>Scyrme at 23:33, 31 May 2021

2021-05-31T23:33:37Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{refimprove|date=June 2021}}
{{Sikh practices}}
'''Dasvandh''' ({{lang-pa|ਦਸਵੰਧ}}, also transcribed as '''daswandh''') is the one tenth part (or 10%) of one's income that one should donate, both [[Tithe|financially]] and directly in the form of ''[[Seva (Indian religions)|seva]]'', according to [[Sikh]] principles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Daswandh.html|title=Daswandh|author=|date=|work=|publisher=www.encyclopedia.com|accessdate=20 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/sikh-principles/daswandh|title=Daswandh - Gateway to Sikhism|author=|date=|work=|publisher=www.allaboutsikhs.com|accessdate=20 January 2012}}</ref>

It falls into [[Guru Nanak Dev]]'s concept of ''[[Vand Chhako]]''. This was done during the time of [[Guru Arjan Dev]] and many [[Sikh]]s still do it up to this day. The concept of dasvandh was implicit in [[Guru Nanak]]'s own line: "''ghali khai kichhu hathhu dei, Nanak rahu pachhanahi sei''—He alone, O Nanak, knoweth the way who eats out of what he earneth by his honest labour and yet shareth part of it with others" (GG, 1245).{{citation needed|date=June 2021}} The idea of sharing and giving was nourished by the institutions of [[Sangat (term)|sangat]] (holy assembly) and [[Langar (Sikhism)|langar]] (community kitchen) the [[Guru]] had established.

==History==
In the time of [[Guru Amar Das]], a formal structure for organising the Sikh religion was developed in order to show directions to the Sikhs by preaching them the teachings of [[Waheguru|The Holy Guru]]. He set up 22 ''[[Manji (Sikhism)|manji]]''s or districts in different parts of the country. Each of these ''manji''s was placed under the charge of a pious Sikh (both male and female) who, besides preaching [[Guru Nanak]]’s word, looked after the [[Sangat (term)|sangat]]s within his/her jurisdiction and transmitted the disciple's offerings to the [[Guru]]. As the excavation of the sacred tank at [[Amritsar]], and the erection of the central shrine, [[Golden Temple|Harimandir]], began under [[Guru Ram Das]] resulting in a large amount of expenditure, the Sikhs were encouraged to set aside a minimum of ten per cent (''dasvandh'') of their income for the common cause and the concept of Guru Ki Golak "Guru's treasury" was coined. [[Masand]]s, i.e. ministers and the tithe-collectors, were appointed to collect "''kar bhet''" (''seva'' offerings) and ''dasvandh'' from the Sikhs in the area they were assigned to, and pass these on to the Guru nanak.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

The custom of ''dasvandh'' is found in documents called ''[[Sikh Rehat Maryada|rehitnama]]''s, manuals of Sikh conduct, written during the lifetime of [[Guru Gobind Singh]] or soon after. For example, [[Bhai Nand Lal]]’s Tankhahnama records these words of [[Gobind Singh]]: "Hear ye Nand Lal, one who does not give ''dasvandh'' and, telling lies, misappropriates it, is not at all to be trusted"{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}. The tradition has been kept alive by chosen Sikhs who to this day scrupulously fulfil this injunction. The institution itself serves as a means for the individual to practice personal piety as well as to participate in the ongoing history of the community, the ''Guru [[Panth]]'' ("Guru's path").

{{Quote
|1=One who works for what he eats, and gives some of what he has - O Nanak, he knows the Path. (1)
|2='''{{SGGS page|1=1245|2=53590}}'''
}}

==See also==
* [[Zakat]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Sikhism}}

[[Category:Sikh practices]]
[[Category:History of Sikhism]]
[[Category:Tithes]]

{{Sikhism-stub}}

Dasvandh - Revision history

>Scyrme at 23:33, 31 May 2021