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

ਸਗਲ ਜਨਮੁ ਸਿਵ ਪੁਰੀ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥

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

I wasted my whole life in the city of Shiva;

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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.

Wherever I go, I find water and stones.

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

Who are the most underrated and under-appreciated Hollywood actors/actresses?

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

Do many women shave their vaginas?

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

ਪੂਜਨ ਚਾਲੀ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਠਾਇ ॥

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.

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

Says Kabeer, the Guru and Ganaysha and Shiva all know

One day, a desire welled up in my mind.

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

Now here in this verse

NOW…

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

then who is there to know what happens without?

Is Beehiiv better than Substack?

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You have cut through all my confusion and doubt.

ਜਹਾ ਜਾਈਐ ਤਹ ਜਲ ਪਖਾਨ ॥

What is the recommended frequency for using a red light therapy device for skin?

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

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹ ਕਹੀਐ ਕਾਹਿ ॥

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

What are some good romantic novels?

ਅਲਹ ਰਾਮ ਕੇ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਪਰਾਨ ॥੪॥

Kaashi and Magahar - I consider them the same.

You are totally pervading and permeating in all.

How many wishes do people get on their birthday?

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

Raamaanand Jee, First House:

ਕਤ ਜਾਈਐ ਰੇ ਘਰ ਲਾਗੋ ਰੰਗੁ ॥

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— Kabir, Ramaini 1, Translated by David Lorenzen

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

ਜਿਨਿ ਸਕਲ ਬਿਕਲ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕਾਟੇ ਮੋਰ ॥

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

ਕਹੁ ਗੁਰ ਗਜ ਸਿਵ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਜਾਨੈ ॥

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

Kabir (a weaver)

From Guru Granth Sahib ji - Ang 1195

ਸੋ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਬਤਾਇਓ ਗੁਰ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮਾਹਿ ॥੧॥

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

ਏਕੋ ਸੇਵੀ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ॥੨॥

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

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

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

ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਮਨਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਕੀ ਆਸ ॥

ਮੁਆ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਰਮਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮੈ ॥੫॥੧੫॥

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

ਮੁਆ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਰਮਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮੈ

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

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

ਏਕ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਲੇ ਰਿਦੈ ਨਮਸਕਾਰਉ ॥੩॥

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

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

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

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

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

ਗੁਰ ਪੀਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਖੁਦਿ ਖਸਮੁ ਪਛਾਨਾ ॥੫॥੩॥

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

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.

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

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

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹੁ ਕੀਆ ਵਖਾਨਾ ॥

ਤਜੀ ਲੇ ਬਨਾਰਸ ਮਤਿ ਭਈ ਥੋਰੀ ॥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.

ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਸਭ ਦੇਖੇ ਜੋਇ ॥

ਅਬ ਕਹੁ ਰਾਮ ਕਵਨ ਗਤਿ ਮੋਰੀ ॥

Says Kabeer, this is what I say:

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.

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

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

ਮਰਨੁ ਭਇਆ ਮਗਹਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਸੀ ॥੩॥

ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰਉ ਨ ਨਿਵਾਜ ਗੁਜਾਰਉ ॥

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

CONCLUSION:

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

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

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

ਏਕ ਦਿਵਸ ਮਨ ਭਈ ਉਮੰਗ ॥

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

Sadhna (a Muslim butcher) and

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.

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

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

Shvetashvatara Upanishad (6.23)

There, where millions of Krishnas stand with hands folded,

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.

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਜੀ ਘਰੁ ੧

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

ਪੂਰਬ ਜਨਮ ਹਉ ਤਪ ਕਾ ਹੀਨਾ ॥੧॥

ਕੈਸੇ ਬੂਝੈ ਜਬ ਮੋਹਿਆ ਹੈ ਮਾਇਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

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

Says Kabeer, unto whom should I tell this?

ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠੈ ਆਹਿ ॥੪॥੧੦॥

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.

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

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਮਤ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥

ਹਜ ਕਾਬੈ ਜਾਉ ਨ ਤੀਰਥ ਪੂਜਾ ॥

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

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

These morons know nothing, they wander about in ignorance,

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

ਤਬ ਲਗੁ ਹੋਇ ਨਹੀ ਚਰਨ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ॥੩॥

ਕਾਸੀ ਮਗਹਰ ਸਮ ਬੀਚਾਰੀ ॥

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

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

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

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

Ramarchan Paddati gives more info about his teachings.

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

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

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

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

ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥

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

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.

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਮਤ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥

ਤੂ ਪੂਰਿ ਰਹਿਓ ਹੈ ਸਭ ਸਮਾਨ ॥

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.

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

ਬਹੁਤੁ ਬਰਸ ਤਪੁ ਕੀਆ ਕਾਸੀ ॥

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

ਗਉੜੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ਪੰਚਪਦੇ ॥

ਮਰਤੀ ਬਾਰ ਮਗਹਰਿ ਉਠਿ ਆਇਆ ॥੨॥

ਓਛੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਕੈਸੇ ਉਤਰਸਿ ਪਾਰੀ ॥੪॥

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…

ਘਸਿ ਚੰਦਨ ਚੋਆ ਬਹੁ ਸੁਗੰਧ ॥

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

I ground up sandalwood, along with several fragrant oils.

— Kabir, III.2, Translated by Rabindranath Tagore

ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥

Gauree, Kabeer Jee, Panch-Padas:

Let's look at the views of Sant Kabir

I am like a fish out of water,

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

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

ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥

ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਾਟੈ ਕੋਟਿ ਕਰਮ ॥੩॥੧॥

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

ਊਹਾਂ ਤਉ ਜਾਈਐ ਜਉ ਈਹਾਂ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੨॥

ਕਬੀਰ ਨਿਰਗੁਣ ਨਾਮ ਨ ਰੋਸੁ ॥

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

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.

I have searched through all the Vedas and the Puraanas.

ਜਿਉ ਜਲ ਛੋਡਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਭਇਓ ਮੀਨਾ ॥

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.

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

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

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

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

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

— Kabir, II.57, Translated by Rabindranath Tagore

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

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.

Sant Kabir was staunchly against cow slaughter.

Sain (a barber)

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

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

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