Article By Rajveer Singh, Head of Khalsa Diary – Conflict and funding none

Sikhi and Sanatan Dharma (commonly aligned with Hinduism) are two separate and sovereign traditions with divergent theologies, philosophies, and identities. Despite their proximity in geography, the two stand apart in belief, scripture, and practice. However, this distinction has not always been respected—historically or in the present day. Sikhs continue to resist attempts by the Indian state and Hindu nationalist forces to subsume their identity under the umbrella of Sanatan Dharma. This article explores these religious and political differences through a Q&A format, grounded in scripture and history.This article is intended solely for educational and informational purposes. It is not meant to target, criticize, or demean any religion, belief system, or tradition, including Sanatan Dharma or Sikhi. The aim is to explore historical, philosophical, and theological differences from an academic and learning-based perspective.

Q1: Are Sikhi and Sanatan Dharma different religions?

A: Yes. Sikhi is a sovereign religion founded by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in the 15th century in Punjab. Sanatan Dharma (Hinduism) is an ancient and diverse tradition with no singular founder or unified theology. Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s message challenged both Hindu and Islamic ritualism and institutionalism.

Scriptural Reference:

ਨਾ ਹਮ ਹਿੰਦੂ ਨ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ ॥
ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! (ਆਤਮਕ ਜੀਵਨ ਦੀ ਅਗਵਾਈ ਵਾਸਤੇ) ਨਾਹ ਅਸੀ ਹਿੰਦੂ (ਦੇ ਮੁਥਾਜ) ਹਾਂ, ਨਾਹ ਅਸੀਂ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ (ਦੇ ਮੁਥਾਜ) ਹਾਂ ।
I am not a Hindu, nor am I a Muslim.

ਅਲਹ ਰਾਮ ਕੇ ਪਿੰਡੁ ਪਰਾਨ ॥੪॥
ਸਾਡੇ ਇਹ ਸਰੀਰ ਸਾਡੀ ਇਹ ਜਿੰਦ (ਉਸ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ) ਦੇ ਦਿੱਤੇ ਹੋਏ ਹਨ (ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਮੁਸਲਮਾਨ) ਅੱਲਾ (ਆਖਦਾ ਹੈ, ਜਿਸ ਨੂੰ ਹਿੰਦੂ) ਰਾਮ (ਆਖਦਾ ਹੈ) ।੪।
My body and breath of life belong to Allah – to Raam – the God of both. ||4||

Guru Arjan Dev Ji in Raag Bhairao – 1136

This spiritual proclamation marked the beginning of a unique path, not a syncretic one.

Q2: What are the key theological differences?

A: Sikhi teaches belief in one formless, timeless, and non-anthropomorphic God (Ik Onkar), while Sanatan Dharma includes worship of various deities (e.g., Vishnu, Shiva, Durga) in anthropomorphic forms.

ਰੂਪ ਰੰਗ ਅਰੁ ਰੇਖ ਭੇਖ ਕੋਊ ਕਹਿ ਨ ਸਕਤਿ ਕਿਹ ॥
He who is without colour or form, and without any distinctive norm.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji in Jaap Sahib – 1

In contrast, Hindu scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita present Krishna as a divine incarnation, and the Puranas describe multiple gods with distinct personalities and forms.

Q3: Do Sikhs accept idol worship or rituals seen in Hinduism?

A: No. Sikhi rejects idol worship, astrology, pilgrimages, ritual fasting, and ceremonial practices rooted in caste or priesthood. Worship in Sikhi is centered on the Shabad (Word) and remembrance of God (Naam Simran).

ਕਹਾ ਭਇਆ ਨਰ ਦੇਵਾ ਧੋਖੇ ਕਿਆ ਜਲਿ ਬੋਰਿਓ ਗਿਆਤਾ ॥੧॥
ਹੇ ਭਾਈ! ਜੇ ਧੂਪ ਆਦਿਕ ਧੁਖਾ ਕੇ ਦੇਵਤਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰ ਲਈ ਤਾਂ ਭੀ ਕੀਹ ਬਣਿਆ? ਤੇ ਜੇ ਜਾਣ ਬੁਝ ਕੇ (ਕਿਸੇ ਤੀਰਥ ਆਦਿਕ ਦੇ) ਜਲ ਵਿਚ ਸਰੀਰ ਡੋਬ ਲਿਆ ਤਾਂ ਭੀ ਕੀਹ ਹੋਇਆ? ।੧।
What good does it do if a man burns incense before his gods? What good does it do to dip one’s body in water? ||1||

ਜੀਅਰੇ ਜਾਹਿਗਾ ਮੈ ਜਾਨਾਂ ॥
ਹੇ ਜੀਵ!ਨਹੀਂ ਤਾਂ ਮੈਂ ਸਮਝਦਾ ਹਾਂ (ਇਸ ਮਾਇਆ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ) ਤੂੰ ਭੀ ਆਪਣਾ ਆਪ ਅਜਾਈਂ ਗਵਾਉਂਦਾ ਹੈਂ 
O soul, I know that I will have to depart

ਅਬਿਗਤ ਸਮਝੁ ਇਆਨਾ ॥
ਹੇ ਅੰਞਾਣ ਜੀਵ! ਇਕ ਪਰਮਾਤਮਾ ਨੂੰ ਖੋਜ ।
You ignorant idiot: understand the Imperishable Lord.

Bhagat Kabeer Ji in Raag Gauree – 338

Sanatan Dharma, by contrast, embraces ritual puja, idol worship, and yajnas as means to approach different deities.

Q4: What is the Sikh stance on caste?

A: Sikhi unequivocally rejects the caste system. Sikh Gurus denounced caste hierarchy and instituted the langar (community kitchen) to embody equality, and created the Khalsa which spiritually aligned everyone to each other.

ਜਾਣਹੁ ਜੋਤਿ ਨ ਪੂਛਹੁ ਜਾਤੀ ਆਗੈ ਜਾਤਿ ਨ ਹੇ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
Recognize the Lord’s Light within all, and do not consider social class or status; there are no classes or castes in the world hereafter. ||1||Pause||

Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Raag Aasaa – 349

Sanatan Dharma traditionally upholds the varna system, codified in texts like the Manusmriti, which divides society into hierarchical classes.

Q5: Why is there a political push to absorb Sikhi into Sanatan Dharma?

A: The pressure to internalize Sikhi under Sanatan Dharma is rooted in the Indian state’s post-colonial nation-building project. Hindu nationalist ideologies (e.g., RSS) promote the idea that all Indian-origin faiths—Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhi—are branches of Hinduism. This undermines Sikh sovereignty and dilutes its distinctiveness.

Contemporary Context:

• Government-backed school textbooks and census forms often list Sikhs as part of the broader “Hindu umbrella.”
• The Anand Marriage Act (Sikh marriage law) was only recognized in 2012 after a long struggle. and it still falls under a subsection of the Hindu Marriage Act 1955.
• Sikh identity markers—turban, kirpan, Khalsa discipline—are repeatedly questioned, especially during protest movements (e.g., the 2020–21 Farmers’ Protest).
• The criminalization of Sikh political dissent and the labeling of Sikh activists as “separatists” or “terrorists” further delegitimize Sikh voices seeking autonomy or even recognition.

Q6: How do Sikh scriptures respond to Hindu mythology and scriptures?

A: Sikh Gurus acknowledged the existence of Puranic and Vedic texts but reinterpreted or rejected their authority. Guru Gobind Singh Ji, in Bachittar Natak (Dasam Granth), critiques the limitations of those texts.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji wrote:

ਮੈ ਨ ਗਨੇਸਹਿ ਪ੍ਰਿਥਮ ਮਨਾਊ ॥
mai na ganeseh piratham manaauoo ||
I do not adore Ganesha in the beginning.

ਕਿਸਨ ਬਿਸਨ ਕਬਹੂੰ ਨ ਧਿਆਊ ॥
kisan bisan kabahoo(n) na dhiaauoo ||
Nor do I meditate on Krishna and Vishnu

ਕਾਨਿ ਸੁਨੇ ਪਹਿਚਾਨ ਨ ਤਿਨ ਸੋ ॥
kaan sune pahichaan na tin so ||
I have only heard about them with my ears so I do not recognize them.

ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗੀ ਮੋਰੀ ਪਗ ਇਨ ਸੋ ॥੪੩੪॥
liv laagee moree pag in so ||434||
My consciousness is absorbed at the feet of the Supreme Kal (the Immanent Brahman).434.

Guru Gobind Singh Ji – Dasam Bani – Pannaa 336

Q7: Is the Sikh struggle only about religion?

A: No. It’s also political, cultural, and economic. Since the 1984 anti-Sikh genocide and Operation Blue Star, Sikhs have faced state repression and erasure of identity. Sikh demands for justice, autonomy (such as calls for federalism or Khalistan), and control over their institutions (like SGPC) are consistently resisted by the central government.

This struggle includes:

• Desecration and misrepresentation of Sikh scripture.
• Surveillance and incarceration of Sikh activists.
• State attempts to dilute Gurdwara control laws and influence the Akal Takht.

Q8: What can be done to uphold Sikh distinctiveness?

A: Awareness, education, and international solidarity are vital. Sikhs continue to assert their independence through:

• Teaching authentic Sikh history and scripture.
• Promoting the Khalsa identity without apology.
• Defending the sovereignty of Sikh institutions.
• Opposing state-sponsored narratives that aim to “Hinduize” Sikhi.

Conclusion:
Sikhi is a sovereign, revolutionary faith founded on direct connection with the Divine, egalitarianism, and resistance to oppression—be it Mughal, Brahmanical, colonial, or modern statist. Sanatan Dharma, despite some shared language and culture, is fundamentally distinct in its theology and practice. The struggle today is not merely theological—it is also a political fight for identity, justice, and dignity in a state and society often unwilling to accept the unique Sikh path.