Sikh & Vedanta Sampradayas

Much of my family originally hails from the Srikakulam area of Andhra Pradesh and my ancestors come from the vishishtadvaita vaishnava sampradaya. In the 13th century, Ramanujacharya’s visit to Jaganath Puri transformed Srikakulam area to a major center of vaishnava vishishtadvaita. Two centuries later Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a contemporary of Guru Nanakji, came there and what we know now as Gaudiya Vaishnavism took root (ISKCON of today is a lineage of this tradition). It was his 6 Goswamis who went to mathura/ vrindavan to revive Krishna’s abode. A place that was first destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni and then their own contemporary, Sikander Lodi again completely destroyed the sacred braj bhumi. And during this very time Babur invaded and Guru Nanakji wrote the brutality of the invaders in his Baburvani. It has been recorded in some chronicles that Guru Nanakji and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu actually met at Puri. What a profound moment it must have been. Imagine, this was also the time the great Krishna Deva Raya and his ashtadigajjas were reigning supreme at Vijayanagara and resisting the bahamani sultans down south. The great Purandara Dasa was making all those wonderful compositions that we sing even today. 

Guru Nanakji and Vaishnavas of that region including Vallabhacarya (shudhaadvaita) met and exchanged ideas that were based on the Vedic concepts of the nirguna and saguna brahman. There was a huge cross pollination of ideas. Guru Granth sahab’s claim that one must must chant ‘harinam’ to realize the supreme being certainly has similarities with vaishnava practices of that time. I relate to both traditions due their common roots & similarities and not just due to familial ties.

Punjabi Hindus commonly intermarry with Sikhs. They are not really considered different. Pride in identity  and cultural history is great. Exclusivity of identity comes from ignorance and creates fault lines. That is not our tradition. We do not see our darshanas and sampradayas that way. This truth must come out, more discussions must happen. All of our gurus interpreted the wisdom and word of the Vedic Rishis slightly differently and that is what let to different darshanas. Guru Nanakji is one of the many. Just as kesh/kara/kanga/kada/kirpan symbolize the vows of Sikh dharma, the shikha/shankh/chakra/namam/janeu symbolize the vows of vaisnavism. They and other darshanas are all born out of the sacred womb of sanatana dharma. I do not say it, the gurus themselves have said it. If each one treated themselves as a minority religion, we might as well pack up, and put the inheritance of our forefathers in a museum. And that would be the greatest disservice we would all do to their profound contributions and to bharatvarsha. 

I just wanted to share these thoughts in an effort to stitch back ideas that seem to have been torn over time. The extreme voices of the Khalistanis try to seperate the Sikhs from the Hindus. Most genuine Sikhs probably don’t feel that way and have been an integral part of the Hindu spiritual fabric. I have personally observed some hindu families making their oldest son a Sikh — a common practice of the past. 

The Holy Guru Granth Sahib mool mantra and the following Japji that were Guru Nanakji’s words talk of ek Onkar, the supreme being; talks of how listening to Siddhas, Yogis; listening about shiva, brahma & Indra; listening shastras, smritis and the Vedas bring spiritual bliss, O Nanak! 

It recognizes the wisdom of the Vedas (Pauri 5, 9), Brahman, Maya, Nada,Yoga, Karma, Dharma, etc. Sikhism is a revered sampradaya of Sanatana Dharma that cross pollinated with other Vedanta sampradayas!

Pauri 5

gurmukh naadaN gurmukh vaydaN gurmukh rahi-aa samaa-ee.

The Guru's Word is the Sound-current, wisdom of the Vedas and remains the ultimate protector.

Pauri 9

suni-ai eesar barmaa ind.

Listening - Shiva, Brahma and Indra. 

suni-ai mukh saalaahan mand.

Listening - even foul-mouthed people praise Him.

suni-ai jog jugat tan bhayd.

Listening - the technology of Yoga and the secrets of the body.

suni-ai saasat simrit vayd.

Listening - the Holy Books, Philosophy and the Vedas.

naanak bhagtaa sadaa vigaas.

O Nanak, the devotees are forever in bliss.

suni-ai dookh paap kaa naas.

Listening-pain and sin are erased.

Guru Nanak’s own visits to Jaganath Puri and interaction with Vaishnava Saints, visit to Ram janmabhoomi leaves little doubt that Sikhism is yet another Sampradaya of the Dharma tradition. His works reflect this continuity.

Quite frankly, I don’t know what the Khalistanis are smoking these days. Paki weed perhaps!