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

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

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

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

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

Let's look at the views of Sant Kabir

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

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ਹਜ ਕਾਬੈ ਜਾਉ ਨ ਤੀਰਥ ਪੂਜਾ ॥

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.

ਬਹੁਤੁ ਬਰਸ ਤਪੁ ਕੀਆ ਕਾਸੀ ॥

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

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

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ਜਿਨਿ ਸਕਲ ਬਿਕਲ ਭ੍ਰਮ ਕਾਟੇ ਮੋਰ ॥

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

ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰਉ ਨ ਨਿਵਾਜ ਗੁਜਾਰਉ ॥

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

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ਸਗਲ ਜਨਮੁ ਸਿਵ ਪੁਰੀ ਗਵਾਇਆ ॥

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

Shvetashvatara Upanishad (6.23)

One day, a desire welled up in my mind.

Can a relationship really last forever?

ੴ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥

Sant Kabir was staunchly against cow slaughter.

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਜੀ ਘਰੁ ੧

Why are white women so overly emotional?

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

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹੁ ਕੀਆ ਵਖਾਨਾ ॥

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

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

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਮਤ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥

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

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Sadhna (a Muslim butcher) and

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

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

What do you think about me (Aditya Krishna)?

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

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

ਸਾਧਸੰਗਤਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠੈ ਆਹਿ ॥੪॥੧੦॥

ਜਿਉ ਜਲ ਛੋਡਿ ਬਾਹਰਿ ਭਇਓ ਮੀਨਾ ॥

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!

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

ਅਬ ਕਹੁ ਰਾਮ ਕਵਨ ਗਤਿ ਮੋਰੀ ॥

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

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

Kabir (a weaver)

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

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.

ਗੁਰ ਪੀਰ ਮਿਲਿ ਖੁਦਿ ਖਸਮੁ ਪਛਾਨਾ ॥੫॥੩॥

Kaashi and Magahar - I consider them the same.

Gauree, Kabeer Jee, Panch-Padas:

ਊਹਾਂ ਤਉ ਜਾਈਐ ਜਉ ਈਹਾਂ ਨ ਹੋਇ ॥੨॥

ਸੋ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ ਬਤਾਇਓ ਗੁਰ ਮਨ ਹੀ ਮਾਹਿ ॥੧॥

ਕਬੀਰ ਨਿਰਗੁਣ ਨਾਮ ਨ ਰੋਸੁ ॥

I ground up sandalwood, along with several fragrant oils.

I wasted my whole life in the city of Shiva;

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

ਕਹੁ ਕਬੀਰ ਇਹ ਕਹੀਐ ਕਾਹਿ ॥

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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 ॥

ਕਾਸੀ ਮਗਹਰ ਸਮ ਬੀਚਾਰੀ ॥

— Kabir, III.2, Translated by Rabindranath Tagore

ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਮੈ ਬਲਿਹਾਰੀ ਤੋਰ ॥

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

ਘਸਿ ਚੰਦਨ ਚੋਆ ਬਹੁ ਸੁਗੰਧ ॥

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

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

Now here in this verse

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

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

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

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

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

You have cut through all my confusion and doubt.

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

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.

ਪੂਰਬ ਜਨਮ ਹਉ ਤਪ ਕਾ ਹੀਨਾ ॥੧॥

ਏਕ ਦਿਵਸ ਮਨ ਭਈ ਉਮੰਗ ॥

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.

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

ਮਰਨੁ ਭਇਆ ਮਗਹਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਸੀ ॥੩॥

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

I am like a fish out of water,

ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥

then who is there to know what happens without?

ਅਲਹ ਰਾਮ ਕੇ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਪਰਾਨ ॥੪॥

ਮੁਆ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਰਮਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮੈ

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

ਗਉੜੀ ਕਬੀਰ ਜੀ ਪੰਚਪਦੇ ॥

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

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

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

Says Kabeer, this is what I say:

Sain (a barber)

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

I have searched through all the Vedas and the Puraanas.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

ਜਹਾ ਜਾਈਐ ਤਹ ਜਲ ਪਖਾਨ ॥

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

ਪੂਜਨ ਚਾਲੀ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਠਾਇ ॥

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.

ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥

Ramarchan Paddati gives more info about his teachings.

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

ਓਛੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਕੈਸੇ ਉਤਰਸਿ ਪਾਰੀ ॥੪॥

Wherever I go, I find water and stones.

ਤਜੀ ਲੇ ਬਨਾਰਸ ਮਤਿ ਭਈ ਥੋਰੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

ਏਕ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਲੇ ਰਿਦੈ ਨਮਸਕਾਰਉ ॥੩॥

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

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

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

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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.

ਗੁਰ ਕਾ ਸਬਦੁ ਕਾਟੈ ਕੋਟਿ ਕਰਮ ॥੩॥੧॥

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

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

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.

These morons know nothing, they wander about in ignorance,

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

ਜਬ ਲਗੁ ਮਨਿ ਬੈਕੁੰਠ ਕੀ ਆਸ ॥

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

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

ਮਰਤੀ ਬਾਰ ਮਗਹਰਿ ਉਠਿ ਆਇਆ ॥੨॥

ਕਹੁ ਗੁਰ ਗਜ ਸਿਵ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਜਾਨੈ ॥

ਏਕੋ ਸੇਵੀ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਦੂਜਾ ॥੨॥

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

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

— Kabir, II.57, Translated by Rabindranath Tagore

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

There, where millions of Krishnas stand with hands folded,

Raamaanand Jee, First House:

ਤਬ ਲਗੁ ਹੋਇ ਨਹੀ ਚਰਨ ਨਿਵਾਸੁ ॥੩॥

Ravidas (a chamar shoemaker)

ਕੈਸੇ ਬੂਝੈ ਜਬ ਮੋਹਿਆ ਹੈ ਮਾਇਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Says Kabeer, unto whom should I tell this?

ਕਤ ਜਾਈਐ ਰੇ ਘਰ ਲਾਗੋ ਰੰਗੁ ॥

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

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

— Kabir, Ramaini 1, Translated by David Lorenzen

Says Kabeer, the Guru and Ganaysha and Shiva all know

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

NOW…

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

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

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.

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…

ਮੁਆ ਕਬੀਰੁ ਰਮਤ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਾਮੈ ॥੫॥੧੫॥

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

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

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

ਰਾਮਾਨੰਦ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਰਮਤ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ॥

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

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

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

ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਸਭ ਦੇਖੇ ਜੋਇ ॥

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

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

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.

You are totally pervading and permeating in all.

CONCLUSION:

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

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.