Sikhism in the time of Banda Bairagi
When Guru Gobind Singh was lying on his death bed injured, a recluse named Madhavdas came to meet him. He called himself the master's banda (slave). The Guru called him by the name of Banda Bahadur. The Guru entrusted Banda Bahadur with the responsibility of protecting the Sikhs and ordered him to go to Punjab with his five chief followers and some other Sikh followers with him. When the Banda reached Delhi, he got the news of the Guru's death. He provided leadership to the Sikhs by following the orders of the Guru.
He became famous in history as Banda Bairagi. He called upon the Sikhs to fight against the tyranny of the Mughals and started an armed struggle against the Mughal officials from Sonipat and defeated the Mughal Faujdar there in the war. He attacked Sirhind, conquering places like Shahbad, Mustafabad etc. where Faujdar Wazir Khan had got two sons of the Guru elected alive in the wall. Wazir Khan was killed in the war. His immense wealth was in the hands of the Banda.
Banda took 28 parganas of Sirhind under his control. These successes of Banda made him very popular. Banda's aim was to establish an independent Sikh state in Punjab. For this he made Lohagarh the capital, issued coins in the name of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh and also made a seal or seal of the Sikh state.
Banda replaced the Mughal officers and appointed Sikh officers in the Sirhind region. In this way he first established the Sikh kingdom, but Banda Bahadur himself neither held any title nor ever held a court. He did all the work in the name of Guru. The Mughal emperor was busy first in suppressing the opposition of the Rajput rulers and then in suppressing the opposition of the states of South India.
Taking advantage of this, Banda Bahadur moved out of Punjab and attacked in the Ganges-Yamuna doab up to Saharpur and its adjoining areas. Bahadur Shah entrusted the responsibility of suppressing the Sikhs to his chief nobles. He himself also left for Punjab. In December 1710, the Mughals took control of Banda's center, Lohagarh, but Banda escaped. Before the Sikh rebellion was completely crushed, Bahadur Shah died in February 1712 and Jahandar Shah became the emperor.
Jahandarshah sowed the seeds of division among the Sikhs by recognizing Ajit Singh, the adopted son of Guru Gobind Singh, but Banda Bairagi's struggle against the Mughals continued. Jahandar Shah was killed by his nephew Farrukhsiyar after ruling for only 10 months. Farrukhsiyar sent an army under the leadership of Firoz Khan against Banda. The man fled and hid in the mountains.
His capital, Lohagarh, became the possession of the Mughals. Banda Bahadur did not give up his courage. He continued to fight with the Mughals. In AD 1716, Banda Bahadur was besieged by the Mughal army at a place called Gurudas-Nangal. After being surrounded by the Mughal army for eight months, Banda Bahadur surrendered after being compelled. He and his companions were taken to Delhi, where they were asked to convert to Islam.
After his rejection, he and his associates were brutally murdered. The Sikhs became leaderless after the death of Banda. When there was neither a Guru nor the Guru's servant in front of the Sikhs, then the Sikhs started the practices of Sarbat Khalsa and Gurmatta. Twice a year - on Baisakhi and Diwali, the Sikhs started holding huge gatherings called the Sarbat Khalsa. 'Gurmatta' the decisions taken in Sarbat Khalsa was called Even after Banda Bahadur, the struggle between the Sikhs and the Mughals continued.
Formation of Dal Khalsa by Sikhs
In AD 1737, Nadir Shah attacked Delhi. After that the disintegration of Mughal power reached its peak. After the invasion of Nadir Shah, the Sikhs organized themselves into small groups of 100-100 persons. Each party had a leader. All the members of the party followed the orders of their leader. In AD 1748, all the parties together formed the Dal Khalsa.
All the parties involved in Dal Khalsa were again divided into 11 jathas, which later became 'Misls' Known by the name of The mighty and capable Sikh leaders of these misls established their respective states in different parts of Punjab. Gradually, 12 small states were established in the whole of Punjab. Later, Maharaja Ranjit Singh (AD 1801-39) conquered these misls and established a powerful state in Punjab. Thus Punjab came out of the Mughal Sultanate.
Impact of Hinduism on Sikhism
Sikhism may show itself spiritually and externally as separate from Hinduism, but in practical terms, Hinduism has a deep influence on Sikhism. There are many such verses in the Guru Granth Sahib in which the names of Hindu gods and goddesses are mentioned. Bhai Gurdas 'Adi Granth Sahib' Which was later compiled by 'Guru Granth Sahib' Said.
'Bhai Gurdas Ki Vaaron' composed by the same Bhai Gurdas There are many works based on idol-worship and karma-theory which 'Gurmat' are against. Nevertheless, Guru Arjundev called his creation 'Key of Gurbani' Saying respected.
According to the national poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, Sikhism and Hinduism are not two, but one religion. It is the nature of Hindutva that whatever calamity comes upon it, it manifests the same form from within. The form that Hinduism manifested itself in the arena of Islam to escape or to respond to Islamic attack is Sikhism or Khalsa-dharma.
Sikh Gurus cut their necks to protect Hinduism. The aim of the military organization he set up was also to keep the Hindu religion alive and aware. Although the Sikh Gurus emphasized on the devotion to the formless God, the Sikhs never opposed the worship of Saguna-corporeal worship.
Govind Singh 'Kisun-Visun' Denied the existence of but 'Chandi' Praised too. He also wrote beautiful Khandkavya on Ram Katha. In practical terms, the Sikh Guru revered incarnations and Hindu gods and goddesses. It is written in Sikh texts-
Ram Katha Jug Jug Atal, Jo Koi Gave Net.
Swargwas Raghuvar Kio, including Sagli Puri.
In theory, even though Sikhism does not believe in caste-caste, but in practice, Sikh society has accepted many evils of Hindu society, in which there is caste-line also. Among the Sikhs, there are many castes including Jat Sikh, Mali Sikh, Kumhar Sikh, Chamar Sikh and untouchability is also present.
Marriage relations are controlled in the same way as there are in Hindu society. Jat Sikhs etc. have become castes. Many Sikhs take bath in the Ganges and go to Hindu temples. Many Sikhs are devotees of Goddess. Thus the Sikh community has remained very close to Hinduism.
Comparison of Sikhism with Hinduism, Sufism and Islam
A western writer has written- 'Sikhism is the Arabic commentary of Sanatan Dharma and the translation of Arya Samaj Islam into Sanskrit. If this comment is considered, then it will be clear that Sikhism is nothing but a modified form of Hinduism.
It is clear from the teachings of Guru Nanak that he was deeply influenced by Vedanta philosophy. He was also influenced by the religious practices of the Sufis, but not by Islamic philosophy. Hazrat Muhammad and Guru Nanak were both monotheists, but there was a lot of difference in the form of God between these two.
According to Muhammad, Allah resides on the seventh heaven and is related to the happiness and sorrow of human beings and devotion and non-devotion, but Guru Nanak's 'Ek-Omkar' , 'formless man' Is. The philosophy of Sikhism and the philosophy of Islam, especially regarding the nature of God, have the same difference that is found between Vedanta and the Quran. Thus the foundations of Sikhism and Islam are completely different. He is closer to Vedanta than to Islam.
Guru Nanak's theory of creation is the principle of Vedanta. They believed in karma, rebirth, nirvana and maya, and believed in the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. His belief in the guru-tradition is inspired by both Hinduism and Sufism. There is no place for dispassion in Islam, while there is great glory of dispassion in both Hinduism and Sufism.
Naam Japa, Dhyana, Samadhi and Yoga are completely different in Islam whereas the name of Sikhism is Japa, Dhyana, Samadhi and Yoga exactly like that of Hindus. The biggest teaching of Guru Nanak was that God pervades every particle of the world. Therefore, considering Nikhil the world as Brahmam, bow down to him. Hinduism also believes the most on this principle, whereas in Islam the worship of anyone other than Allah is not acceptable.
Guru Nanak considered himself neither a Hindu nor a Muslim. Those whom 'Sikhism' He used to say that in his eyes 'improved Hindu' and 'Reformed Muslim' Could be both. Initially many Muslims were also initiated into his sect. Later on, the Sikhs had political enmity with the Muslims, due to which the Muslims stopped becoming Sikhs. 'Rehnama' I have a clear command of the Guru that Khalsa-Dharma (i.e. pure religion) is separate from both Hindu and Muslim religions.
Progressive Elements of Sikhism
Sikhism was progressive from the beginning. Along with caste-system, idol-worship and pilgrimage, he also considers sati-practice, alcohol and tobacco to be prohibited. This religion strongly opposed the purdah system. It is said that a queen came to meet Amardas, the third guru of the Sikhs, but she was in a veil. So the Guru refused to meet him.
The teachers of Sikhism considered detachment to be essential for a higher life, but they were against imposing it forcibly on householders. There is no bigotry in food and drink like that of Vaishnavas in Khalsa-Dharma. When the son of a Hindu Pandit Pratapmal started becoming a Muslim, he was told that if you want to leave Hinduism for the freedom of food and drink, then it is better to become a Sikh instead of a Muslim.
Gurus initiated people of all religions and castes into Sikhism. He created a new man for the coming centuries, who was not divided into castes and religions, but was ready to protect religion, human and country. The social structure of taking everyone along is the biggest feature of Sikhism.