (in the pool) before all. My loyal Sikhs will learn here within the thousands. 64.”

(Bhai Sukha Singh, Gur Bilas Patshahi 10, Page 488)

In this reference, we can understand that Guru Ji opened this treasure of knowledge for us 'Sikhs' and thus initiated the task of revealing the wisdom of 'God' through 'Gurbani'. As a symbol of gifting us that knowledge, Guru Gobind Singh Ji had the 'Kalams' (pens) thrown into a pool, to which we can be forever remain connected to, through its historical presence and bathing.

Overall, this now completed 'Granth Sahib Ji' would be known as the ‘Damdami Beer’. ‘Damdami’ (being recited and scribed in 'Damdama Sahib') and ‘beer’ (referring to the collective binding). In 1708, this same 'Granth Sahib' would be given the 'Gurta Gadhi' (Guruship) by Guru Gobind Singh Ji as the 'eternal Guru' for the world to learn from and would become revered as ‘Guru Granth Sahib Ji’. Before leaving this world at ‘Abchal Nagar Takht Sri Hazoor Sahib’ (Nanded, Maharashtra, India) and after passing the 'Guruship', Guru Ji gave this scribed manuscript of Guru Granth Sahib Ji to Bhai Mani Singh Ji, who was sent with some 'Singhs' to 'Darbar Sahib' (Amritsar Sahib) to serve as a 'Granthi' and teach the study of 'Gurbani' to the masses.

In conclusion, these last two articles were dedicated to a day that Sikhs celebrate within the month of 'Bhadron' called the ‘Sampoorntha Divas’. The 'Divas' (day) in which the compilation of Guru Granth Sahib Ji as we know today was 'Sampooran' (completed) by Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

The pure belongs to the 'Wonderous Enlightener'. The victory belongs to 'Wonderous Enlightener'.

References: 1. Guru Granth Sahib Ji 1. Gur Bilas Paatshahi 6 - Bhai Mani Singh 2. Gur Bilas Paatshahi 10 - Bhai Sukha Singh 3. Tavarikh Guru Khalsa - Giani Gian Singh 4. Pracheen Panth Parkash - Rattan Singh Bhangu 5. Khalsa Jeevan - Sant Kartar Singh 6. Dakhni Onkar Katha - Sant Gurbachan Singh 7. Bhadron Sangrandh Katha - Sant Jarnail Singh 8. 'How Damdami Taksal Started' (Katha) - Sant Kartar Singh 9. Gurpartap Sooraj - Kavi Santokh Singh 10. Mahaan Kosh - Kaan Singh