Historical Background Of Taksal System
Once Tenth Holy Guru, Guru Gobind Singh was staying at Anandpur Sahib on the banks of river Satluj. It was month of Falgun ( last month of vikarami calendar ) a number of devotees and disciples were gathered at that place to celebrate the festival of HOLI. Tenth Guru had asked the devotees to recite Panj Vani ( Bawan Akhari, Sukhmani Sahib, Vada Anand Sahib, Dakhani Onkar & Sidh Goshti). One day, a devotee while reciting Holy Bani of Dakhani Onkar mispronounced a word in a line which changed the meaning of the line to the very opposite. This disappointed Holy Guru Gobind Singh Ji.When Guru Ji pointed out,his disciples requested the Guru to make them learn the pronunciation as well as the meaning of the Holy Bani. Guru Ji promised to fulfill their wish after the war which he was fighting to save the religion. When the war was over,Guru ji stayed at Talwandi Sabo,he fulfilled his promise. He used to recite Holy Bani in the morning, his devoted disciple Bhai Mani Singh ji used to write it and Bhai deep Singh ji used to assist Bhai Mani Singh by arranging writing material paper, ink etc. In the evening, Guru ji used to explain the meanings of the Holy Bani written in the morning. This practice of explaining in authentic way, the deepest spiritual meanings and the exact pronunciation of the discourses of the Holy Gurus, as contained in the Holy Guru Granth Sahib was called the cult tradition or Taksal system. This Taksal was a mint started by Tenth Guru where not coins but words and their meanings were minted. For nine months and nine days from Kartik Purnima 1762 vikarami to Sawan 23, 1763 vikarami, the Holy Guru recited the Gurbani Path and explained the meanings to a congregation of 48 devoted disciples. The name of the place Talwandi Sabo was changed into TAKHT SHRI DAMDAMA SAHIB, GURU KI KASHI. After completion of Gurbani Path. Guru Ji assigned the duty of maintaining and continuing the system of Taksal to Bhai Mani Singh ji, and Bhai deep Singh ji who founded Amritsar Taksal and Damdami Taksal respectively. Since then lot of disciples learnt Gurbani path and its meaning from the Taksal till date. Some disciples started various Deras to propagate the teachings and message of Sikhism in various areas. One such Dera was started by Bhai Amir Singh ji in Satto Wala bazaar, Namak Mandi, Amritsar
