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

Last Updated: 03.07.2025 03:17

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

ਮੁਆ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਰਮਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮੈ ॥੫॥੧੫॥

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

ਤੂ ਪੂਰਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਹੈ ਸਭ ਸਮਾਨ ॥

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

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

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

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ਮਰਤੀ ਬਾਰ ਮਗਹਰਿ ਉਠਿ ਆਇਆ ॥੨॥

ਅਬ ਕਹੁ ਰਾਮ ਕਵਨ ਗਤਿ ਮੋਰੀ ॥

Says Kabeer, the Guru and Ganaysha and Shiva all know

How is ice climbing a different or similar experience from rock climbing?

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!

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

ਪੂਜਨ ਚਾਲੀ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਠਾਇ ॥

Astronomers see the 1st stars dispel darkness 13 billion years ago at 'Cosmic Dawn' - Space

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

Shvetashvatara Upanishad (6.23)

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

What are the pros and cons of arranged marriages?

ਪੂਰਬ ਜਨਮ ਹਉ ਤਪ ਕਾ ਹੀਨਾ ॥੧॥

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

Kaashi and Magahar - I consider them the same.

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Let's look at the views of Sant Kabir

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

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

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ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥

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

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

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— Kabir, II.57, Translated by Rabindranath Tagore

then who is there to know what happens without?

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

Can ringing in the ears be a sign of spiritual awakening?

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 Jee, First House:

ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਾਟੈ ਕੋਟਿ ਕਰਮ ॥੩॥੧॥

What fiber optic setup would you recommend for a small business network?

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

ਮੁਆ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਰਮਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮੈ

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਮਤ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥

In what ways does Bollywood represent India's culture to the rest of the world through movies, songs, and dance? Is this representation accurate?

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.

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

ਏਕੋ ਸੇਵੀ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ॥੨॥

Why do atheists demand that everyone must accept their own self-definition? Is that any different from demanding others must accept their choice among 87 genders or be labeled as a bigot?

ਘਸਿ ਚੰਦਨ ਚੋਆ ਬਹੁ ਸੁਗੰਧ ॥

ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠੈ ਆਹਿ ॥੪॥੧੦॥

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

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

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

I am like a fish out of water,

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

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.

There, where millions of Krishnas stand with hands folded,

ਮਰਨੁ ਭਇਆ ਮਗਹਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਸੀ ॥੩॥

Now here in this verse

ਏਕ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਲੇ ਰਿਦੈ ਨਮਸਕਾਰਉ ॥੩॥

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

ਕੈਸੇ ਬੂਝੈ ਜਬ ਮੋਹਿਆ ਹੈ ਮਾਇਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

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.

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

ਹਜ ਕਾਬੈ ਜਾਉ ਨ ਤੀਰਥ ਪੂਜਾ ॥

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

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

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

Wherever I go, I find water and stones.

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.

ਬਹੁਤੁ ਬਰਸ ਤਪੁ ਕੀਆ ਕਾਸੀ ॥

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

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

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

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

You are totally pervading and permeating in all.

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

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

ਤਬ ਲਗੁ ਹੋਇ ਨਹੀ ਚਰਨ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ॥੩॥

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

ਜਿਨਿ ਸਕਲ ਬਿਕਲ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕਾਟੇ ਮੋਰ ॥

One day, a desire welled up in my mind.

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

NOW…

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

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

ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਮਨਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਕੀ ਆਸ ॥

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

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.

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹ ਕਹੀਐ ਕਾਹਿ ॥

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

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

I wasted my whole life in the city of Shiva;

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

ਗੁਰ ਪੀਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਖੁਦਿ ਖਸਮੁ ਪਛਾਨਾ ॥੫॥੩॥

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

I ground up sandalwood, along with several fragrant oils.

Sain (a barber)

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.

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਜੀ ਘਰੁ ੧

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.

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

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

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

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮੈ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਤੋਰ ॥

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

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਮਤ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥

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

ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥

ਕਤ ਜਾਈਐ ਰੇ ਘਰ ਲਾਗੋ ਰੰਗੁ ॥

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

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

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

ਅਲਹ ਰਾਮ ਕੇ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਪਰਾਨ ॥੪॥

ਜਹਾ ਜਾਈਐ ਤਹ ਜਲ ਪਖਾਨ ॥

Sadhna (a Muslim butcher) and

ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰਉ ਨ ਨਿਵਾਜ ਗੁਜਾਰਉ ॥

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

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

ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਸਭ ਦੇਖੇ ਜੋਇ ॥

Kabir (a weaver)

Says Kabeer, this is what I say:

From Guru Granth Sahib ji - Ang 1195

Ramarchan Paddati gives more info about his teachings.

ਤਜੀ ਲੇ ਬਨਾਰਸ ਮਤਿ ਭਈ ਥੋਰੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

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

ਜਿਉ ਜਲ ਛੋਡਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਭਇਓ ਮੀਨਾ ॥

ਊਹਾਂ ਤਉ ਜਾਈਐ ਜਉ ਈਹਾਂ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੨॥

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

ਏਕ ਦਿਵਸ ਮਨ ਭਈ ਉਮੰਗ ॥

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

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.

Ravidas (a chamar shoemaker)

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.

CONCLUSION:

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

These morons know nothing, they wander about in ignorance,

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

ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹੁ ਕੀਆ ਵਖਾਨਾ ॥

Says Kabeer, unto whom should I tell this?

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

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

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

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.

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

— Kabir, Ramaini 1, Translated by David Lorenzen

ਸੋ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਬਤਾਇਓ ਗੁਰ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮਾਹਿ ॥੧॥

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

ਕਾਸੀ ਮਗਹਰ ਸਮ ਬੀਚਾਰੀ ॥

I have searched through all the Vedas and the Puraanas.

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…

ਗਉੜੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ਪੰਚਪਦੇ ॥

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.

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

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

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

ਸਗਲ ਜਨਮੁ ਸਿਵ ਪੁਰੀ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥

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Gauree, Kabeer Jee, Panch-Padas:

You have cut through all my confusion and doubt.

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

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

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

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

— Kabir, III.2, Translated by Rabindranath Tagore

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.

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

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ਓਛੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਕੈਸੇ ਉਤਰਸਿ ਪਾਰੀ ॥੪॥

Sant Kabir was staunchly against cow slaughter.

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

ਕਹੁ ਗੁਰ ਗਜ ਸਿਵ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਜਾਨੈ ॥

ਕਬੀਰ ਨਿਰਗੁਣ ਨਾਮ ਨ ਰੋਸੁ ॥

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.

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