Sikhs Are Neither Hindu Nor Muslims..says Who?

[sanatan sikh]

http://searchsikhism.com/refuting-rashtriya-sikh-sangat

Refuting Rashtriya Sikh Sangat (RSS)

Bijla Singh

RSS stands for Rashtriya Sikh Sangat. It is a wing of the parent Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. RSS thinkers maintain that Hindu (Bharatiya) culture is the only indegenous culture of India and, that India cannot be nationally integrated until all the Indian share this culture and recognize it as the foundation of their collective national identity. Persuant to this aim, the parent RSS has formed a massive national infrastructure to reassimilate the Hindu masses back into the Hindu fold. The Christian, Muslim, Dalit as well as Sikh communities have been the targets of carefully orchestrated cultural and religious genocide. In recent years, the international community and major corporate contributors have taken notice of this activity and some countries have banned subsidiary groups of the RSS operating there whose funding activities have funded violent activities (pogrom against the Muslim community in Gujrat for example) while presenting the face of social relief projects. At the level of the State of Punjab, the Rashriya Sikh Sangat is only one of many RSS entities in the state that serves as an anti-Panthic element fulfilling the grand plan of the parent RSS. It has the support of Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and its main goal is to absorb Sikhism into Hinduism. The Indian government is spending millions of rupees to destroy Sikhism via multilevel tactics one of which is publishing false literature about Sikhism. One of the main claims published in many misleading books on Sikhism is that it is a sect of Hinduism. They try to connect every Sikh principle to Hinduism and then argue that the Sikhs are Hindus. I already have created and published a page on this site, which proves that Sikhism is a completely different religion than Hinduism (Read Sikhism and Hinduism). On this page I will detail the goals and motives of RSS and outline and clear the doubts the RSS is planting into people's minds about Sikhism.

Most of you have probably heard about the Hindus' leadership activities in Punjab. Accordingly, the RSS is the root of crippling problems Punjab is facing right now. Akali Dal can't do anything because Parkash (Hanerra or Dark) Badal is an instrument to these Hindu extremists. The only way to get Punjab out of the trap of the wily Hindu leadership and out of this terrible situation is to follow the teaching of Guru Granth Sahib and the principles of Sikhism that the Gurus set forth.

First, let’s look at the problems the RSS has created in Punjab. The first action of RSS is to weaken the power of Punjab and ultimately destroy it. To accomplish this, they have masterminded in recent years to drown the whole Punjab with massive infusions of drugs and alcohol throughout the community. They have actively been involved in the distribution and trafficking of drugs, alcohol and forming of rings of prostitution. Mostly, the targets are college students and the rural youth especially Sikhs. Most of the college students today are drug addicts and alcoholics including many girls. It becomes clear that the goal of such tactics is to depress the number of university graduates in future generations by creating a population of young drug addicts and alcoholics. A parallel fate is occurring in the Sikh agricultural community. There are presently more bars in Punjab then public schools and many more are opening daily.

Secondly, the RSS is moving populations of Hindu migrants to Punjab from other parts of the country, so that the Hindu population can overtake the native Punjabi population. The theory is that if there are more Hindus than Sikhs in Punjab that during the elections more people will claim Hindi as their first language instead of Punjabi. By numeric superiority and by law, Hindi would eventually become the first language of Punjab. By eclipsing Punjabi as the official language, Punjab would become a Hindi State. But, it goes much deeper than that. It will also impact education policy. No Punjabi means Gurmukhi Script will not be taught resulting in less people learning Gurbani and fewer Sikhs. Punjabi is the Sikhs' native tongue and Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is written in Gurmukhi script. This is a classic cultural genocidal tactic. One destroys a people's language, script, spiritual base, social infrastructure and kills its youth thereby eradicates its entire culture while simultaneously and gradually replace their way of life with the majority Hindu one. Soon, no one would know how to read, write and speak Punjabi and their religio-cultural roots would be forgotten and die.

The larger plan becomes quite clear. They surmise that if Sikhs turn away from their religion then Sikhism will die. The key is to change the character of Sikhs. If Sikhs start smoking, drinking, committing adultery and become ignorant of reading and understanding Gurbani that they will lose the power of Gurbani and will turn away from the true principles of Sikhism. This is why the RSS is actively distributing drugs in large amounts, opening bars, showing lewd films and songs on television and pushing prostitution in the Punjab.

Hindus will occupy Punjab gradually. Already their population has increased by 12% in last ten years or so. The problem is exacerbated by the population imbalance created by ultrasound gender selection and subsequent female infanticide by native Punjabis. Migrant Hindus are readily afforded all rights in Punjab that Punjabis are not accorded in other states. We must do something to stem the flow of migrant Hindus coming into Punjab and buying land. Sikhs are not permitted these days in any of the Indian states to buy land, vote or own businesses there whereas Hindus coming in Punjab have right to vote and buy the land for farming. Soon there will be more Hindu farmers in Punjab than Sikhs and the Hindus will control the market. Sikhs will be pushed from the market and lose economic clout, eventually lose their livelihood and become severely impoverished. Sikhs need to exhibit foresight and work to stem the tide of Hindu migrants before they lose their power base. The Sikhs need to act soon or another genocide like the one in 1984 is forthcoming. If the migrants remain in Punjab they are likely to support the Congress. We need to remember that the Congress is responsible for killing more than 300,000 Sikhs in the past 17 years and putting 60,000 Sikhs in jails without any charge or trail. The record of the BJP is just as dismal.

Secondly, pseudo saints, false living Gurus like Radha Swami, Nirankaris, Noormahals, Saccha Sauda are entities created by the RSS. The RSS has setup this network of agents to mislead unsuspecting Sikhs. These groups and individuals are given billions of rupees every year to spread their mission of misinformation and propaganda against Sikhism. These groups often distort the meanings and content of Gurbani to mislead the population. Legitimate Sikh groups are often sidelined and threatened while these scoundrels enjoy police protection and full support. Now the RSS has started sending and encouraging these false people to branch out to outside countries too. Be well aware and avoid them!

The third tactic of the RSS involves the distortion and destruction of educational content. They have taken control of the educational policy making of the Punjab. They are pushing the lie in that Sikhism is a sect of Hinduism. Competitions are being held on Sikhism but the books provided for students include all this false information about Sikhism. The RSS is publishing the Sikh history books, which state that Sikh Gurus lived their lives as Hindus and they have done everything with the help of Hindus. They have also portrayed the Gurus as evil-doers and thugs increasing suspicion in the minds of the general populace. People in general often don't bother to acquire the true understanding about Sikhism and Sikh history and they end up with a lot of doubts and confusion in their minds because of RSS. This is as true in India as it is in the rest of the world. In this time of sound bites, busy schedules and instant communication it is easy for the RSS to do its job. The RSS is merely taking advantage of people's ignorance, complacency and increasing busyness.

To summarize, I will attempt to educate the public and clear confusion and doubt in the minds of readers. RSS is attacking Sikhism on many fronts and I'll try to counter their misleading rhetoric. I am not be a scholar of Sikhism but will endeavor to present content as accurately as possible. If you detect errors or mistakes please let me know. This topic is quite deep and will require multiple parts in a series to explore.

At the end of the day, the best way to stop the RSS is for every one of you to be educated about this pervasive threat to the Sikh way of life, to learn about Sikhism, understand it, firmly practice and live by its principles and be actively involved within the Sikh and ambient communities in all spheres of life to counter this nefarious influence.

1) RSS says that Guru Nanak Dev Ji was a Hindu because he was born in a Hindu family?

First of all, we all should know that Guru Nanak Dev Ji never accepted any principle of Hinduism nor Islam. Just because He was born in a Hindu family doesn't mean that he was a Hindu. Your character makes you a person. If you are born in a Hindu family but you have never done anything like a Hindu and you oppose Hinduism then you wouldn't be a Hindu. Hindu is he who follows what Hinduism says such as worshipping stones etc. Guru Nanak Ji never ever worshipped stones. This is just one example. Guru Ji always worshipped one almighty God. Guru Ji rejected the idea of wearing Janju (piece of thread) at young age and later didn't take any rounds around the fire when He married Mata Sulakhni Ji. Guru Ji started a new religion, Sikhism, and preached the message of One God. Bhai Gurdas Ji says:

Which means Guru Nanak Ji started a new religion. Guru Ji taught Sikhs to believe in one God. Whatever Guru Nanak Ji taught He practiced it first. He did everything first then taught Sikhs to do it in essence practicing what he preached. Guru Ji said, "There is no Hindu, no Muslim" meaning that no one is born Hindu nor a Muslim because what one does makes him Hindu or Muslim. Worshipping stones and believing in more than one God makes you a Hindu; fasting and following what Quran says makes you a Muslim. How can you be a Muslim if you don’t fast, believe in Quran and pray five times a day. How can you be a Hindu if you don’t wear Janju, worship 330 million Gods and believe in castes? Guru Ji taught equality and gave equal rights to women. So this is one of the idiotic questions of RSS. They are foolish. This is what Gurbani says about Hinduism.

ਮਾਰਿਆ ਸਿੱਕਾ ਜਗਤ ਵਿਚ ਨਾਨਕ ਨਿਰਮਲ ਪੰਥ ਚਲਾਯਾ॥

In the world, he established the authority (of his doctrines) and started a religion, devoid of any impurity (niramal panth).

2) The RSS is saying that Guru Gobind Singh Ji worshipped Kali Devi on Hemkunt Parbat where Guru Ji meditated for a long time?

The Hindu is sightless; the Muslim has only one eye. The spiritual teacher is wiser than both of them. (Ang 875)

I do not make pilgrimages to Mecca, nor do I worship at Hindu sacred shrines. I serve the One Lord, and not any other. (Ang 1136)

I do not perform Hindu worship services, nor do I offer the Muslim prayers. I do not perform Hindu worship services, nor do I offer the Muslim prayers. (Ang 1136)

I am not a Hindu, nor am I a Muslim. (Ang 1136)

I have abandoned both the Pandits, the Hindu religious scholars, and the Mullahs, the Muslim priests. (Ang 1159)

The truth is that Guru Ji never ever worshipped any idols of Hinduism. Guru Ji always worshipped one God and taught Sikhs to do the same. RSS is not using Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s lines accurately. RSS is saying this:

Kalka is name of Hindu Goddess Kali Devi but Guru Ji never said anything like this. Guru Ji’s original lines are these:

“Mahan Kaal Kalka Aaradhi”

Which means that Guru Ji worshipped the greatest of great power, which is death of death meaning God. God is the death of death. Mahan Kaal means “Death” and Kaal Ka means “Of Death” and Aaradhi means “Worshipped”. So Guru Ji worshipped the death of death, which is the almighty power of one God. If we read the next lines we find that Guru Ji truly worshipped One God. The next lines say this:

“Mahan Kaal, Kaal Ka Aaradhi”

Guru Ji is saying that “By meditating upon God’s name I became one with God like a glass of water in a big ocean. I am encompassed in his glory” Guru Gobind Singh Ji also said:

“Eh Bidh Karat Tapaseya Bhaeyo, Dve Te Eek Roop Hve Gaeyo”

This clearly proves that Guru Ji worshipped One God and the only way to worship God is to meditate upon His true name. RSS is changing these lines and trying to convince Sikhs that they are part of Hinduism. All of their Gods are represented as idols and images. This is what Gurbani says about Hindus worshipping stones:

I do not accept Ganesha as important. I do not meditate on Krishna, neither on Vishnu. I do not hear them and do not recognize them. My love is with the Lotus feet of God. He is my protector, the Supreme Lord. I am dust of his Lotus feet. (Guru Gobind Singh)

3) RSS says that Guru Gobind Singh Ji is incarnation of Krishna?

The blind ignorant ones stray in doubt and so deluded, deluded they pluck flowers for worship. They worship the lifeless stones and adore tombs. Their service all goes in vain. (Ang 1264)

They who say the stone is a god; in vain is their service. He who falls at the feet of the stone; vain goes his labor. My Lord ever speaks. The Lord gives gifts to all the living beings. The Lord is within, but the blind one knows not. Deluded by doubt, he is caught in a noose. The stone speaks not, nor gives anything. In vain are the ceremonies of the idolater, and fruitless his service. (Ang 1160)

Why worship gods and goddesses, O Siblings of Destiny? What can we ask of them? What can they give us? The stone gods are washed with water, O Siblings of Destiny, but they just sink in the water. (Ang 637)

You worship gods and goddesses, but you do not know the Supreme Lord God. Says Kabeer, you have not remembered the Lord who has no ancestors; you are clinging to your corrupt ways. (Ang 332)

From the last question you have learned that Guru Ji only worshipped one God and He never ever mentioned being Krishna or anything even close to that in His biography. Guru Ji never believed in Krishna. Guru Ji says:

This means Guru Ji was not incarnation of Krishna. Now lets look at what Krishna did during his lifetime. Was he really a God?

"I do not accept Ganesha as important. I do not meditate on Krishna, neither on Vishnu. I do not hear them and do not recognize them. My love is with the Lotus feet of God. He is my protector, the Supreme Lord. I am dust of his Lotus feet." (Guru Gobind Singh)

In Bhagvat Purana chapter 10, section 22 says that once Krishna saw women taking bath in the river. So he went there and stole their clothes and made them come outside naked to get their clothes. When they did he forced them to mate with him. What kind of God would do that? Is this the kind of love God gives to his children? In the same chapter section 60 says that Krishna had 16,108 wives and Radha was not one of them. Each wife gave birth to 10 sons and one daughter means that Krishna had 161,080 sons and 16,108 daughters. So all together he had 177188 children. This shows how lustful Krishna was and RSS is trying to compare him with the greatest of all, Guru Gobind Singh Ji?

God is not lustful at all. Guru Ji has taught us to overcome the five thieves including Lust, Anger, Greed, Emotional Attachment and Pride (Egotism). If Guru Ji were incarnation of Krishna, Guru Ji would have never taught us this concept. If we learn the message of the Gurus then we can understand that the Guru Ji were never incarnation of anyone. Guru Ji was one with God and showed us the same path He followed. Look at some of the following quotes regarding Krishna:

4) RSS says that Guru Gobind Singh Ji is praying Hindu God Shiva in Sikh Religious/National Anthem?

"Even Krishna and Balbhadar meditated on the Lord, falling at the Guru's Feet." (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 165)

God who created life, solar systems, soil, and rest of the elements in the universe. How can He be praised by comparing Him to a human such as Arjun or Krishna? (Shabad Hazaray, Guru Gobind Singh Ji)

"In the Jujar Veda, Kaan Krishna of the Yaadva tribe seduced Chandraavali by force." (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 470)

ਦੇਵ ਦੈਤ ਦਿਸਾ ਵਿਸਾ ਜਿਹ ਕੀਨ ਸਰਬ ਪਸਾਰ॥ ਕਉਨ ਉਪਮਾ ਤੌਨ ਕੋ ਮੁਖ ਲੇਤ ਨਾਮੁ ਮੁਰਾਰ॥3॥7॥

So what if Krishna/Vishnu came here and killed about ten bad people? Showing many hypocrisies and fooling everyone, he called himself God. The one who kills and creates, how can He be described by counting? If he (Krishna) was God then how come he couldn’t save himself from death? Hey idiot, listen, how can that idiot get you across this world ocean (get you liberated) when he himself fell into the world ocean (died). You can only be saved when you go to Waheguru (God). (Shabad Hazaray, Guru Gobind Singh Ji)

ਕਹਾ ਭਯੋ ਜੋ ਆਨ ਜਗਤ ਮੈ ਦਸਕ ਅਸੁਰ ਹਰਿ ਘਾਏ ॥ ਅਧਿਕ ਪ੍ਰਪੰਚ ਦਿਖਾਇ ਸਭਨ ਕੱਹ ਆਪਹਿ ਬ੍ਰਹਮ ਕਹਾਏ॥੧॥

ਭੰਜਨ ਗੜ੍ਹਨ ਸਮਰਥ ਸਦਾ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਸੋ ਕਿਮ ਜਾਤਿ ਗਿਨਾਯੋ ॥ ਤਾਂ ਤੇ ਸਰਬ ਕਾਲ ਕੇ ਅਸਿ ਕੋ ਘਾਇ ਬਚਾਇ ਨ ਆਯੋ॥੨॥

ਕੈਸੇ ਤੋਹਿ ਤਾਰਿਹੈ ਸੁਨਿ ਜੜ ਆਪ ਡੁਬਿਯੋ ਭਵ ਸਾਗਰ ॥ ਛੁਟਿਹੋ ਕਾਲ ਫਾਸ ਤੇ ਤਬ ਹੀ ਗਹੋ ਸਰਨਿ ਜਗਤਾਗਰ॥੩॥੫॥

This is totally false. Gurbani is full of quotes that teach us to worship and pray only to ONE God. Guru Ji said He never recognized any Ganesha and Krishna. If Guru Ji doesn't recognize Ganesha, then He doesn't recognize Shiva either simply because they don't exist. In the Hindu religion Ganesha is worshipped before Shiva and has higher authority than Shiva. Guru Ji is praying to one God. Sikhism accepts all names of God. Shiva is one of those names just as "Allah" or "God" but God is referred to mainly as "Waheguru" in Sikhism. Sikhism never accepted any power other than one almighty God and this refers to that God not the Hindu deity. Guru Ji never referred it to the Hindu Shiva because how could Guru Ji pray to someone who killed an innocent boy of a farmer? Shiva couldn't even recognize his own son and killed him out of anger. Guru Ji taught us to overcome five thieves and anger is one of them. Therefore, Guru Ji referred to God as Shiva not the God of Hindus. Read the following verse by Guru Gobind Singh Ji to understand it better.

This proves beyond the doubt that Guru Ji never praised Hindu deity Shiv or Shiva. Guru JI praised only Almighty Waheguru who does not take birth or die, who is timeless, formless and without any hatred. Some of the following verses of Guru Ji speak of the Hindu god Shiv.

ਏਕ ਚਿੱਤ ਜਿਹ ਇਕ ਛਿਨ ਧਿਆਯੋ ॥ ਕਾਲ ਫਾਸ ਕੇ ਬੀਚ ਨ ਆਯੋ ॥10॥

Anyone who meditates on God with sincere devotion even for a moment. That person shall never be caught hold of the terrors of death. (Tav Parsad Sawayeas, Guru Gobind Singh Ji)

ਪ੍ਰਭ ਜੂ ਤੋ ਕਹ ਲਾਜ ਹਮਾਰੀ ॥ਨੀਲ ਕੰਠ ਨਰਹਰਿ ਨਾਰਾਇਣ ਨੀਲ ਬਸਨ ਬਨਵਾਰੀ॥1॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Hey Waheguru (God) Ji! Please keep my honour and respect.Hey God! (For me) You are Shivji, Nursing, Vishnu, Krishna’s older brother Balram, Krishna. (Shabad Hazaray, Guru Gobind Singh Ji)

5) RSS says that Guru Gobind Singh Ji worshipped a Hindu Goddess (Devi)?

ਰਾਮ ਰਹੀਮ ਉਬਾਰ ਨ ਸਕਹੈ ਜਾਕਰ ਨਾਮ ਰਟੈ ਹੈ ॥ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਬਿਸਨ ਰੁਦ੍ਰ ਸੂਰਜ ਸਸਿ ਤੇ ਬਸਿ ਕਾਲ ਸਬੈ ਹੈ ॥

ਬੇਦ ਪੁਰਾਨ ਕੁਰਾਨ ਸਬੈ ਮਤ ਜਾਕਰ ਨੇਤ ਕਹੈ ਹੈ ॥ ਇੰਦ੍ਰ ਫਨਿੰਦ੍ਰ ਮੁਨਿੰਦ੍ਰ ਕਲਪ ਬਹੁ ਧਿਆਵਤ ਧਿਆਨ ਨ ਐ ਹੈ ॥੨॥

ਜਾਕਰ ਰੂਪ ਰੰਗ ਨਹਿ ਜਨਿਯਤ ਸੋ ਕਿਮ ਸਯਾਮ ਕਹੈ ਹੈ ॥ ਛੁਟਹੋ ਕਾਲ ਜਾਲ ਤੇ ਤਬ ਹੀ ਤਾਹਿ ਚਰਨ ਲਪਟੈ ਹੈ॥੩॥੧੦॥

Raam and Mohammed and other prophets who you remember couldn’t describe God. Brahmas, Vishnus, Shivji, Sun, Moon, etc. all die and reincarnate.Vedas, Puraans, Kuran and other religious books can’t describe God.Inders (Vishnu), Faninders (Shivji), Muninders (Brahma) tried to find God but couldn’t find the Lord Almighty.The one who has no colour or physical appearance, how can He be called blue or black? You can only get away from the cycles of birth and death when to cling to the feet of God.(Shabad Hazaray, Guru Gobind Singh Ji)

ਜਵਨ ਕਾਲ ਜੋਗੀ ਸਿਵ ਕੀਓ ॥ ਬੇਦਰਾਜ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਜੂ ਥੀਓ ॥

ਜਵਨ ਕਾਲ ਸਭ ਲੋਕ ਸਵਾਰਾ ॥ ਨਮਸਕਾਰ ਹੈ ਤਾਹਿ ਹਮਾਰਾ ॥੮॥

The Temporal Lord created Shiva, the Yogi; Brahma, the Utterer of Vedas. The Temporal Lord, Who fashioned the entire Universe, I salute to Him alone. (Benti Chaupai, Guru Gobind Singh Ji)

ਜਵਨ ਕਾਲ ਸਭ ਜਗਤ ਬਨਾਯੌ ॥ ਦੇਵ ਦੈਤ ਜੱਛਨ ਉਪਜਾਯੋ ॥

ਆਦਿ ਅੰਤਿ ਏਕੈ ਅਵਤਾਰਾ ॥ ਸੋਈ ਗੁਰੂ ਸਮਝਿਯਹੁ ਹਮਾਰਾ ॥੯॥

He, Who is the Creator of Time and the Universe, also created the angels, demons and yakshas. He alone was in the beginning and will also be at the end of the Time. He alone is my Guru. (Benti Chaupai, Guru Gobind Singh Ji)

ਮਹਾਦੇਵ ਕੋ ਕਹਤ ਸਦਾ ਸਿਵ ॥ ਨਿਰੰਕਾਰ ਕਾ ਚੀਨਤ ਨਹਿ ਭਿਵ ॥੧੬॥

The fools consider Him a stone, for He does not know the Profound Mysterym that is God. He calls Shiva, The Eternal Lord, and does not know the secret of the Formless Lord. (Benti Chaupai, Guru Gobind Singh Ji)

ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਬਿਸਨ ਅੰਤੁ ਨਹਿ ਪਾਇਓ ॥ਨੇਤ ਨੇਤ ਮੁਖਚਾਰ ਬਤਾਇਓ॥੫॥
ਕੋਟਿ ਇੰਦ੍ਰ ਉਪਇੰਦ੍ਰ ਬਨਾਏ॥ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਰੁਦ੍ਰ ਉਪਾਇ ਖਪਾਏ ॥

Brahma and Vishnu are unable to explain God’s expanse. Brahma who has four faces can only utter that none is equal or alike God. God has been creating millions of Indras and Vamanas. God has been creating and killing millions Brahmas and Shivas. (Akal Ustat, Guru Gobind Singh Ji)

"The realm of Shiva, the realms of Brahma and Indra as well - no place anywhere is permanent." (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 214)

"The Realm of Shiva shall also perish." (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 237)

"Even Shiva and Brahma are afraid of this pleasure, but I have judged that pleasure to be true. Even sages like Sanak and Naarad, and the thousand-headed serpent, did not see the mind within the body." (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 330)

"My breath of life resides in Him, whose praises are sung by Shiva and Sanak and so many others." (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 339)

"No one is more powerful than the she-serpent Maya, who deceived even Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva." (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 480)

"That man who chants "Shiva, Shiva", and meditates on him, is riding on a bull, shaking a tambourine." (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 874)

Edited November 1, 2014 by sanatan sikh

[Singh123456777]

Damn snantan Sikh has hit the nail on the head.

[Singh123456777]

Is this the first time you quoted Bhai vir Singh? That is one persons opinion. You never qouted Bhai vir Singh before cause you always said that he is a Singh sabhia etc and now you want to use him for your ideology.

Even if it was written in 1787 what's the difference? It is still a puratan artifact. You quote stuff up to 1900's etc.

The other 40 vaars are written by Bhai gurdas ji the first one.

[mamta mohan]

Online edition of India's National Newspaper

Tuesday, Mar 04, 2003

Are the Sikhs Hindus?

By Nonica Datta

No matter what the RSS chief, K.S. Sudarshan, might say with regard to the origin and development of Sikhism, Sikh consciousness has invariably followed an independent course.

"ALL MUSLIMS living in India are Hindus. All Sikhs are Hindus," asserted the RSS chief, K.S. Sudarshan, at a recent meeting in Amritsar. Citing Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh guru, he said: "He himself acknowledged Hum Hindu Hain". This is an erroneous view. Sikhs have always been willing to accept diverse ideas and institutions, but in acceptance they have adapted and transformed their inheritance. Not always able to work the various strands into a harmonious whole, they have not yet lost their identity. This holds good for almost every manifestation of Sikh life and thought.

My own maternal grandmother, a devout Sikh, was married into an Arya Samaj family. Did she define herself as a Hindu? She did not. Her way of life, her association with the Sikh Kanya Mahavidyalaya in Ferozepur, and her perception of India's Partition signified her distinctive identity. Even though married into Hindu families, many like her were wedded to Sikh values. Without denying the existing bonds and alliances between the Hindus and Sikhs, not much has changed since my grandmother's days.

In fact, the basic flaw in Mr. Sudarshan's assertion is that he disregards the differences that have historically existed between the experiences and the lives of people of the two communities. He must know that no matter what he might say with regard to the origin and development of Sikhism, Sikh consciousness has invariably followed an independent course.

Two scholarly and popular views exist on Sikh identity. One of them traces its beginning to the Sikh gurus (1469-1708) and its crystallisation during Ranjit Singh's rule (1799-1839). All this while, so runs the argument, the Sikh religious and cultural heritage ran parallel to, not always antagonistic with, Hinduism. The other interpretation underlines the Sikhs' fluid identity in the pre-colonial period and brings into sharp focus the role of the Tat Khalsa (the true Khalsa) leadership in heightening a separate and exclusive consciousness in the late 19th century. It is fair to argue, therefore, that neither Mr. Sudarshan nor any of his predecessors have understood the changing meanings of Sikh identity. They have sought to impose their own worldview, ignoring how Sikh ideologues have understood, categorised and defined their community over the centuries.

Guru Nanak (1469-1539) had rejected the authority of the Brahmans, spurned ritualism and repudiated idol worship. Through gurbani (guru's word), sangat (religious congregation) and guru ka langar (community meal) he endeavoured to fashion a radical theology and create a moral community. However, it was the initiative of the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708), which endowed his followers with a distinct identity.

The Khalsa Sikhs, thereafter, vested the authority of the Guru in the Guru Granth Sahib and the corporate community. This was a defining moment, carried to its logical culmination by the Rahit (code of discipline).

By the closing decades of the 19th century, the Singh Sabha movement defined the boundaries of the Sikh community vis-a-vis the Hindus. Such moves were largely in response to the Arya Samaj movement's strident initiative to incorporate Sikhism within the Hindu fold. In opposition to its agenda, of promoting Hindi as the official vernacular language, the Sikh reformers championed Punjabi as the medium of education and the language of administration. Moreover, Hindu idols, which had been installed in the Golden Temple premises, were removed. Bhai Kahn Singh, a Sikh spokesman, wrote in 1899, "we are not Hindus". This sentiment was vividly expressed in the everyday lives and rituals. The Sikhs knew by now who they were not.

Historically, the Sikhs have moved in and out of multiple identities. Yet, their quest for an exclusive identity was the most significant feature of their history in the last century. Although the meanings of identity have differed in certain contexts and in response to various challenges, the Sikhs have hardly ever integrated with any specific version of Hinduism. Consider, their demand for separate electorates (1917) and the role of the Gurdwara Reform movement. Thereafter, the Sikh Gurdwaras Act (1925) defined a Sikh as "a person who professes the Sikh religion", adding, "I solemnly affirm that I am a Sikh, that I believe in the Guru Granth Sahib, that I believe in the Ten Gurus, and that I have no other religion".

Before India's Independence, the Akalis tried to safeguard the political and cultural interests of their constituency. Thus, through the demand for `Azad Punjab' (1943) and for `Sikhistan' or `Khalistan' (1946), the Akalis sought to safeguard their interests as a distinct and unified entity. The Sikh leadership also mooted the idea of an `autonomous' Sikh area within Pakistan. Their ultimate acceptance of Punjab's Partition was, in fact, conditioned by such communitarian anxieties and aspirations.

After Independence, various Sikh outfits have insisted on defining themselves and their followers as a `minority' living under the shadow of Hindu majoritarianism. This found expression in the demand for separate representation in the Constitution, and was followed by the movement for a State comprising Punjabi-speaking people. The demand for greater autonomy gathered momentum in the 1970s and 1980s, giving rise to the Khalistan movement itself. The Indian Army's assault on the Golden Temple in June 1984, according to Khushwant Singh, widened the Hindu-Sikh gulf, and gave the movement for Khalistan its first martyr in Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

The brutal anti-Sikh pogrom that followed the assassination of Indira Gandhi fuelled anti-Hindu sentiments, especially in parts of north India.

Identity rests on the notion of difference with the other(s). Yet, the other is not constant, and keeps changing. Thus, in the 18th century, the Muslims were the bete noire of the Sikhs. In the late 19th century, the `Arya Hindus' took their place. A century later, the British colonial state became the predominant antagonist.

At the time of Partition, the `Muslim' was endowed with a new kind of otherness, especially with the imaginary fear of Sikhs being subjected to Muslim rule. Finally, the `Hindu Congress' became the principal adversary in the 1980s.

The Sangh Parivar harps on all the others, but effaces the presence of the Hindu as other in the evolution and crystallisation of a specific Sikh identity. It denies the fact that if the Sikh communities had demonised the Muslims or the Congress in the past, they did so only to protect their own cultural identity and not to consolidate the Hindutva forces. Like the Muslims, the Sikhs have resisted the Hindutva project of absorption and sameness.

The Sangh Parivar's agenda, of suppressing the contested history and identity of the Sikhs as well as the Muslims, is ahistorical. It is also a contrived agenda, for it rests on a spurious notion of Hindu identity. The political language, as echoed by Mr. Sudarshan, is neither rooted in the historians' histories nor in the diverse communitarian narratives. Finally, his comment degrades the historians' histories, and ridicules a minority's own self-image and perceptions.

(The writer teaches history at Miranda House, New Delhi.)

http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/2003/03/04/stories/2003030400951000.htm

Edited November 2, 2014 by mamta mohan

[ashok kalia]

Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaaj

14 September 2013 ·

"Main na Ganeshay pratham manaun,
KISHAN bishan kabhu na dheyaun.
kaan suno pehchan na tinso,
liv lagi mori pag inso."
DASAM GRANTH:GURU GOBIND SINGH JI
this means
GURU GOBIND SINGH JI SAYS
" I dont pray to ganesh ji b4 starting any job,
I dont worship kishan ji.
I have heard their names but I dont know them,
I just pray n worship the AKAAL PURAKH
WAHEGURU,
I have dedicated myself to him"
WJKK WJKF

Edited November 2, 2014 by ashok kalia

[ashok kalia]

Dhan Dhan Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj :

"Jaagat jot japey nis basur
Ek bina man nek na aaney
Pooran prem prateet sajey
Brat gor mari matt bhool na maney.
Tirath daan daya tap sanjam
Ek bina neh ek pachchaney.
Pooran jot jagey ghat main
Tab Khalas tahey nakhalas jaaney."

Edited November 2, 2014 by ashok kalia

[chatanga1]

I finally managed to track down the name of this document - called the Ibrat Nama by Muhammed Hairasi(?) and apparently he watched the final rites and says Guru Gobind Singh was cremated as per Hindu rites.

Ibrat Nama was written by Mohd Harisi. The final Hindu rites he describes is cremation, which in the eyes of the moghals was a hindu rite. Now you know and I know that Hindus cremate their dead, and it is prefered in Sikhi as well, but this in itself doesn't mean that it was a Hindu rite in the sense that you would like it to be.

All Harisi has written about is Guru Ji's cremation.

Muslims hate cremation intensely.