Hinduism and Sikhism

Hinduism and Sikhism, both religions from India, have had a complex relationship. Sikhism is among the newer world religions, while Hinduism is often considered the oldest. Historically, some cases of Hindu-Sikh intermarriage have been found acceptable. [The Sikh Rahit Maryada approved in 1951 (http://www.sgpc.net/rehat_maryada/section_one.html) specifically states: "A Sikh's daughter must be married to a Sikh", permitting Sikh men to marry Hindu wives, which they often do. Prohibition of Sikh girls marrying Hindus was a 20th century decision and is not found in historical Rahit Namas. However, before this Anand Karaj has always been for one Sikh to another, in fact Sikhs wanting to take part in the Anand Karaj had to first take Amrit.] There are examples of Hindu and Sikh shrines being located in close proximity, and Hindus seem to hold the Sikh Golden Temple site in high regard. [In some cases Hindu and Sikh shrines are both present in the same compound for example at Sadhu Bela [http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/gurudwaras/gurudwara-sadhu-bela-sukkur.html] and Katas Raj] [ [http://www.allaboutsikhs.com/gurudwaras/gurudwara-pehli-patshahi-katas-distt-chakwal.html] ]

Hindus and Sikhism in Punjab

Hinduism in Punjab is usually held by "Sants" who claim to incorporate a personal and private path of spiritual development in the common tradition of mystics past and present. They discuss the irrelevance of rituals, priestly class, mandatory contributions, and compulsory gatherings of Hindus and Sikhs, they are regarded as the real Hindu/Sikh who follow teachings from both Sikhism and Hinduism. These movements are more present in Punjab. However in Sikhism, the tenth Guru stated that as a Sikh, one must not follow any other religion.

Sikhism is traditionally seen as a religion of warriors who were protectors of those who could not defend themselves.Though it should be noted that the role of Sikhism is to protect humanity, not any specific set of people or religion.

There was a practice in Punjab where Hindu families give their first born son to the Guru to be baptized as a Khalsa Sikh and join the Guru’s army of protectors. This practice started when Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 asked the Hindu families to give him their eldest sons to help raise the new Khalsa Army to protect Dharma and all against Mughal tyranny and forced conversions to Islam. As it is the Hindu religious duty of every Kshatriya including every Rajput to bear arms and protect society and the Dharma, local Punjabi Hindu Kshtriya families including Rajputs living in Punjab keenly supported the Guru and offered him their eldest sons all too willingly and the tradition continued hence many Punjabi Rajput families too have been giving their eldest sons to be enrolled in the Guru’s Army and baptized as Khalsa Sikhs. Thus there are many Hindu, Punjabi Hindu Rajput and Punjabi Hindu Mair Rajput families whose kin are followers of Sikhism today with their eldest sons as baptized Khalsa Sikhs. Thus there are many Sikhs who call themselves "Sikh Rajputs" today and still use Rajput family names. However, this is in direct contradiction within Sikh teachings as once baptized into the Khalsa, the only caste, creed and lineage is now the Khalsa.

History of similarities and differences between Hindu traditions and Sikhism

Nanak, was born in a Hindu Khatri family. However, he declared that all are equal in the eyes of God in his famous proclamation "I am not a Hindu, nor am I a Muslim." [ Adi Granth [http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=1136&english=t&id=48600#l48600 Page 1136] This is often quoted to suggest that he intended to start a religion different from both Hinduism and Islam. However this is not what Nanak says.. Even though Sikhism tried to remove the Caste system with support by general population of Sikhs. The mahants had maintained the shrines since the time of the Gurus themselves. Or|date=February 2008
* 1915, 1931: New Reht Maryada compiled to replace existing Rahits after consultations with distinguished Sikh scholars.
* 1950: Sikh Reht Maryada was approved.

Differences Sikhism and specific Hindu traditions

Idol worship

The worship of "murti"s (idols) is an important part of several Hindu traditions, such as Vaishnavism and Shaivism, although some Hindu denominations like Arya Samaj and Satya Mahima Dharma have rejected idol worship. Sikhs do not believe in worship of any sort of physical idol, symbol, picture, or statue. Pictures of Gurus and the book itself are not directly prayed to or revered in place of Sikhism's formless God. Pictures of Gurus are not a requirement in the Gurdwara, and they are often not even displayed in the Darbar Sahib (prayer hall), but by the eating areas and the shoe-removing areas. This shows the low level of spiritual reverence for physical representions of the Gurus, as opposed to prayer (Prayer is not a "verbal idol"). Fanning of the Guru Granth Sahib is a tradition carried over from Punjab to protect the Granth and its reader from airborne debris, as outside worship was common. Only recital of prayers and listening to hymns make up Sikh prayer in front of gurus pictures (idol). As the following quote states:

Vegetarianism

Some Hindu traditions, such as Vaishnavism, emphasize strict vegetarianism. Some Sikhs believe that there is to be strict vegetarianism while others believe the only meat that is expressly forbidden for Sikhs to consume is Halal/Kosher (Kutha) meat, or the meat of animals slowly and ceremoniously killed in sacrificing rituals. Several Gurus such as Guru Hargobind Sahib and Guru Gobind Singh hunted frequently and consumed non-Halal meat. The Guru Granth Sahib states: [Page 1289 Guru Granth Sahib] Quoter|"First Mehl:"
"The fools argue about flesh and meat, but they know nothing about meditation and spiritual wisdom."
"What is called meat, and what is called green vegetables? What leads to sin?"
"It was the habit of the gods to kill the rhinoceros, and make a feast of the burnt offering."
"Those who renounce meat, and hold their noses when sitting near it, devour men at night."
"They practice hypocrisy, and make a show before other people, but they do not understand anything about meditation or spiritual wisdom."
"O Nanak, what can be said to the blind people? They cannot answer, or even understand what is said."
"They alone are blind, who act blindly. They have no eyes in their hearts."
"They are produced from the blood of their mothers and fathers, but they do not eat fish or meat."
| The Guru Granth Sahib

From Sri Guru Granth Sahib. (http://www.srigranth.org)

Page 467:----"They (the truest of the true) burn away the bonds of the world, And eat a simple diet of grain and water."

Page 1377:----"Kabir, those mortals who consume marijuana, fish and wine - no matter what pilgrimages, fasts and rituals they follow, they will all go to hell."

Page 332:----"You kill living beings and worship lifeless things, at your very last moment, You will suffer terrible pain."

Page 1350:----"Do not say that the Vedas are false, false are those who do not reflect. If in all is one god, then why does one kill the hen?"

Page 723:----"The world eats dead carcasses, living by neglect and greed. Like a goblin, or a beast, they kill and eat the forbidden carcasses of meat. So control your urges, or else the Lord wil throw you into hell."

Page 898/899:

----"You are the treasure of mercy, O my Beloved Lord God. I cannot even describe Your many Glorious Virtues. The cat sees the meat, but does not eat it, and the great butcher throws away his knife; the Creator Lord God abides in the heart; the net holding the fish breaks apart."

Page 1374:----"Sayeth Kabir, that the best food is eating kichree (daal/lentils) where nectar sweet is the salt. You eat hunted meat, but which animal is willing to have their head cut?"

Notes

References

* Shackle, Christopher; Mandair, Arvind-Pal Singh (2005). Teachings of the Sikh Gurus: Selections from the Sikh Scriptures. United Kingdom: Routledge, xiii-xiv. ISBN 0-415-26604-1.
* Rosetta William, Sikh Gurus, Har-Anand Publications PVT Ltd (India), 2002, First edition, ISBN 8124107165
* Professor Kartar Singh, Biography of Guru Nanak, Hemkunt Press (India), 1995, Sixth edition, ISBN 81-7010-162-X

See also

* Islam and the Sikh Panth

Further reading

*K.P. Agrawala: Adi Shrî Gurû Granth Sâhib kî Mahimâ (Hindi: “The greatness of the original sacred Guru scripture”)
*Elst, Koenraad: "Who is a Hindu?", 2001. ISBN 81-85990-74-3 [http://koenraadelst.voiceofdharma.com/books/wiah/index.htm]
*Rajendra Singh Nirala: Ham Hindu Hain, 1989. Ham Hindu Kyon, 1990. Delhi: Voice of India.
*E. Trumpp. Adi Granth or the Holy Scripture of the Sikhs, Munshiram Manoharlal, Delhi 1970.
*McLeod, W.H.:(ed.) Textual Sources for the Study of Sikhism. Manchester University Press, Manchester 1984. , -: Who Is a Sikh? The Problem of Sikh Identity. Clarendon Press, Oxford 1989.
* Harjot Oberoi, The Construction of Religious Boundaries : Culture, Identity, and Diversity in the Sikh Tradition, University Of Chicago Press 1994.
*Rajendra Singh: Sikkha Itihâsa mein Râma Janmabhûmi.
*Swarup, Ram: Hindu-Sikh Relationship. Voice of India, Delhi 1985. -: Whither Sikhism? Voice of India, Delhi 1991.
*cite book|last=Talib|first=Gurbachan|authorlink=Gurbachan Singh Talib|title= Muslim League Attack on Sikhs and Hindus in the Punjab 1947|year=1950|publisher=Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee|location=India [http://www.bharatvani.org/books/mla/ Online 1] [http://books.google.com/books?vid=OCLC03809888&id=9fQLAAAAIAAJ&q=Muslim+League+Attack+on+Sikhs+and+Hindus+in+the+Punjab+1947&dq=Muslim+League+Attack+on+Sikhs+and+Hindus+in+the+Punjab+1947&pgis=1 Online 2] [http://allaboutsikhs.com/books/gst/ Online 3] (A free copy of this book can be read from any 3 of the included "Online Sources" of this free “Online Book”)

External links

* Jasbir S. Mann. " [http://www.sikhmarg.com/english/sikhs-not-hindus.html Sikhs are not Hindus] " (includes a tabular comparison of Sikhism with three Hindu traditions)
* [http://www.sikh-heritage.co.uk/writers/KahnSingh/Kahn%20Singh%20Nabha.htm Kahn Singh Nabha]
* [http://www.sikh-heritage.co.uk/writers/macauliffe/macauliffe.htm MA McAuliffe]
* [http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/sikhism/tat.html Tat Khalsa Singh Sabha]
* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/03/04/stories/2003030400951000.htm Are the Sikhs Hindus?]
* [http://www.sarbloh.info/htmls/article_samparda_tatkhalsa.html Tat Khalsa Singh Sabhias]
* [http://www.sikhtimes.com/bios_021503a.html Khushwant Singh: "Guru Granth Sahib reflects Vedantic philosophy"]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/ritesrituals/weddings.shtml Sikh marriage ceremony]
* [http://www.projectnaad.com/wp-content/uploads/leaflets/is_sikhism_out_of_hinduism.pdf Is Sikhism a Tradition out of Hinduism?]
* [http://www.projectnaad.com/wp-content/uploads/leaflets/sikhism_and_hinduism.pdf Sikhism and Hinduism - a brief comparative study]