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

13.06.2025 09:56

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

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

ਅਲਹ ਰਾਮ ਕੇ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਪਰਾਨ ॥੪॥

ਕਬੀਰ ਨਿਰਗੁਣ ਨਾਮ ਨ ਰੋਸੁ ॥

Is it okay or problematic to be both Black and gay in society in the 21st century?

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

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

ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥

Stunning 'Solar Curtains' Phenomenon Revealed on The Sun in New Images - ScienceAlert

ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਸਭ ਦੇਖੇ ਜੋਇ ॥

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!

These morons know nothing, they wander about in ignorance,

Don't you think Democrats are so full of it stool softener and an enema couldn't help them?

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

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

I wasted my whole life in the city of Shiva;

The International Boxing Association said that Khelif and Lin competing in Paris Olympics were disqualified from the tournament for testing positive for XY chromosomes which give an unfair advantage in the women’s division. What do you think?

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

ਬਹੁਤੁ ਬਰਸ ਤਪੁ ਕੀਆ ਕਾਸੀ ॥

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.

Is it true that Jehovah's witnesses once thought the world would end in 1975?

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

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

ਮੁਆ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਰਮਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮੈ ॥੫॥੧੫॥

Top Cardiovascular Researcher Sounds Alarm Over Current Heart Health Guidelines - SciTechDaily

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

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

ਮੁਆ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਰਮਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮੈ

Is the water safe to drink in England like here in America or is it necessary to bring tablets to prevent any cholera when in London?

ਜਿਨਿ ਸਕਲ ਬਿਕਲ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕਾਟੇ ਮੋਰ ॥

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

— Kabir, III.2, Translated by Rabindranath Tagore

Why do people always talk about Ohio as it's a dangerous city?

ਕਾਸੀ ਮਗਹਰ ਸਮ ਬੀਚਾਰੀ ॥

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

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

Is it true that people who are possessed by demons cannot see them until the demon is cast out? What is the reason for this?

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

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

Kaashi and Magahar - I consider them the same.

How are you spending your best time?

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

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.

ਜਿਉ ਜਲ ਛੋਡਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਭਇਓ ਮੀਨਾ ॥

Why do Argentinians use "vos" instead of "tú" in informal speech?

ਕੈਸੇ ਬੂਝੈ ਜਬ ਮੋਹਿਆ ਹੈ ਮਾਇਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

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

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

What are some tips for braiding a woman's hair on a date?

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

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

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

ਪੂਰਬ ਜਨਮ ਹਉ ਤਪ ਕਾ ਹੀਨਾ ॥੧॥

ਤਜੀ ਲੇ ਬਨਾਰਸ ਮਤਿ ਭਈ ਥੋਰੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

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

ਕਹੁ ਗੁਰ ਗਜ ਸਿਵ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਜਾਨੈ ॥

Gauree, Kabeer Jee, Panch-Padas:

ਸਗਲ ਜਨਮੁ ਸਿਵ ਪੁਰੀ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥

ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਮਨਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਕੀ ਆਸ ॥

ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠੈ ਆਹਿ ॥੪॥੧੦॥

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

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.

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

ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥

You have cut through all my confusion and doubt.

ਮਰਨੁ ਭਇਆ ਮਗਹਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਸੀ ॥੩॥

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਜੀ ਘਰੁ ੧

———————————————————————————————————————

ਗੁਰ ਪੀਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਖੁਦਿ ਖਸਮੁ ਪਛਾਨਾ ॥੫॥੩॥

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

Let's look at the views of Sant Kabir

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

From Guru Granth Sahib ji - Ang 1195

=======================================================

ਜਹਾ ਜਾਈਐ ਤਹ ਜਲ ਪਖਾਨ ॥

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.

I have searched through all the Vedas and the Puraanas.

Says Kabeer, unto whom should I tell this?

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

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

ਤੂ ਪੂਰਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਹੈ ਸਭ ਸਮਾਨ ॥

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

Raamaanand Jee, First House:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

One day, a desire welled up in my mind.

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

Wherever I go, I find water and stones.

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

— Kabir, Ramaini 1, Translated by David Lorenzen

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

ਕਤ ਜਾਈਐ ਰੇ ਘਰ ਲਾਗੋ ਰੰਗੁ ॥

ਗਉੜੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ਪੰਚਪਦੇ ॥

ਏਕ ਦਿਵਸ ਮਨ ਭਈ ਉਮੰਗ ॥

———————————————————————————————————————

ਏਕੋ ਸੇਵੀ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ॥੨॥

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਮਤ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥

Kabir (a weaver)

Says Kabeer, the Guru and Ganaysha and Shiva all know

I am like a fish out of water,

ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥

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

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹੁ ਕੀਆ ਵਖਾਨਾ ॥

ਊਹਾਂ ਤਉ ਜਾਈਐ ਜਉ ਈਹਾਂ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੨॥

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

ਪੂਜਨ ਚਾਲੀ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਠਾਇ ॥

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

ਏਕ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਲੇ ਰਿਦੈ ਨਮਸਕਾਰਉ ॥੩॥

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

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

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹ ਕਹੀਐ ਕਾਹਿ ॥

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

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

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

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

ਮਰਤੀ ਬਾਰ ਮਗਹਰਿ ਉਠਿ ਆਇਆ ॥੨॥

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਮਤ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥

ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰਉ ਨ ਨਿਵਾਜ ਗੁਜਾਰਉ ॥

ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਾਟੈ ਕੋਟਿ ਕਰਮ ॥੩॥੧॥

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.

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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.

NOW…

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

Shvetashvatara Upanishad (6.23)

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.

Now here in this verse

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.

Sadhna (a Muslim butcher) and

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

Says Kabeer, this is what I say:

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

Ramarchan Paddati gives more info about his teachings.

You are totally pervading and permeating in all.

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.

then who is there to know what happens without?

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

———————————————————————————————————————

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

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.

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

ਸੋ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਬਤਾਇਓ ਗੁਰ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮਾਹਿ ॥੧॥

Sain (a barber)

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

Sant Kabir was staunchly against cow slaughter.

— Kabir, II.57, Translated by Rabindranath Tagore

Ravidas (a chamar shoemaker)

ਓਛੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਕੈਸੇ ਉਤਰਸਿ ਪਾਰੀ ॥੪॥

There, where millions of Krishnas stand with hands folded,

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.

ਹਜ ਕਾਬੈ ਜਾਉ ਨ ਤੀਰਥ ਪੂਜਾ ॥

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮੈ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਤੋਰ ॥

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

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

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.

ਅਬ ਕਹੁ ਰਾਮ ਕਵਨ ਗਤਿ ਮੋਰੀ ॥

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

ਘਸਿ ਚੰਦਨ ਚੋਆ ਬਹੁ ਸੁਗੰਧ ॥

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

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…

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

CONCLUSION:

ਤਬ ਲਗੁ ਹੋਇ ਨਹੀ ਚਰਨ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ॥੩॥

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.

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

I ground up sandalwood, along with several fragrant oils.

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

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

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

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

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