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

Last Updated: 02.07.2025 00:02

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

Now here in this verse

ਊਹਾਂ ਤਉ ਜਾਈਐ ਜਉ ਈਹਾਂ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੨॥

ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਾਟੈ ਕੋਟਿ ਕਰਮ ॥੩॥੧॥

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— Kabir, II.57, Translated by Rabindranath Tagore

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 am 13 and I am planning to run away. What should I do to succeed?

I wasted my whole life in the city of Shiva;

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

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

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ਮੁਆ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਰਮਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮੈ ॥੫॥੧੫॥

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹ ਕਹੀਐ ਕਾਹਿ ॥

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.

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

Let's look at the views of Sant Kabir

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

ਬਹੁਤੁ ਬਰਸ ਤਪੁ ਕੀਆ ਕਾਸੀ ॥

Raamaanand Jee, First House:

How do great movie moments influence how people handle real-life moral dilemmas?

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

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਮਤ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥

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.

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Says Kabeer, this is what I say:

Kaashi and Magahar - I consider them the same.

— Kabir, III.2, Translated by Rabindranath Tagore

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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

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

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

Why do Muslims not get HIV/AIDS in spite of having 4 wives and multiple relationships?

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

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

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.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve heard pretending to be asleep?

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

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਜੀ ਘਰੁ ੧

ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥

I am like a fish out of water,

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

Wherever I go, I find water and stones.

Says Kabeer, unto whom should I tell this?

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

Kabir (a weaver)

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

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

Gauree, Kabeer Jee, Panch-Padas:

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

Ravidas (a chamar shoemaker)

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

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਮਤ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥

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

One day, a desire welled up in my mind.

ਜਿਉ ਜਲ ਛੋਡਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਭਇਓ ਮੀਨਾ ॥

I ground up sandalwood, along with several fragrant oils.

ਅਲਹ ਰਾਮ ਕੇ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਪਰਾਨ ॥੪॥

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.

ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਮਨਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਕੀ ਆਸ ॥

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

I have searched through all the Vedas and the Puraanas.

ਤਜੀ ਲੇ ਬਨਾਰਸ ਮਤਿ ਭਈ ਥੋਰੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਕੈਸੇ ਬੂਝੈ ਜਬ ਮੋਹਿਆ ਹੈ ਮਾਇਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

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

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

NOW…

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

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

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

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…

ਕਹੁ ਗੁਰ ਗਜ ਸਿਵ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਜਾਨੈ ॥

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.

ਤੂ ਪੂਰਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਹੈ ਸਭ ਸਮਾਨ ॥

Ramarchan Paddati gives more info about his teachings.

Sant Kabir was staunchly against cow slaughter.

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

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

ਸਗਲ ਜਨਮੁ ਸਿਵ ਪੁਰੀ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥

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

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

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

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

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ਕਬੀਰ ਨਿਰਗੁਣ ਨਾਮ ਨ ਰੋਸੁ ॥

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

Says Kabeer, the Guru and Ganaysha and Shiva all know

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

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

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

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

ਮਰਤੀ ਬਾਰ ਮਗਹਰਿ ਉਠਿ ਆਇਆ ॥੨॥

There, where millions of Krishnas stand with hands folded,

ਸੋ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਬਤਾਇਓ ਗੁਰ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮਾਹਿ ॥੧॥

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

From Guru Granth Sahib ji - Ang 1195

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.

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

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

— Kabir, Ramaini 1, Translated by David Lorenzen

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

then who is there to know what happens without?

ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥

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

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮੈ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਤੋਰ ॥

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

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

These morons know nothing, they wander about in ignorance,

ਏਕ ਦਿਵਸ ਮਨ ਭਈ ਉਮੰਗ ॥

ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠੈ ਆਹਿ ॥੪॥੧੦॥

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

ਮਰਨੁ ਭਇਆ ਮਗਹਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਸੀ ॥੩॥

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

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

ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰਉ ਨ ਨਿਵਾਜ ਗੁਜਾਰਉ ॥

ਜਹਾ ਜਾਈਐ ਤਹ ਜਲ ਪਖਾਨ ॥

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.

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

ਘਸਿ ਚੰਦਨ ਚੋਆ ਬਹੁ ਸੁਗੰਧ ॥

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.

ਪੂਰਬ ਜਨਮ ਹਉ ਤਪ ਕਾ ਹੀਨਾ ॥੧॥

ਓਛੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਕੈਸੇ ਉਤਰਸਿ ਪਾਰੀ ॥੪॥

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!

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ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥

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

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

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

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

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

ਏਕੋ ਸੇਵੀ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ॥੨॥

ਹਜ ਕਾਬੈ ਜਾਉ ਨ ਤੀਰਥ ਪੂਜਾ ॥

ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਸਭ ਦੇਖੇ ਜੋਇ ॥

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

ਏਕ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਲੇ ਰਿਦੈ ਨਮਸਕਾਰਉ ॥੩॥

ਪੂਜਨ ਚਾਲੀ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਠਾਇ ॥

ਕਤ ਜਾਈਐ ਰੇ ਘਰ ਲਾਗੋ ਰੰਗੁ ॥

CONCLUSION:

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

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

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

ਅਬ ਕਹੁ ਰਾਮ ਕਵਨ ਗਤਿ ਮੋਰੀ ॥

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

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.

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

ਮੁਆ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਰਮਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮੈ

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.

ਤਬ ਲਗੁ ਹੋਇ ਨਹੀ ਚਰਨ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ॥੩॥

Shvetashvatara Upanishad (6.23)

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.

Sadhna (a Muslim butcher) and

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

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

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

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

You are totally pervading and permeating in all.

ਕਾਸੀ ਮਗਹਰ ਸਮ ਬੀਚਾਰੀ ॥

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

ਗੁਰ ਪੀਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਖੁਦਿ ਖਸਮੁ ਪਛਾਨਾ ॥੫॥੩॥

ਗਉੜੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ਪੰਚਪਦੇ ॥

You have cut through all my confusion and doubt.

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹੁ ਕੀਆ ਵਖਾਨਾ ॥

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Sain (a barber)

ਜਿਨਿ ਸਕਲ ਬਿਕਲ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕਾਟੇ ਮੋਰ ॥

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