Sikhism and Hinduism are two separate religions
Harpreet Singh Writes
1.When we talk of Sikhism/sikhi as religion we need to understand that what is meant by religion ,let’s take its simplest definition and that is "a set of beliefs according to which one decides to live his life " now the set of beliefs for which Sikhism stands are very different from the set of beliefs Hinduism stands for. Be it with respect to idol worship, monotheism, the concepts of heaven hell, caste system etc.. So if we go by beliefs of Sikhs and Sikhism they are widely different from beliefs of Hindus and Hinduism.
2. The argument which is often made is that because Guru Nanak Dev ji's (founder of Sikhism) father was Hindu so he was Hindu and hence all Sikhs are Hindus. This argument is faulty as a person who starts new religion will be always born in home of persons following some old religion.(How many people claim all Christians to be Jews because Christ was born in a Jewish family? ) It is like diamond even though it comes from the same mine from which coal comes but it has got its own existence very different form coal.
3.But what about so many Sikh families behaving just like Hindus.Going to hindu temples and keeping fasts and doing idol worship ? It is just the effect of majority.By living in a Hindu majority country many Sikhs have adopted practices which are not related to Sikhism but are integral part of Hinduism.But this no where proves Sikhism to be part of Hinduism.
4. Also in ancient times particularly in the area of present Punjab and the Punjab that is now in Pakistan there was a ritual of making first born child in the family as Sikhs so there were many families where one son was Sikh and other sons were Hindus ,this allowed for many inter-religion marriages which were actually between people form same extended family.
5. Finally the thing I said in first point it is the teachings and beliefs of a religion which make a religion different from other religion and as such teachings of Sikh religion are different from that of Hindu religion
Note : Buddhism originated as a separate religion but it so happened that with passage of time its teachings and scriptures came under the heavy influence of Brahmanism /Hinduism and hence in India it lost its separate identity . If Sikhs don’t wake up in time may be like Buddhism, Sikhism will also be absorbed by Hinduism .
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