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

12.06.2025 02:13

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

ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠੈ ਆਹਿ ॥੪॥੧੦॥

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਮਤ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਜੀ ਘਰੁ ੧

What should a young woman do to control sagging breasts?

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!

From Guru Granth Sahib ji - Ang 1195

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

Why does the UK Labour MP Jess Philips seem to be such a divisive figure?

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

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

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

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

ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਾਟੈ ਕੋਟਿ ਕਰਮ ॥੩॥੧॥

In what circumstances might a chaperone be appropriate for a medical examination?

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.

ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਸਭ ਦੇਖੇ ਜੋਇ ॥

I ground up sandalwood, along with several fragrant oils.

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

There, where millions of Krishnas stand with hands folded,

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

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

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹ ਕਹੀਐ ਕਾਹਿ ॥

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I am like a fish out of water,

ਮੁਆ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਰਮਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮੈ ॥੫॥੧੫॥

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…

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Let's look at the views of Sant Kabir

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

Kabir (a weaver)

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ਕਹੁ ਗੁਰ ਗਜ ਸਿਵ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਜਾਨੈ ॥

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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I wasted my whole life in the city of Shiva;

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.

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

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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.

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

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

Do you think your landlord should have a key to your room?

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

ਬਹੁਤੁ ਬਰਸ ਤਪੁ ਕੀਆ ਕਾਸੀ ॥

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

ਊਹਾਂ ਤਉ ਜਾਈਐ ਜਉ ਈਹਾਂ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੨॥

ਕੈਸੇ ਬੂਝੈ ਜਬ ਮੋਹਿਆ ਹੈ ਮਾਇਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਗੁਰ ਪੀਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਖੁਦਿ ਖਸਮੁ ਪਛਾਨਾ ॥੫॥੩॥

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

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

ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥

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

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.

ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥

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.

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

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

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ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥

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

ਗਉੜੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ਪੰਚਪਦੇ ॥

Says Kabeer, this is what I say:

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.

ਤਬ ਲਗੁ ਹੋਇ ਨਹੀ ਚਰਨ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ॥੩॥

then who is there to know what happens without?

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

Kaashi and Magahar - I consider them the same.

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.

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

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

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

Sain (a barber)

You are totally pervading and permeating in all.

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.

ਸਗਲ ਜਨਮੁ ਸਿਵ ਪੁਰੀ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥

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ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰਉ ਨ ਨਿਵਾਜ ਗੁਜਾਰਉ ॥

— Kabir, Ramaini 1, Translated by David Lorenzen

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

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

ਪੂਰਬ ਜਨਮ ਹਉ ਤਪ ਕਾ ਹੀਨਾ ॥੧॥

ਸੋ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਬਤਾਇਓ ਗੁਰ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮਾਹਿ ॥੧॥

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

Raamaanand Jee, First House:

CONCLUSION:

ਜਿਨਿ ਸਕਲ ਬਿਕਲ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕਾਟੇ ਮੋਰ ॥

I have searched through all the Vedas and the Puraanas.

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.

ਏਕੋ ਸੇਵੀ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ॥੨॥

ਏਕ ਦਿਵਸ ਮਨ ਭਈ ਉਮੰਗ ॥

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

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

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

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

ਤਜੀ ਲੇ ਬਨਾਰਸ ਮਤਿ ਭਈ ਥੋਰੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

NOW…

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

— Kabir, II.57, Translated by Rabindranath Tagore

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

Ravidas (a chamar shoemaker)

ਮਰਤੀ ਬਾਰ ਮਗਹਰਿ ਉਠਿ ਆਇਆ ॥੨॥

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

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

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

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

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

You have cut through all my confusion and doubt.

ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਮਨਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਕੀ ਆਸ ॥

Gauree, Kabeer Jee, Panch-Padas:

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹੁ ਕੀਆ ਵਖਾਨਾ ॥

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

ਮੁਆ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਰਮਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮੈ

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

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

ਅਬ ਕਹੁ ਰਾਮ ਕਵਨ ਗਤਿ ਮੋਰੀ ॥

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

— Kabir, III.2, Translated by Rabindranath Tagore

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

ਪੂਜਨ ਚਾਲੀ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਠਾਇ ॥

ਏਕ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਲੇ ਰਿਦੈ ਨਮਸਕਾਰਉ ॥੩॥

Now here in this verse

These morons know nothing, they wander about in ignorance,

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

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.

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

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

Wherever I go, I find water and stones.

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

Says Kabeer, the Guru and Ganaysha and Shiva all know

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

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

ਘਸਿ ਚੰਦਨ ਚੋਆ ਬਹੁ ਸੁਗੰਧ ॥

ਅਲਹ ਰਾਮ ਕੇ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਪਰਾਨ ॥੪॥

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

Sadhna (a Muslim butcher) and

Sant Kabir was staunchly against cow slaughter.

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

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

ਕਾਸੀ ਮਗਹਰ ਸਮ ਬੀਚਾਰੀ ॥

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

ਓਛੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਕੈਸੇ ਉਤਰਸਿ ਪਾਰੀ ॥੪॥

ਕਤ ਜਾਈਐ ਰੇ ਘਰ ਲਾਗੋ ਰੰਗੁ ॥

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

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.

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.

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

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.

ਤੂ ਪੂਰਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਹੈ ਸਭ ਸਮਾਨ ॥

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

ਹਜ ਕਾਬੈ ਜਾਉ ਨ ਤੀਰਥ ਪੂਜਾ ॥

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

ਜਿਉ ਜਲ ਛੋਡਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਭਇਓ ਮੀਨਾ ॥

Shvetashvatara Upanishad (6.23)

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

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਮਤ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥

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

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

ਜਹਾ ਜਾਈਐ ਤਹ ਜਲ ਪਖਾਨ ॥

ਮਰਨੁ ਭਇਆ ਮਗਹਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਸੀ ॥੩॥

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

One day, a desire welled up in my mind.

Says Kabeer, unto whom should I tell this?

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮੈ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਤੋਰ ॥

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

Ramarchan Paddati gives more info about his teachings.

ਕਬੀਰ ਨਿਰਗੁਣ ਨਾਮ ਨ ਰੋਸੁ ॥