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

Last Updated: 27.06.2025 00:29

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

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

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.

ਸਗਲ ਜਨਮੁ ਸਿਵ ਪੁਰੀ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥

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

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.

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Should parents force their kids to go to school when they are sick?

ਪੂਰਬ ਜਨਮ ਹਉ ਤਪ ਕਾ ਹੀਨਾ ॥੧॥

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

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

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I have searched through all the Vedas and the Puraanas.

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

You have cut through all my confusion and doubt.

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

I am like a fish out of water,

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

How can I decorate my house creatively?

Gauree, Kabeer Jee, Panch-Padas:

ਓਛੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਕੈਸੇ ਉਤਰਸਿ ਪਾਰੀ ॥੪॥

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

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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.

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.

ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਾਟੈ ਕੋਟਿ ਕਰਮ ॥੩॥੧॥

What is the dirtiest city in India?

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

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

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

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

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ਕਹੁ ਗੁਰ ਗਜ ਸਿਵ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਜਾਨੈ ॥

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਮਤ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹੁ ਕੀਆ ਵਖਾਨਾ ॥

MIT researchers say using ChatGPT can rot your brain. The truth is a little more complicated - The Conversation

ਬਹੁਤੁ ਬਰਸ ਤਪੁ ਕੀਆ ਕਾਸੀ ॥

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

ਮੁਆ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਰਮਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮੈ ॥੫॥੧੫॥

Why do women wear less clothes compared to men?

ਕਤ ਜਾਈਐ ਰੇ ਘਰ ਲਾਗੋ ਰੰਗੁ ॥

These morons know nothing, they wander about in ignorance,

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

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

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

When you have seven hours to kill, what should one do?

ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਸਭ ਦੇਖੇ ਜੋਇ ॥

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

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

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Ramarchan Paddati gives more info about his teachings.

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

ਸੋ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਬਤਾਇਓ ਗੁਰ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮਾਹਿ ॥੧॥

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

I wasted my whole life in the city of Shiva;

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.

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

There, where millions of Krishnas stand with hands folded,

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

Says Kabeer, unto whom should I tell this?

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

From Guru Granth Sahib ji - Ang 1195

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.

ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਮਨਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਕੀ ਆਸ ॥

ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥

— Kabir, Ramaini 1, Translated by David Lorenzen

Sain (a barber)

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

Now here in this verse

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

ਮੁਆ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਰਮਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮੈ

ਗੁਰ ਪੀਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਖੁਦਿ ਖਸਮੁ ਪਛਾਨਾ ॥੫॥੩॥

I ground up sandalwood, along with several fragrant oils.

ਮਰਤੀ ਬਾਰ ਮਗਹਰਿ ਉਠਿ ਆਇਆ ॥੨॥

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

ਅਲਹ ਰਾਮ ਕੇ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਪਰਾਨ ॥੪॥

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

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮੈ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਤੋਰ ॥

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

ਜਹਾ ਜਾਈਐ ਤਹ ਜਲ ਪਖਾਨ ॥

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

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

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

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

ਕੈਸੇ ਬੂਝੈ ਜਬ ਮੋਹਿਆ ਹੈ ਮਾਇਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

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

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

ਕਬੀਰ ਨਿਰਗੁਣ ਨਾਮ ਨ ਰੋਸੁ ॥

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

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.

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

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

ਹਜ ਕਾਬੈ ਜਾਉ ਨ ਤੀਰਥ ਪੂਜਾ ॥

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹ ਕਹੀਐ ਕਾਹਿ ॥

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

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਜੀ ਘਰੁ ੧

Sadhna (a Muslim butcher) and

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

ਤੂ ਪੂਰਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਹੈ ਸਭ ਸਮਾਨ ॥

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

ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠੈ ਆਹਿ ॥੪॥੧੦॥

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

ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥

ਪੂਜਨ ਚਾਲੀ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਠਾਇ ॥

Shvetashvatara Upanishad (6.23)

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

ਜਿਨਿ ਸਕਲ ਬਿਕਲ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕਾਟੇ ਮੋਰ ॥

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

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

ਏਕ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਲੇ ਰਿਦੈ ਨਮਸਕਾਰਉ ॥੩॥

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

ਅਬ ਕਹੁ ਰਾਮ ਕਵਨ ਗਤਿ ਮੋਰੀ ॥

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

— Kabir, III.2, Translated by Rabindranath Tagore

ਜਿਉ ਜਲ ਛੋਡਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਭਇਓ ਮੀਨਾ ॥

ਮਰਨੁ ਭਇਆ ਮਗਹਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਸੀ ॥੩॥

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

ਤਬ ਲਗੁ ਹੋਇ ਨਹੀ ਚਰਨ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ॥੩॥

Says Kabeer, the Guru and Ganaysha and Shiva all know

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

Raamaanand Jee, First House:

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

You are totally pervading and permeating in all.

ਘਸਿ ਚੰਦਨ ਚੋਆ ਬਹੁ ਸੁਗੰਧ ॥

Ravidas (a chamar shoemaker)

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

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

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.

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.

ਏਕ ਦਿਵਸ ਮਨ ਭਈ ਉਮੰਗ ॥

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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.

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

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.

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

— Kabir, II.57, Translated by Rabindranath Tagore

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.

ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰਉ ਨ ਨਿਵਾਜ ਗੁਜਾਰਉ ॥

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

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

NOW…

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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

ਗਉੜੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ਪੰਚਪਦੇ ॥

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

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਮਤ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥

Sant Kabir was staunchly against cow slaughter.

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

Wherever I go, I find water and stones.

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

ਤਜੀ ਲੇ ਬਨਾਰਸ ਮਤਿ ਭਈ ਥੋਰੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

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

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

One day, a desire welled up in my mind.

Says Kabeer, this is what I say:

Let's look at the views of Sant Kabir

then who is there to know what happens without?

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Kabir (a weaver)

ਊਹਾਂ ਤਉ ਜਾਈਐ ਜਉ ਈਹਾਂ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੨॥

ਏਕੋ ਸੇਵੀ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ॥੨॥

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

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…

ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥

CONCLUSION:

ਕਾਸੀ ਮਗਹਰ ਸਮ ਬੀਚਾਰੀ ॥

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

Kaashi and Magahar - I consider them the same.

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