Sikh Theology
SPNer
- Oct 31, 2024
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To understand the origins of “Sanatan Sikhi”, one must first understand what Sanatanism is and its nature of bringing all other religions into its Hindu fold.
The term "Hindu" as a unified religion is misleading; what actually exists is a broad philosophy labeled "Sanatan Dharma," retroactively applied to unify various distinct and often contradictory traditions across the Indian subcontinent. These traditions, many of which were at times even in conflict or at odds with one another, each have their own deities, rituals, and teachings. While they share a general reverence for the Vedas, the concept of "Sanatan Dharma" serves as a constructed label, created to categorize a vast range of separate, often warring paths under a single philosophy. In essence, it acts as an umbrella term for various pagan practices, attempting to impose a uniformity that was not originally there.
The only common thread linking these diverse pagan paths—some devoted to Vishnu, others to Shiva—spans a wide spectrum of practices, from the Vaishnavas, who adhere to strict vegetarianism, to Shaivite Aghoris, who engage in extreme rituals that can include acts of cannibalism. Despite their vastly different beliefs, practices, and lifestyles, the one unifying factor is a shared reverence for the Vedas. This veneration of the Vedic texts loosely binds these disparate traditions under the concept of Sanatan Dharma, though it’s clear that these groups follow vastly different interpretations and practices, with only the Vedas as a common point of reference.
Sanatanism is better understood as a methodology rather than a cohesive religion. Its proponents have historically used the Vedic connection to absorb other distinct paths, attempting to bring Buddhism and Jainism under its fold by framing them as offshoots of Vedic tradition. Now, similar tactics are being applied to Sikhi, with efforts to misinterpret Gurbani, the Sikh scriptures, to suggest an acceptance of the Vedas. However, this interpretation is inaccurate and blasphemous; Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhi, explicitly rejected the authority of the Vedas, emphasizing a direct relationship with Vaheguru through the Chanting of His Naam and Gurbani over ritualistic and Vedic authority. By attempting to align Sikhi with the Vedic tradition, these efforts misrepresent the core principles of Sikh teachings, which stand independently and opposingly of Sanatan or Vedic ideology.
Sikhi is a distinct religion, and Gurbani teaches that Sikhi and explicitly Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji are the only way to connect with Vaheguru. It is an act of cowardice to shy away from proclaiming boldly that Guru Nanak Dev Ji stands supreme above all.
ਜਿਨ ਗੁਰੁ ਗੋਪਿਆ ਆਪਣਾ ਸੇ ਲੈਦੇ ਢਹਾ ਫਿਰਾਹੀ ॥
Those who do not publicly affirm their Guru wander around, moaning and groaning.
The term "Hindu" as a unified religion is misleading; what actually exists is a broad philosophy labeled "Sanatan Dharma," retroactively applied to unify various distinct and often contradictory traditions across the Indian subcontinent. These traditions, many of which were at times even in conflict or at odds with one another, each have their own deities, rituals, and teachings. While they share a general reverence for the Vedas, the concept of "Sanatan Dharma" serves as a constructed label, created to categorize a vast range of separate, often warring paths under a single philosophy. In essence, it acts as an umbrella term for various pagan practices, attempting to impose a uniformity that was not originally there.
The only common thread linking these diverse pagan paths—some devoted to Vishnu, others to Shiva—spans a wide spectrum of practices, from the Vaishnavas, who adhere to strict vegetarianism, to Shaivite Aghoris, who engage in extreme rituals that can include acts of cannibalism. Despite their vastly different beliefs, practices, and lifestyles, the one unifying factor is a shared reverence for the Vedas. This veneration of the Vedic texts loosely binds these disparate traditions under the concept of Sanatan Dharma, though it’s clear that these groups follow vastly different interpretations and practices, with only the Vedas as a common point of reference.
Sanatanism is better understood as a methodology rather than a cohesive religion. Its proponents have historically used the Vedic connection to absorb other distinct paths, attempting to bring Buddhism and Jainism under its fold by framing them as offshoots of Vedic tradition. Now, similar tactics are being applied to Sikhi, with efforts to misinterpret Gurbani, the Sikh scriptures, to suggest an acceptance of the Vedas. However, this interpretation is inaccurate and blasphemous; Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhi, explicitly rejected the authority of the Vedas, emphasizing a direct relationship with Vaheguru through the Chanting of His Naam and Gurbani over ritualistic and Vedic authority. By attempting to align Sikhi with the Vedic tradition, these efforts misrepresent the core principles of Sikh teachings, which stand independently and opposingly of Sanatan or Vedic ideology.
Sikhi is a distinct religion, and Gurbani teaches that Sikhi and explicitly Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji are the only way to connect with Vaheguru. It is an act of cowardice to shy away from proclaiming boldly that Guru Nanak Dev Ji stands supreme above all.
ਜਿਨ ਗੁਰੁ ਗੋਪਿਆ ਆਪਣਾ ਸੇ ਲੈਦੇ ਢਹਾ ਫਿਰਾਹੀ ॥
Those who do not publicly affirm their Guru wander around, moaning and groaning.
