This post by Daily Sikh Updates Editors
This Chart gives 101 reasons why Sikhs are not Hindu on the basis of their philosophy, view of God, religious practices and beliefs, as well as principles and teachings. Both religions originated in the Indian subcontinent; Hinduism about 3,000 years ago and Sikhism in the second half of the last millennium. While Hinduism is considered polytheistic, Sikhism is a monotheistic religion.
Sikhs respect all religions and this post is to only show differences in almost every single category of why Sikhs are not Hindus. “Hum Hindu Nahin”
The following is to prove to anyone who has a doubt. The following reasons cover all major questions one might have on the difference of the 2 religions.
Hum Hindu Nahin
Topic Sikhism
| Hinduism | ||
| 1) Place of origin | Indian Subcontinent | Punjab, in an area which was partitioned into modern-day Pakistan. Sikhs are now predominant in Indian-Punjab. |
| 2) Place of worship | Temple (Mandir) | Gurdwara for congregational worship. Anyone may enter a Gurdwara, however-no matter their faith, caste, or skin color. Personal worship can be done in any place at any time. God resides in everything and everyone. |
| 3) Practices | Meditation, Yoga, contemplation, yagna (communal worship), offerings in the temple. | Daily prayers. The three pillars of Sikhism are: a) To remember God at all times which includes being thankful to God for what you have been given, b) To live your life honestly/with integrity and c) Sharing what you have with those less fortunate. |
| 4) About | Devotion to the various gods & goddesses of Hinduism. | A Religion spread by 10 Gurus to preach to worship one creator |
| 5) Religious Law | Dharma shastras | No necessary laws but a sikh may follow the 3 rules of their life such as 1)Naam Japna (remember/meditate on God) 2)Vand K Shakhna (give to those who need it) 3)Kirat Karna (earn by honest means). |
| 6) Life after death | A constant cycle of reincarnation until enlightenment is reached. | A constant cycle of reincarnation until enlightenment is reached. Sikhs believe that there are 8,400,000 forms of life and that many souls have to travel though a number of these before they can reach Waheguru. The goal is to merge with God. |
| 7) Founder | Not credited to a particular founder. | Guru Nanak Dev Ji |
| 8) Clergy | No official clergy. Gurus, Yogis, Rishis, Brahmins, Pundits, priests, priestesses, monks, and nuns. | The Granthi is appointed as one take care of Guru Granth Sahib besides No clergy. Raagi who sings the Granth Sahib Baani in Respective Raagas. |
| 9) Use of statues and pictures | Common | Not allowed as considered Idolatry. Pictures of the Sikh Gurus are considered Idolatry and are not accepted from a religious perspective. Gurus maybe praised because they are equivalent to God. |
| 10) Principle | To follow dharma, i.e. eternal laws | The worship of the One God through prayer and devotion. Sikhs are required to meditate on God’s name to clear their mind and eliminate the 5 evils. Meditation is also used to bring oneself closer to God. |
| 11) Definition | The word Hindu has geographical significance and was used originally for those people who lived beyond the river Sindhu or the region watered by the river Indus. Hindus themselves, call their religion “Sanatana Dharma, ” meaning “Eternal Law.” | Disciple, student or learner of God. |
| 12) Time of origin | circa 3000 B.C.E | 1469 AD. |
| 13) Literal Meaning | The followers of Vedas are called as Arya, noble person. Arya is not a dynasty, ethnicity or race. Anyone who follows the teachings of Vedas is considered Arya. | Sikh means “Student” in Persian-Punjabi. It Means To Learn.Sikh means a person who learn all his life from others. |
| 14) Mantra | Gayatri mantra, | Wahe Guru |
| 15) Status of Adam | N/A. | Only God knows who was created first and who will be created last. |
| 16) Means of salvation | Reaching enlightenment by the Path of Knowledge, the Path of devotion, or the Path of Good Deeds. | Worship God, do Good Deeds in the name of God, performing service for community. Fight 5 evils (5 sins) – Greed, Ego, Attachment, Anger, and Lust. Meditate, pray, and improve your relationship with God and God will forgive, cleanse, and save you. |
| 17) Goal of religion | To break the cycle of birth, death and reincarnation, and attain salvation. | To merge with and have the greatest relationship with God possible. To love and obey God unconditionally. Guru Nanak Dev Ji stressed that we should not be afraid of God’s wrath, but instead be afraid of not receiving the full benefits of God’s love. |
| 18)Confessing sins | Repentance for unintentional sins are prescribed, but intentional sins have to be repaid through karmic consequences. | As the Divine light is in all of us, God already knows of our “sins”. We are to pray to God for God to forgive us and cleanse us. Only through God and doing Good Deeds in God’s name in a way that God is pleased can we obtain salvation-escape from sin |
| 19)Day of worship | Orthodox schools prescribe three prayer times a day: at dawn, noon and dusk. | Every day Sikhs worship the one God at their homes, even with or without a Gurdwara service. |
| 20)Human Nature | Depends on sects. preachers of nonviolence | People are essentially good; the divine spark within them needs only to be fanned into a flame of goodness. Sinning is following the veil of illusion “Maya”. Karma is unavoidably paid if you sin. |
| 21)Marriage | Vedic verses and going around fire 4 times | Anand Karaj Ceremony, Lavaan from Guru Granth Sahib Ji |
| 22)Concept of God | God is in everything and everything is God. | Self Created, Indestructible, Unborn, Creater of Universe, Guru Nanak was sent by god |
| 23) Saint and Soldier | Preaches in nonviolence | Believes in Picking arms at last resort for self defenses purposes only. |
| 24)Rites | Some Hindus believe in a “thread ceremony” for men. | Amrit Sanchar (Being Initiated into the Khalsa. Equivalent to baptism.). |
| 25)God’s role in salvation | Beliefs vary by sect. Upanishads (scripture) say God chooses who gets salvation. Salvation is attained via good deeds and righteousness (following the “dharma” and avoiding sin) | God is generous and loving. mankind will reincarnate until he knows the true path and merges with god. |
| 26)Belief of God | Many gods, but realize that they all come from Atman. | Monotheism |
| 27)Status of Muhammad | N/A. | Saint, a guru of time. He is mentioned in Sikhism- but is used to name the guru incarnate of god.(irrelevant to some) |
| 28)Manglacharan | “om shri ganesh namah” | “Ik onkar satgur parsad |
| 29)View of other Abrahamic religions | Hinduism is a Dharmic religion, not an Abrahamic religion. | All faiths will get what they work towards. Sikhism does not condemn others to Hell or say if you are not Sikh you are eternally damned. Sikhs prays for “Sarbat Da Bhala”, meaning the good and prosperity of all Humanity regardless of differences. |
| 30)Branches | Myriad | Sahajdharis – who are clean shaven but have chosen the path of Sikhism & eventual baptism. The Khalsa, who are baptized and follow the traditional practices of Sikhi. |
| 31)Names of God | Brahman | Waheguru, Ik Onkaar, Sat Nam, Akhal Purakh. |
| 32)View towards other Dharmic religions of India | They believe that Buddhists, Jains, & Sikhs should reunite with Hinduism(which is the original Dharmic religion). | Sikhs respect other Dharmic religions. |
| 33)Followers | Hindus | Sikhs |
| 34)Use of statues, images | yes | Shabad is Guru |
| 35)Status of women | Women can become priestesses or nuns. | Sikhism teaches that men and women are 100% equal in the eyes of God. Women have the exact same rights as men and are to be respected and honored. God loves both equally and neither is better than the other. |
| 36)Marriage | Man may marry one woman. However, kings in mythology often married more than one woman. | Marriage can be arranged or it can be a love marriage. Monogamistic, against premarital sex. Marriage is the merging of two souls as one. |
| 37)Identity of Jesus | N/A. | Jesus is looked as a “saint”. Sikhs do not believe that Jesus is God because Sikhism teaches that God is neither born, nor dead. Jesus was born and lived a human life, therefore, he cannot be God. However, Sikhs still show respect to all beliefs. |
| 38)Population | 1 Billion. | 30 million |
| 39)Original Language(s) | Sanskrit | Punjabi was the original language in Sikhism and Persian also but Sikhs can learn as many languages as they want to learn. |
| 40)View of the Buddha | Some Hindu sects claim Buddha was an avatar of Vishnu. Others believe he was a holy man. | Sikhs respect religion of Buddha |
| 41)Religion which atheists may still be adherents of | Charvakas and Sankyas are atheistic groups in Hinduism. | A person must believe in God to be a Sikh |
| 42)Use of statues | Allowed | Forbidden |
| 43)Can atheists partake in this religion’s practices? | No formal policy to not allow | Yes |
| 44)Geographical predominance | India, Nepal | Indian Punjab, hundreds of thousands in the US, Canada, UK , Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere. |
| 45)Religious scriptures | Have faith in Vedas | Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji |
| 46) Holy places of pilgrimage | go to Ganga | No Pilgrimage “Tirath nahavan jao tirath naamhai” |
| 47) Direction of worship | East | God is present everywhere and in all directions. |
| 48)Time of bath | Take bath after sunrise | Sikhs have shower every day early in the morning but they do no believe that bathing leads to liberation. |
| 49) Rituals | Hindus have the rituals of wearing Janeo and Mundan | The Sikhs have Khandey Di Pahul. |
| 50)Charity | Give charity to Pandits, | Sikh feeding a poor man is like making offering to Guru Sahib. (Gharib da munh Guru di golak) |
| 51) Articles of faith | Have Tilak, Mala and Janeo | Sikhs have five Kakars (Kes, Kangha, Kara, Kachhehara, and Kirpaan) |
| 52)Caste | Yes | Sikhs don’t believe in Caste system |
| 53) Taboo of Ritual | For Auspiciousness of day/time/moment, good and bad omens, fasts, Sharadhs (rituals for the deceased) | All time is equal |
| 54) Marriage Boundaries | Must marry within caste | Must Marry a Sikh |
| 55) Ashrama Dharma theory | Firm belief in theory that dividing man’s life into four stages | Instead the Gurus emphasized living the householders life. Rejection of the Varna distinction of division of human society into higher and lower castes. |
| 56) Avtara theory | Believe in incarnations of God | The Gurus stressed that there is only one God, rejects this theory |
| 57)Mukti | Once he achieves salvation he does not live for the community | In Sikhism the Gurmukh achieving salvation lives to save others. |
| 58) six Shastras | Mastery will bring salvation | Rejected |
| 59)Sanskrit as sacred language | Yes | No |
| 60) Conversion | based on a rigid caste system which one can only be born into, but can neither marry to become, nor convert to. Devotees are welcome to worship deities but must wait to take birth or rebirth into the hierarchy of the Hindu caste system in hopes that righteous deeds will allow them to reincarnate into an upper caste. | does not actively seek converts, but accepts anyone regardless of background who wishes to be initiated |
| 61) Appearance | men may go bare headed, wear a cap, or a festive turban over cut hair. Aesthetics may shave heads or grow hair and a beard, but generally do not wear turbans. | Cover and protect unshorn hair, Wear Turbans |
| 62) Yoga | outlines a very detailed of 8 limbs and 4 types of yoga designed to prefect the body and soul. | ritualistic yoga to be an entrapment which presents an obstacle to spiritual growth. |
| 63) Fasting | Fasting is done on auspicious occasions for a variety of reason to purify body and soul. | Sikhism does not believe in ritual fasting as a means to spiritual enlightenment. |
| 64) Meat | Dietary law forbids eating meat from a cow only | Sikh who decides to indulge in meat eating is restricted only against eat an animal slaughtered ritually according to Muslim lawhalal |
| 65) Symbols | Tilak, Rosary, Dhoti | Five Kakkars (Kirpan, Kangha, Kes, Kara, Kacherra). |
| 66) Revered Individuals | Brahmin | Khalsa of the Guru |
| 67) Important Days | Janam Ashtami, Raam Naumi | Gurpurabs (days of the Gurus) |
| 68) Offerings | Choorma (mixture of various grains), fruits | Karah Parshaad |
| 69) Script | Devnagri | Gurmukhi |
| 70) Greetings | Namaste or Ram Ram | Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh |
| 71) Places of Worship | Thakurdwara, Shivala | Gurdwara Sahib |
| 72) Holy Animal | Cow | none, all equal |
| 73) Support of Earth | Earth is supported up by a giant bull | Belief in Astrophysics |
| 74) Who revealed sacred texts | Rishis | Gurus, Bhagats, and Bhatts compilations makes up Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj |
| 75) Diwali | Hindus celebrate the return of Rama and Sita | Release of 52 Princes From Gwalior Fort, Bandi Chhor Diwas the actual name |
| 76)Householder’s life | Celibacy and Sanyas | Believe in householder life and social responsibility |
| 77)Brotherhood | Hierarchical caste –Sudras not fit for Bhakti | Believes in equality and brotherhood |
| 78) Morality | All morality is supernal-moral. To do only one’s caste duty or ritual acts. | Man’s spiritual assessment of his virtuous deeds. By our deeds we are near or away form God. Higher than Truth is truthful living. |
| 79) Connecting With God | Meditational. Also value of ritualism accepted. | Man’s spiritual assessment of his virtuous deeds. By our deeds we are near or away form God. Higher than Truth is truthful living. Always rembering god’s name |
| 80) God’s Will | Realization of I am Brahman | Goal is to be the instrument of Gods Will. |
| 81) Highest Authority | Various Groups | Akal Takht |
| 82) Astrology Symbols | Believers in Astrological signs and symbols | Not believers in this |
| 83) Distinctive Identity | Only Pandits are recognizable due to dress | Recognizable anywhere due to turban, kara, and Khalsa Bana |
| 84) Sign | OM Sign | Ek Onkar and Khanda |
| 85) Dress Code at Place of worship | No formal dress code just appropriate wear | Head Must be covered with appropriate clothes |
| 86) Definition of Faith | Different Sects have different definitions ex. Shiv-bhakt, Vishnu-bhakt, Durga-bhakt, | A Learner and Disciple of the Guru |
| 87) Animal Worship | Certain Animals are more respected then others | Worshipping only Akal Purakh, the creator of all beings |
| 88) Women equality | Caste-rules and severe restrictions. | Women are equal to men. SO KION MANDA AAKHIE JIT JAMME RAJAN |
| 89) Rape | Women become impure if raped | Woman are equal, often times they become daughters of the Khalsa who take care of them. |
| 90) Dowry | First started by Hinduism | Gurus Rejected the Dowry system |
| 91) Planet Worship | Worshipped by Brahmins due to bad effects from certain planets | Sikhs only worship Akal Purakh the creator of the Universe |
| 92) Moksha | Believers in release from the cycle of rebirth impelled by karma. | Don’t believe in Mokhsha but believe in final rest at Guru’s feet and mergeness with Almighty |
| 93) Seeking Advice/ Life Lessons | Vedas | Guru’s Shabad |
| 94) Animal Sacrifice for god | Allowed and done often | Strictly not allowed |
| 95) Holy Scripture Organization Structure | Vedas are organized by Various Topics and Categories. They are further divided into chapters and sub chapters of each topic. Mantras, Spiritual and literature knowledge. | Guru Granth Sahib Ji is organized By Musical Measures divided into 31 Raags. Meant to be Sung |
| 96) Iron/ Sarbloh | If one eats from iron plate[3] then the food is equivalent to ordure and the food goes to hell. (Atri Sanhita) | Iron is the supreme metal and Amrit is prepared in bowl of iron |
| 97) Sati | In Some places Still in India Sati is being performed where after a Husband dies, wife throws herself on funeral fire. | Totally Against Sati, Guru Amar Das Ji ended the practice in most places in Punjab. |
| 98) Rites | Rights are performed by Following Hindu Shashtras | Rites are done by Gurmat, Guru’s Hukam. Shabads are recited at Birth, Marriage, and Death. |
| 99) Cow Urine | Used for purification purposes | Sikhs Reject this completely. |
| 100) Bhadan | Bhadan (ceremonial shaving) is an important element of the rites of death. Without this even a beginning cannot be made. | “O brother, give up the rite of Bhadan[5](ceremonial shaving). Such was told to all the Sikhs. Do not do Bhadan and do not touch your head with a razor. At the death of father or mother Guru gave this advice.” |
| 101) Impurity | Wherever you hear of death of your relation or of birth of a child, at that very time you are supposed to jump in water, fully clothed[1]. (Laghu Atri Sanhita, Ch. 5) | If one accepts the concept of impurity, then there is impurity everywhere. In cow-dung and wood there are worms. As many as are the grains of corn, none is without life. First, there is life in the water, by which everything else is made green. How can it be protected from impurity? It touches our own kitchen. O Nanak, impurity cannot be removed in this way; it is washed away only by spiritual wisdom. ||1|| (Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 472 |
Conclusion: HUM HINDU NAHIN!!!