Some feel that Sikhism came from a mixture of Hindu and Muslim traditions.
Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, was well-versed in both traditions, but started a reign of discipleship, which is not the orthodox of either of the two.
You have to study Guru Nanak to make your own decision, but I would say it is from both, as Nanak's followers and successors were also from both.
Azreal comes once, the name Ram and Kishan come 1000's of times. If you are a Sikh, you are automatically a Hindu.
SIKHISM - is a great offshoot of Hinduism. Read this site http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Sikhism/... AND WNW.sikhnet.com
SIKHISM -
To understand Sikhism you have to understand Hinduism. Hinduism is not Christianity and Islam which are codified religions, and have a book and a prophet. Hinduism has originated from various rituals tribal customs and social life over the centuries. Hinduism has 1000?s of Gods and Goddesses and various diverse thoughts.
Predominant amongst these thoughts is a way of life called Sanatan Dharma which more than 60% of the Hindus follow, and this is generally mistaken as Hinduism, and the other thoughts are treated as offshoots of Hinduism. The real truth is that Hinduism means Sanatan Dharma AND all the other thoughts. Sikhism is but one of these thoughts.
Firstly, the British with their policy of divide and rule, and secondly, political turmoil and hatred between Hindus and Sikhs has put the idea of a separate identity in the mind of us Sikhs. Many of my co-coreligionists will say ? but we have different ideas as compared to Hinduism. Sure - I agree that we are different in ways but there are 50 ? 100 major different thoughts within Hinduism and we are BUT one of them.
Do you understand ? Whereas fundamentalist Sikhs we say that we are 1 amongst 7 great world religions the fact is that there are actually 4 great religions. One - Christianity has various branches - Catholic, Protestant, Methodist, Adventist, etc. Second ? Islam has various branches - Shia, Sunni, Ahmediya etc. There is Judaism and finally Hinduism ( which is a collection of various beautiful thoughts like Buddhism, Sanatana Dharma, Sikhism, Jainism, Arya Samajists, Vaishnav, Shaivaites Manbhum, Santhal etc )
So Sikhism is born out of Hinduism. Guru Nanak was born a Hindu, he was a traveling holy man who followed a custom of Sant Mat ( or Saint Tradition ) quite popular amongst saints those days. It was a thought he inculcated in his believers and told them to learn it. His believers were called Sikhs as Sikh means ? ?to learn? We had 9 more Gurus. Yes Guru Nanak also took some minor feedback from Islam but that is the nature of Hinduism ? to absorb from everyone.
KHALSA
Was created about 200 years later by the 10th Guru in 1699 to give Sikhs a unique identity and some more wonderful beliefs. The Guru's first 5 Khalsas were called Panj Pyaras. However this wonderful concept of Khalsa has been altered by Khalsas themselves.
Because almost every 'Khalsa' breaks his religious laws. Of the 5 K?s the Kesh ( hair and beard, eyebrows, body hair ) is shorn by a massive ( maybe 99 %, yes 99 % ) majority of the young 'Khalsa', weather they are in the UK or the fields of Punjab . Even the 'Khalsa's who keep the hair will reject 3 other physical symbols. For convenience sake - without batting an eyelid. Ask a religious 'Khalsa', - if you take so much trouble over maintaining your hair at the right length, do you keep ?the Kacha? ( large undergarment / drawers ) or do you wear a Calvein Klein brand of underwear. Do you keep ?the Kanga? ( comb ) of the right length or only a miniature Kanga ? for convenience sake ? The ?Kara? is convenient so almost everyone ( including I ) wear it.
There is nothing wrong with this though - a dynamic religion will not lay too much emphasis on rituals - it will change, progress and become stronger with time. That is why Sikhism is a great religion today
EDIT - Ha ha ha. When i have been beaten ? In which argument ? This one ?
The above link is a question asked by Steelboy himself, read it for yourself. Interestingly, the next week Steelboy asked another similar question, got more replies which gave proof that his hero Bhindranwale was a criminal, so he quietly removed it so that nobody could see it.
did i get beaten there ? Most of the time you - weather your name is reef, beer or whatever new account you keep making, you are giving Steelboy a best answer. Silly little Khalistanis - Santa and Banta ....
You already Know Oops is lunatic Sikh hater ShivSainic. He has been beaten several times but is a shameless and appears again on Sikh questions. Ignore his replies. Sikhism is a Dharmic religion word Dharma means a noble duty but it does not mean it is associated with Hinduism. Following are the points:
?It is monotheistic and also it ridicules God ever comes in human form
?It ridicules worship of stones, body organs
?It rejects fasting, pilgrimage,
?It does not believe in any caste ism
?It does not recognize Brahman, Vedas, Gita, Qu-ran, Bible etc. Sikhs do not recite Gaeitry mantra and there is no priest class.
?It also rejects heaven, hell, Hindu way of salvation
?It also does not recognize Gandhi?s principle of Ahinsa, Krishna in Hindus also rejects it.
?Cow is not sacred and pig is not bad
?Ganges is also not sacred
?Male and female are equal
?Believe in reincarnation, Karma in Sikhism is also different than other Dharmic religions, however in Hinduism there are several theories on karma.
?Cremation is a preferred method
?Sikh do not believe in Sharad, Shudi, Sootak, Paatak etc.
?Sikhs believe in rationalism i.e. rationalism behind rituals. When Guru Nanak went to Harduar he argued against people who were throwing water towards sun. Also when he went to Mecca he told people House of God is in every direction not in Kaaba only.
It is probably more close to Islam than Hindusim but it does not make it Abrahmic. It ridicules concept of last prophet, believes in formless God, ridicules fasting, pilgrimage, heaven and hell etc. Sikhs do not accept Qu-ran, Bible, torah etc as there books nor they think 'Guru Granth' is continuity of these.
Is Sikhism a dharmic religion or Abrahmic religion , or a combination of both !!?
