Logo

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

Last Updated: 28.06.2025 01:38

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

ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਸਭ ਦੇਖੇ ਜੋਇ ॥

ਏਕੋ ਸੇਵੀ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ॥੨॥

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

Mahershala Ali Admits He Doesn’t “Know Where Marvel Is at Right Now” After ‘Blade’ Delays - The Hollywood Reporter

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

Says Kabeer, the Guru and Ganaysha and Shiva all know

Sant Kabir was staunchly against cow slaughter.

Youth overdoses from synthetic opioids are increasing. What parents should know - CNN

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

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

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

Big Cyberpunk 2077 Updates Were Thought To Be Done, But 2.3 Patch Launches Soon - GameSpot

— Kabir, III.2, Translated by Rabindranath Tagore

ਮਰਨੁ ਭਇਆ ਮਗਹਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਸੀ ॥੩॥

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਮਤ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥

Scientists Just Found an Ingredient for Life in a Newborn Planet System - The Daily Galaxy

ਏਕ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਲੇ ਰਿਦੈ ਨਮਸਕਾਰਉ ॥੩॥

Says Kabeer, this is what I say:

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

Cum at omnis doloremque totam.

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

ਸੋ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਬਤਾਇਓ ਗੁਰ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮਾਹਿ ॥੧॥

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.

Why do creationists ask for proof of evolution and then ignore the answers?

ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥

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

ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥

MIT Discovers Magnetic Superconductor in Pencil Lead - SciTechDaily

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

There, where millions of Krishnas stand with hands folded,

then who is there to know what happens without?

Trump Biopic ‘The Apprentice’ Dominates Politically-Charged Canadian Screen Awards - The Hollywood Reporter

ਮੁਆ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਰਮਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮੈ ॥੫॥੧੫॥

These morons know nothing, they wander about in ignorance,

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

The #1 Dessert to Help Lower Dementia Risk, According to Dietitians - EatingWell

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

I have searched through all the Vedas and the Puraanas.

ਤੂ ਪੂਰਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਹੈ ਸਭ ਸਮਾਨ ॥

Isn’t freedom of speech and expression an absolute right?

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…

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

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

Which bands became massively popular for covering songs rather than recording originals?

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

ਗਉੜੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ਪੰਚਪਦੇ ॥

ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਮਨਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਕੀ ਆਸ ॥

Thousands of Kroger, Albertsons grocery store workers vote to strike - KIRO 7 News Seattle

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

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

Let's look at the views of Sant Kabir

For an unpublished short story writer, what magazines or online publications offer the best chance of being recognized?

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.

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

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

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.

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

ਮਰਤੀ ਬਾਰ ਮਗਹਰਿ ਉਠਿ ਆਇਆ ॥੨॥

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

ਓਛੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਕੈਸੇ ਉਤਰਸਿ ਪਾਰੀ ॥੪॥

You have cut through all my confusion and doubt.

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.

ਕਬੀਰ ਨਿਰਗੁਣ ਨਾਮ ਨ ਰੋਸੁ ॥

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

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

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

ਕਤ ਜਾਈਐ ਰੇ ਘਰ ਲਾਗੋ ਰੰਗੁ ॥

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

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਮਤ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥

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

ਅਬ ਕਹੁ ਰਾਮ ਕਵਨ ਗਤਿ ਮੋਰੀ ॥

ਬਹੁਤੁ ਬਰਸ ਤਪੁ ਕੀਆ ਕਾਸੀ ॥

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

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.

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

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.

Ravidas (a chamar shoemaker)

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

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

Sain (a barber)

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

ਏਕ ਦਿਵਸ ਮਨ ਭਈ ਉਮੰਗ ॥

ਹਜ ਕਾਬੈ ਜਾਉ ਨ ਤੀਰਥ ਪੂਜਾ ॥

NOW…

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

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.

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

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

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

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮੈ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਤੋਰ ॥

ਕੈਸੇ ਬੂਝੈ ਜਬ ਮੋਹਿਆ ਹੈ ਮਾਇਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

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

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

ਕਹੁ ਗੁਰ ਗਜ ਸਿਵ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਜਾਨੈ ॥

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

ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰਉ ਨ ਨਿਵਾਜ ਗੁਜਾਰਉ ॥

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.

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

Shvetashvatara Upanishad (6.23)

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

ਘਸਿ ਚੰਦਨ ਚੋਆ ਬਹੁ ਸੁਗੰਧ ॥

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

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

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

ਗੁਰ ਪੀਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਖੁਦਿ ਖਸਮੁ ਪਛਾਨਾ ॥੫॥੩॥

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

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

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

I am like a fish out of water,

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹ ਕਹੀਐ ਕਾਹਿ ॥

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

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

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹੁ ਕੀਆ ਵਖਾਨਾ ॥

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

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.

Kaashi and Magahar - I consider them the same.

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

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

ਜਿਉ ਜਲ ਛੋਡਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਭਇਓ ਮੀਨਾ ॥

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.

ਅਲਹ ਰਾਮ ਕੇ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਪਰਾਨ ॥੪॥

CONCLUSION:

Now here in this verse

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!

ਜਿਨਿ ਸਕਲ ਬਿਕਲ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕਾਟੇ ਮੋਰ ॥

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

— Kabir, II.57, Translated by Rabindranath Tagore

Raamaanand Jee, First House:

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

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.

Gauree, Kabeer Jee, Panch-Padas:

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

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਜੀ ਘਰੁ ੧

ਪੂਜਨ ਚਾਲੀ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਠਾਇ ॥

One day, a desire welled up in my mind.

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

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

ਮੁਆ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਰਮਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮੈ

ਤਜੀ ਲੇ ਬਨਾਰਸ ਮਤਿ ਭਈ ਥੋਰੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਜਹਾ ਜਾਈਐ ਤਹ ਜਲ ਪਖਾਨ ॥

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

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;

Ramarchan Paddati gives more info about his teachings.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Kabir (a weaver)

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.

ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥

ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠੈ ਆਹਿ ॥੪॥੧੦॥

From Guru Granth Sahib ji - Ang 1195

ਤਬ ਲਗੁ ਹੋਇ ਨਹੀ ਚਰਨ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ॥੩॥

Sadhna (a Muslim butcher) and

ਸਗਲ ਜਨਮੁ ਸਿਵ ਪੁਰੀ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥

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.

ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਾਟੈ ਕੋਟਿ ਕਰਮ ॥੩॥੧॥

ਕਾਸੀ ਮਗਹਰ ਸਮ ਬੀਚਾਰੀ ॥

— Kabir, Ramaini 1, Translated by David Lorenzen

Wherever I go, I find water and stones.

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.

ਊਹਾਂ ਤਉ ਜਾਈਐ ਜਉ ਈਹਾਂ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੨॥

ਪੂਰਬ ਜਨਮ ਹਉ ਤਪ ਕਾ ਹੀਨਾ ॥੧॥

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

I ground up sandalwood, along with several fragrant oils.

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

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

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

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.

You are totally pervading and permeating in all.

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

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

Says Kabeer, unto whom should I tell this?

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