Is Sikhism, the faith followed in Punjab India, is just an offshoot of hinduism or its totally unrelated and different than hinduism? Do both religions teach totally different paths to reach god?
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sikhism is a different religion.Here are the testimonies from Shri Guru Granth Sahib,the holy book  of sikhs.\n\n"I observe neither Hindu fasting nor the ritual of the Muslim Ramadan month; Him I serve who at the last shall save. The Lord of universe of the Hindus, Gosain and Allah to me are one; From Hindus and Muslims have I broken free. I perform neither Kaaba pilgrimage nor at bathing spots worship; One sole Lord I serve, and no other. I perform neither the Hindu worship nor the Muslim prayer; To the Sole Formless Lord in my heart I bow. We neither are Hindus nor Muslims; Our body and life belong to the One Supreme Being who alone is both Ram and Allah for us." (Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Granth Sahib, Raga Bhairon pg. 1136) \n\n"Any human being who faithfully believes in: (i) One Immortal Being, (ii) Ten Gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Gobind Singh, (iii) The Guru Granth Sahib, (iv) The utterances and teachings of the ten Gurus and, (v) the baptism bequeathed by the tenth Guru, and who does not owe allegiance to any other religion is a Sikh." (Reht Maryada, Sikh Code of Conduct) \n\nSikhism preaches that people of different races, religions, or sex are all equal in the eyes of God. It teaches the full equality of men and women. Women can participate in any religious function or perform any Sikh ceremony or lead the congregation in prayer. \nThe true path to achieving salvation and merging with God does not require renunciation of the world or celibacy, but living the life of a householder, earning a honest living and avoiding worldly temptations and sins.
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Cnnverting to Hinduism is an oxymoron.\nSince most Hindu tradition or hinduism is a composition of embracing different faiths, doctrines and beleifs... It's as if you were born a human being than later realise that you are a human being ;-)\n\nIt is not a religion like we define it with Middle-Est (Jewdeo-Christiano-Ilamic) base religions. It is rather an amalgamation of different ideological and spiritual visions and some actually contradict one another yet, they do not "collide", thus the absence and respect of the different path. Love is action, the most sublime action of Love is to listen to God, God is in everyone's heart.\n\nMost indian spiritual traditions do not require that you abandon your own religion heritage. It is rather an itiation towards your own Path. Some teachings will require that you dedicate time to the teachingss so it may look like you abandoned a previous religion.\n\nSo if you are looking to "convert", what is the tradition or lineage that teaches that...?\n\nBrahmanism can be define as a religion and like many jewish tranditions, the transmission is a family lineage thing and conversion is more of an adoption...\n\nCertain branches of Vaishnavites such as the Krishna movement is a religion that behaves in their procelytism (yet mild) in pretty much the same manners as Pantheistic views (Middle Estern Heritage) sush as the concept of being Saved, or an alignment with a personalized God that is seperate from whow we are.\n\nSo Kuladevata is more initiatic and more of a energetic connection that you are making with a chosen Deity. Yes Jesus can be your Kuladevata since he is the power or the initial form that energize the Christic tradition.\n\nKuladevata does not make you a Hindu it empowers the relationship with the force from which your path was initiated. It is a support to one who seeks the or his/her calling.
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I hope that the links below help u get started.\n\nhttp://www.stephen-knapp.com/christianity's_similarities_with_hinduism.htm\n\nhttp://www.stephen-knapp.com/christianity_and_the_vedic_teachings_within_it.htm\n\nhttp://www.stephen-knapp.com/jesus_taught_bhaktiyoga.htm\n\nhttp://www.stephen-knapp.com/bible_teaches_chanting_gods_names.htm
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http://www.gurmat.info/sms/smspublications/\n\nlots of litrary documents available on this web page related to sikh history & some about the recent struggle.
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Hindu's Bhappu what are you thinking?\nYou are totally giving inaccurate information, and another thing learn how to spell, it's Sikhism.  People looked to Sikhism as guidence, and at the time it was one of the only monothestic religions in that area.  Sikhs believe that all are equal, and unlike Hindu's that have caste systems.  The founder of Sikhism was Guru Nanak Dev Ji, and he did not take a "little bit" from each religion, Sikhism is a totally seperate religion.  Yes, we do not cut our hair or trim, but we're still normal like everyone else, you should learn how to respect other religions.  The reason we don't cut our hair is because it's God's gift, and it's sacred to us.  The turban is used to cover one's head for respect, and to hold the hair up.  Sikhs don't try to convert people, but if someone wants to convert to Sikhism they can, Sikhism like any other religion has its own beliefs. \n\nPlease make sure you get your facts straight, almost everything you wrote was wrong.  \n\n\nFor the asker of this question sorry I've been explaining this to you because the ignorance of some people giving wrong answers I just have to correct them.  Here's a site that'll help explain Nishan Sahib: http://www.ngfl.ac.uk/re/nishansahib.htm\n\nBut this is what it says "Outside every Gurdwara stands a Nishan Sahib. It is the holy flag which can be seen either near the entrance or on the top of every Gurdwara . Great respect is shown to the flag as it is a symbol of all that the Sikhs believe. It also is a welcome banner for visitors. The flagpole is covered in orange material which is changed at special occasions and every year in April at the festival of Vaisakhi."
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Religion is the relationship between me and myself......\n(me and god) (atman and paramatman,as in hinduism)(son and The father, as in bible) so on......\n\nThe goal of all religions is unity......\n\nAdvita vedanta(hindu school of thought) says \n\n"tat tvam asi" ( I am He)\n\nThe Bible says  (I and my Father are the same/one ???)\n\nso on......\n\nThe other way I look at it, is .....\n\nReligions were created so as to answer mankinds greatest questions\n\nwho am I ???? and why am I here.......\n\nso I think religion is a process of understanding what I am.....\n\nanother way is ,\n\nThe world we see around us is all relative, so we cant absolutely understand anything coz everything is relative.........\n\nIf we find something absolute, then we can define everything else......\n\nso religion is search for an absolute.( a point of reference..which is perfect applies to all conditions and time frames...or any frame of reference)....\n\nThe enquiry in vedanta(its a school of thought) is......\n\n"By knowing which everything can be known"\n\n\nthat is religion........
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What a great question!!!!! Thanks for asking. This is really neat.\n\nI'm a practicing Hindu.\n\nMy second-favorite religion would probably be Jainism. It stresses Ahimsa..nonviolence...of which I am a big fan of this sacred principal (practiced in Hinduism and Buddhism, too, but not to the degree of Jainism). I find myself very fascinated with so many of the teachings of Jainism and many of the similar practices between Hinduism and Jainism, and yet their differences...especially theologically.\n\nNow, just in case you are one of those folks that considers Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism to all be part of the "Hindu" branch....then just in case, my answer would then be the religion of Baha'i (it's technically Abrahamic since it comes from Babism which comes from Islam which comes from Christianity which comes from Judaism...long strand there!). The Baha'i religion is very tolerant, very respectful of other religions (just as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Taoism are). The Baha'is teachings are somewhat similar to Hinduism is some areas, but follow a more Abrahamic traditional approach. While their houses of worship are very different from Hindu worship and even Christianity's worship, it is still great. It is sort of like Unitarian-Universalism where there is a reading, some discussion, maybe some songs, etc. \n\nMy third would be Unitarian-Universalism....assuming you consider it a seperate religion....some consider it a denomination of Christianity. Mainly because of their tolerant views and their focus, not on a creed or religion, but on the inherent worth and dignity of every human being.
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Hindus have a great look at this, they too believe that everyone is worshiping the same thing- the Ultimate Reality. You can call it anything you want, and get there however you want to, but it's all the same thing. As long as you have true devotion in your beliefs, they believe that you're good to go! \n\nI'm with you though. It makes me sad that people just can't get along, especially the Abrahamic religions you mention. It is the same God y'all, how bout we all act nice and get to him how we're supposed to?
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:}\nA Hindu celebration\nWorship directed to Pasupati is idolatry. western Christians are attracted to the idea and exotic nature of eastern religion, while Hindus in India are coming to the Lord in waves of increasing numbers.
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I dont see a question in there,,But thank you so much for the interesting quotes. Unfortunately the Vedas have been percieved in different ways thus resulting in todays confused hindu behaviour who have no clue what they do & why they do it! I strongly believe Hinduism being the oldest religion has paved way to the others & is the most comprehensive & profound religion in existence
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christian religion follow god \nbuddism follow stons and pagans
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I changed my faith to Hinduism from what I was brought up with, after YEARS of studying all I could about various religions, the Bible, and other Scriptures, ancient and world history, archaeology, etc.  I also "studied" myself.  I prayed a lot and came to understood that Hinduism is the religion of my soul, the religion I was when I was a child, before I was told what to believe.
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Sikhism is a mix of Islam and Hinduism.  It was created as a militray endevour to try to stop the centuries of bloodshed between muslims and hindus in the region in and around INdia.  It is a legitamte spiritual religion even if it does have a military backround.
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I don't believe my religion is the only one.  I believe that all true paths lead back to the same thing.  God can be called by any name and religion is pretty much cultural traditions to get back to him/her.\n\nI am a Christian Gnostic.
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Well it's where they go to worship like churches or mosques\n\nI can't help you further sorry, i've forgotten everything about sikhs coz I did it in year 9 lol xxxx
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Your perception of God is your own.\n\nAs a Hindu I believe that there is one God, but that God is so vast and large that we each individually experience and approach God differently (thus lots of different religions). That all will discover the same ultimate truth in any religion because it dwells within our inner self (and every religion ultimately takes the practictioner to look within). Thus all religions are valid paths. "Truth is one, though humanity calls it by different names." Rig Veda\nAs a Hindu I believe that God always listens to us regardless of what name we call God by that whatever form we meditate upon God, God will always come to us. "What I am is utterly beyond your minds ability to fully comprehend, thus call me by whatever name and worship me and meditate upon me in whatever form. I promise that by whatever name you call upon me I shall hear you and by whatever form you worship me I shall come to you." Tripura Rahasya. \nUltimate God is beyond name and form, and yet manifested the entire cosmos into existences and thereby took form, too. \nHindus believe that when one dies our consciousness projects the experience we will have. Thus, when we die it is our consciousness that creates the temporary heaven we go to. If we have expected heaven to be a place where we gather with our ancestors...then our consciousness will project a heaven with our ancestors and God will take on the form of ancestors to be with us. If we expect a heaven with, say, Jesus, then our consciousness will project a heaven and God will take the form of Jesus. Heaven is just temporary and our karma (actions) and desires will lead us back to samsara (the cycle of birth, death, rebirth) and we will reincarnate. The ultimate goal of a Hindu is moksha or liberation of samsara and union with God completely. They often use the example of an ocean. The water evaporates and forms clouds, the clouds get so heavy that eventually the water falls in the form of rain. The rain forms streams and the streams come together and form rivers. The rivers ultimately merge back into the ocean. God is the ocean and we are the droplets of water. The rivers and streams are just religions and paths back to God.\n\nAnd that is what I believe, as a Hindu.
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A very good question.  \n\nMuch debate has gone up about the POLYTHEISTIC nature of Hindu.  The religion is known to have so many gods it is debated that there is no god at all to Hindu (among western academics), though it is so obviously a religion.\n\nGodhead is the name for the form of god in Hindu.  Godhead is in all things, all objects, all shapes, and all places.  In Hindu, god is worshipped in many shapes, the shapes of the many gods, and yet it is a general, universal god they celebrate, even though it is multitudes of gods.\n\nI understood it best when I heard a (poor) translation of a Hindu prayer, I will try to recall here: \n\n"God forgive me for these sins I commit, \nFor I am human.  \n\nYou are in all things, \nAnd I worship you in these things, \nYou are in all forms \nAnd I worship you in this form, \nYou are in all places, \nAnd I worship you in this place.  \n\nGod, forgive me for these sins I commit, \nFor I am human."