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How are Hinduism and Sikhism related, considering they both originated in Punjab, India?

09.06.2025 00:46

How are Hinduism and Sikhism related, considering they both originated in Punjab, India?

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮੈ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਤੋਰ ॥

Raamaanand's Lord and Master is the All-pervading Lord God.

Where the demi-gods and the munis are unnumbered, where millions of Saraswatis, goddess of music play the vina,

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To him who is high-minded, these teachings will be illuminating.

ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰਉ ਨ ਨਿਵਾਜ ਗੁਜਾਰਉ ॥

ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਮਨਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਕੀ ਆਸ ॥

What are the challenges associated with the birth narratives of Jesus?

For a superficial McSikh who is interested only in separation and not enlightenment the views of Kabir can be easily shown as a denouncement of Hindu practices.

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I have searched through all the Vedas and the Puraanas.

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Again we see that the originator of this Sant Sampraday himself talks about Brahman even in Gurbani.

Bhagat Kabir ji / Raag Gauri / / Guru Granth Sahib ji - Ang 326

Sikhism is a NIRGUN path descending from the Sant Sampraday of Ramanandacharya and traces its ideas to VEDANTA!

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You are totally pervading and permeating in all.

There the streams of light flow in all directions, few are the men who can cross to that shore!

ਓਛੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਕੈਸੇ ਉਤਰਸਿ ਪਾਰੀ ॥੪॥

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There, where millions of Krishnas stand with hands folded,

Let’s look at the most used verse by McSikhs to show that Sikhs are neither Hindus nor Muslims.

I left Benares - I had little common sense. ||1|| Pause ||

What would happen if the Soviet Union had simply annexed Manchuria after World War 2 or kept it independent as a puppet state allied them and separate from China as China was too weak too oppose it anyway?

Gauree, Kabeer Jee, Panch-Padas:

We can see that great saints like Kabir and Ravidas etc… descended from the Ramananda sampradaya which is still the largest ascetic order in India.

Sain (a barber)

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ਘਸਿ ਚੰਦਨ ਚੋਆ ਬਹੁ ਸੁਗੰਧ ॥

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਮਤ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥

Shvetashvatara Upanishad (6.23)

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We can understand that Kabir despite being in favor of formless worship was very much embedded in the Dharmik fold but always preached in the spirit of the transcendental nature of Brahman to the point that HE LOST THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN HINDU AND MUSLIM.

ਬਹੁਤੁ ਬਰਸ ਤਪੁ ਕੀਆ ਕਾਸੀ ॥

Bhakti movement began in South (Tamil Nadu to be precise) and slowly spread to Northern parts of India. This movement was extremely popular because of its simple fundamentals which could be understood by even commonfolk. Vaishnavism, Shaivism etc… were already connecting with commonfolk from a long time and this Bhakti movement reinforced it by making the devotee feel a personal connection with the deity.

How do so-called Religious/Christian people really think homosexuality is even a sin? That would be nonsense. In fact, LGBT people need love instead of contempt/hatred. The word Homosexual didn't appear until the 1850s.

I am not a Hindu, nor am I a Muslim.

— Kabir, III.2, Translated by Rabindranath Tagore

The influence of Kabir is significant on Sikhism. The following Bani from Ang 1136 is attributed to GURU ARJAN DEV but if you observe at the end you can see that he was talking in the spirit of Sant Kabir.

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ਬ੍ਰਹਮ is Brahm i.e the Brahman of vedanta but it gets interpreted as an all-pervading lord god.

ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠੈ ਆਹਿ ॥੪॥੧੦॥

ਮਰਤੀ ਬਾਰ ਮਗਹਰਿ ਉਠਿ ਆਇਆ ॥੨॥

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The views of Kabir are very much in parallel to the Advaita philosophy and it is obvious that as the disciple of Ramanandacharya he will carry forward with his chosen NIRGUN BHAKTI.

I am a sacrifice to You, O my True Guru.

At the time of my death, I moved to Magahar. ||2||

ਪੂਜਨ ਚਾਲੀ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਠਾਇ ॥

Here ਨਿਰਗੁਣ is Nirgun and not just lord. This is just another example to show that Kabir himself continued in the NIRGUN BHAKTI path.

Kabir is the child of Allah and of Ram: He is my Guru, He is my Pir.

Ramanandacharya’s teachings were centered on pure and personal connection with the God Rama and didn’t believe in any kind of formal ritualism. He used the common vernacular language instead of Sanskrit so that everyone could understand.

Ravidas (a chamar shoemaker)

But we have actually seen how much Kabir is also rooted in the Vedantic concept of “supreme realization” but in a non-mainstream path.

ਅਲਹ ਰਾਮ ਕੇ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਪਰਾਨ ॥੪॥

One Universal Creator God. By The Grace Of The True Guru:

यस्य देवे परा भक्तिः यथा देवे तथा गुरौ । तस्यैते कथिता ह्यर्थाः प्रकाशन्ते महात्मनः प्रकाशन्ते महात्मन इति ।

ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥

I went to God's place, and worshipped Him there.

The Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy, is heaven. ||4||10||

ਮੁਆ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਰਮਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮੈ

I do not perform Hindu worship services, nor do I offer the Muslim prayers.

Where millions of Vishnus bow their heads, where millions of Brahmas are reading the Vedas,

Recklessly they display boundless pride while explaining their own aims, they kill cows.

For many years, I practiced penance and intense meditation at Kaashi;

ਗਉੜੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ਪੰਚਪਦੇ ॥

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਜੀ ਘਰੁ ੧

How can people understand You, when they are entranced by Maya? ||1|| Pause ||

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹੁ ਕੀਆ ਵਖਾਨਾ ॥

As mentioned above Guru Arjan Dev was talking from the perspective Sant Kabir whose views we have discussed much earlier here. We know that Sant Kabir continuing in the Ramanandi Sampradaya went further away from the mainstream ritualistic Hinduism and was journeying more towards a SEAMLESS Dharma.

Raamaanand's Lord and Master is the All-pervading Lord God.

ਮੇਰਾ ਚਿਤੁ ਨ ਚਲੈ ਮਨੁ ਭਇਓ ਪੰਗੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਕਬੀਰ ਨਿਰਗੁਣ ਨਾਮ ਨ ਰੋਸੁ ॥

I have taken the One Formless Lord into my heart; I humbly worship Him there. ||3||

The Word of the Guru's Shabad eradicates the karma of millions of past actions. ||3||1||

ਕੈਸੇ ਬੂਝੈ ਜਬ ਮੋਹਿਆ ਹੈ ਮਾਇਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥

There is a reason why I mention ROOTED and thus NOT implying that it belongs to one of the numerous sects in Sanatana Dharma like Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism, Smartism etc…

Ramanandacharya was a 14th-century Hindu Vaishnava devotional poet saint who amalgamated Advaita with Vaishnava Bhakti. He was the pioneer in validating NIRGUN and SAGUN Bhakti as parallel paths.

Where millions of Shivas are lost in contemplation, where millions of Indras dwell in the sky,

ਤਜੀ ਲੇ ਬਨਾਰਸ ਮਤਿ ਭਈ ਥੋਰੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

If God be within the mosque, then to whom does this world belong?

Says Kabeer, the Guru and Ganaysha and Shiva all know

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Now that my time to die has come, I have come to dwell at Magahar! ||3||

Says Kabeer, this is what I say:

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ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਾਟੈ ਕੋਟਿ ਕਰਮ ॥੩॥੧॥

Guru Nanak (right) and Bhai Mardana (foreground) with Bhagat Kabir (left). This painting is found in the B-40 Janamsakhi, written and painted in 1733. The painting was made by Alam Chand Raj

The Sant Sampraday of Sikh panth integrates the warrior spirit of the Nihangs and Khalsa, the service of Seva panth and the renunciation of Udasi/Nirmala saints.

I serve the One Lord, and not any other. ||2||

ਤੂ ਪੂਰਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਹੈ ਸਭ ਸਮਾਨ ॥

ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਸਭ ਦੇਖੇ ਜੋਇ ॥

Without looking into one's heart, how can one reach paradise?

Sikhism is fundamentally rooted in BHAKTI tradition and thus ultimately in Sanatana Dharma. There is no doubt about it despite what modern McSikh acrobatics try to claim otherwise

ਸੋ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਬਤਾਇਓ ਗੁਰ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮਾਹਿ ॥੧॥

Kaashi and Magahar - I consider them the same.

From where did the word Maya come? Isn’t it a typical Vedantic concept discussed profoundly in Advaita? It definitely isn’t a concept pioneered by Kabir or even his teacher Ramanandacharya! It is ultimately from Sanatana Dharma!

My body and breath of life belong to Allah - to Raam - the God of both. ||4||

Raamaanand Jee, First House:

CONCLUSION:

There is my Lord self-revealed, and the scent of sandal and flowers dwells in those deeps.

ਏਕ ਦਿਵਸ ਮਨ ਭਈ ਉਮੰਗ ॥

I am not a Hindu, nor am I a Muslim.

One day, a desire welled up in my mind.

ਅਬ ਕਹੁ ਰਾਮ ਕਵਨ ਗਤਿ ਮੋਰੀ ॥

Says Kabeer, unto whom should I tell this?

Because in my previous life, I did not practice penance and intense meditation. ||1||

That God showed me the Guru, within my own mind. ||1||

Bhagat Kabir ji / Raag Gauri / / Guru Granth Sahib ji - Ang 325

With inadequate devotion, how can anyone swim across? ||4||

Hari is in the East, Allah is in the West.

I wasted my whole life in the city of Shiva;

Kabir (a weaver)

Look within your heart, for there you will find both Karim and Ram;

Meeting with the Guru, my Spiritual Teacher, I realize God, my Lord and Master. ||5||3||

— Kabir, Ramaini 1, Translated by David Lorenzen

Bhagat Kabir ji / Raag Sriraag / / Guru Granth Sahib ji - Ang 92

The young and the old drink milk pudding, but these fools eat the cow's body.

The divergence of Kabir’s views from Vedanta is seen in the fact that he fully opposed religious symbolism of ALL KINDS and not just IDOLS.

I would go there, only if the Lord were not here. ||2||

Bhagat Kabir ji / Raag Gauri / / Guru Granth Sahib ji - Ang 325

He accepted even women (Sursuri and Padywati) as disciples. Bhagat Pipa and Dhanna were Rajput and Jat who were also his disciples.

ਗੁਰ ਪੀਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਖੁਦਿ ਖਸਮੁ ਪਛਾਨਾ ॥੫॥੩॥

Kabir, Ravidas and ultimately the NINE SIKH GURUS are a product of this very Sant Sampraday founded by Ramanandacharya!

then who is there to know what happens without?

Where should I go? My home is filled with bliss.

ਤਬ ਲਗੁ ਹੋਇ ਨਹੀ ਚਰਨ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ॥੩॥

He who has highest Bhakti of Deva (God), just like his Deva, so for his Guru (teacher),

NOW…

Here ਰਾਮੈ is Rama and not just lord. Kabir died chanting the name of Rama DESPITE him not finding any result of penances done in holy cities in his previous birth. Another example to show how much Kabir valued personal devotion to Rama in his own NIRGUN style.

From Guru Granth Sahib ji - Ang 1195

All the men and women of the world are His living forms.

If Ram be within the image which you find upon your pilgrimage,

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Sadhna (a Muslim butcher) and

You have cut through all my confusion and doubt.

Let’s see what Gurbani has about Ramanandacharya’s views.

As long as the mind is filled with the desire for heaven,

For him Dharma was beyond everything physical including the desire for heaven because was fully into the NIRGUN . The last verse shows that according to him the company of the enlightened Sadhus is heaven which is again a typical teaching of Sanatana Dharma.

ਸਗਲ ਜਨਮੁ ਸਿਵ ਪੁਰੀ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥

ਮੁਆ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਰਮਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮੈ ॥੫॥੧੫॥

These morons know nothing, they wander about in ignorance,

ਮਰਨੁ ਭਇਆ ਮਗਹਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਸੀ ॥੩॥

I am like a fish out of water,

ਕਤ ਜਾਈਐ ਰੇ ਘਰ ਲਾਗੋ ਰੰਗੁ ॥

ਜਿਨਿ ਸਕਲ ਬਿਕਲ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕਾਟੇ ਮੋਰ ॥

ਪੂਰਬ ਜਨਮ ਹਉ ਤਪ ਕਾ ਹੀਨਾ ॥੧॥

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਮਤ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥

Let's look at the views of Sant Kabir

ਏਕ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਲੇ ਰਿਦੈ ਨਮਸਕਾਰਉ ॥੩॥

Now tell me, Lord, what will my condition be?

Ramananda accepted disciples without discriminating against anyone by gender, class or caste and they included even people from humble origins like

ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥

Wherever I go, I find water and stones.

So in the same spirit Kabir finds pilgrimages to holy cities futile as his mind is fixated on Rama!

ਕਾਸੀ ਮਗਹਰ ਸਮ ਬੀਚਾਰੀ ॥

ਏਕੋ ਸੇਵੀ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ॥੨॥

How can they kill the mother, whose milk they drink like that of a wet nurse?

My consciousness does not go out wandering. My mind has become crippled. ||1|| Pause ||

ਕਹੁ ਗੁਰ ਗਜ ਸਿਵ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਜਾਨੈ ॥

Actually, this part of the Ang 326 is widely used by McSikhs to show that Sikhism considers Hindu pilgrimages as useless and thus drives home the point again that the “religion” has got NOTHING to do with Hinduism.

ਹਜ ਕਾਬੈ ਜਾਉ ਨ ਤੀਰਥ ਪੂਜਾ ॥

I do not make pilgrimages to Mecca, nor do I worship at Hindu sacred shrines.

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹ ਕਹੀਐ ਕਾਹਿ ॥

ਜਿਉ ਜਲ ਛੋਡਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਭਇਓ ਮੀਨਾ ॥

I ground up sandalwood, along with several fragrant oils.

Sant Kabir was staunchly against cow slaughter.

Now here in this verse

He does not dwell at the Lord's Feet. ||3||

Where spring, the lord of seasons reigneth, there the unstruck music sounds of itself,

ਜਹਾ ਜਾਈਐ ਤਹ ਜਲ ਪਖਾਨ ॥

We have searched the turaki Dharam (Turk's religion, Islam), these teachers throw many thunderbolts,

That Kabeer died chanting the Lord's Name. ||5||15||

ਊਹਾਂ ਤਉ ਜਾਈਐ ਜਉ ਈਹਾਂ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੨॥

Ramarchan Paddati gives more info about his teachings.

Kabeer: O worthless mortal, do not lose the Naam, the Name of the Lord.

— Kabir, II.57, Translated by Rabindranath Tagore