Jainism and Sikhism
Jainism (), traditionally known as Jain Dharma, is an ancient Indian religion. Jain dharma traces its spiritual ideas and history through a succession of twenty-four leaders or "tirthankaras", with the first in current time cycle being Lord Rishabhanatha, whom the Jain tradition holds to have lived millions of years ago, the twenty-third "tirthankara" Parshvanatha whom historians date to 8th or 7th century BCE, and the 24th "tirthankara", Mahāvīra around 500 BCE. Jains believe that Jainism is an eternal "dharma" with the "tirthankaras" guiding every cycle of the Jain cosmology. The main religious premises of the Jain  dharma are "ahiṃsā" (non-violence), "anekāntavāda" (many-sidedness), "aparigraha" (non-attachment) and "asceticism" (abstinence from sensual pleasures). Devout Jains take five main vows: "ahiṃsā" (non-violence), "satya" (truth), "asteya" (not stealing), "brahmacharya" (sexual continence), and "aparigraha" (non-possessiveness). These principles have affected Jain culture in many ways, such as leading to a predominantly vegetarian lifestyle. "Parasparopagraho Jīvānām" (the function of souls is to help one another) is its motto and the "Ṇamōkāra mantra" is its most common and basic prayer. While, Sikhism (); Punjabi: ਸਿੱਖੀ or Sikhi ("Sikkhī", ], from ਸਿੱਖ, "Sikh", 'disciple', 'seeker', or 'learner'), is a monotheistic religion that originated  in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent around the end of the 15th century CE. One of the youngest of the major religions and the world's fifth-largest organized religion, it comprises about 25 million Sikhs as of the early-21st century. However, according to rough estimates, there are around 120–150 million (12–15 crore) Nanak Naam Lewas people across the world who also believe in 10 Sikh gurus and the "Guru Granth Sahib". Sikhism developed from the spiritual teachings of Guru Nanak, the first Guru (1469–1539), and of the nine Sikh gurus who succeeded him. The tenth guru, Gobind  Singh (1676-1708), named the Sikh scripture "Guru Granth Sahib" as his successor, bringing to a close the line of human gurus and establishing the scripture as the eternal, religious spiritual guide for Sikhs. Guru Nanak taught that living an "active, creative, and practical life" of "truthfulness, fidelity, self-control and purity" is above the metaphysical truth, and that the ideal man "establishes union with God, knows His Will, and carries out that Will". Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru (1606-1644), established the concept of the mutual co-existence of the "miri" (political/temporal) and "piri" (spiritual) realms. History . The sacred books of Jainism are called Agamas. The Jaina Agamas or scriptures are the works of the immediate disciples of Mahavira. The first sacred books of the Jaina are in Prakrit or Ardha Magadhi language. They were given their written form in the 5th century at Vallabhi, in Gujarat. Dr. L.M. Joshi is of the opinion that the literature of Jainism is vast and varied. Its subject matter includes not only ascetic culture, morality, religion and philosophy, but also fables fairy-tales, legendary romances, history, hagiography, mythology and cosmology. "The body of literature known as Agamas includes a large  number of texts. These are divided into two classes" Anga Agamas or the original twelve books and Angabahya Agamas or the texts outside of the original twelve books. The Jain Scriptures are the source books of Jain ethics, yoga, religion, philosophy and mythology. The Tattvartha Sutra is a famous book which summarizes Jain teachings. The Acharanga Sutra deals chiefly with the ethical conduct and discipline of monks. The Kalpasutra describes in detail the life-story of Mahavira. A most remarkable description of hells is given in Sutrakritanga. The Sthananga discusses dogmatic topics, The Upasakadasha deals with pious men of the  time of Mahavira. The contents of other book are mixed and varied. They deal with myths and legends, ethical and monastic discipline, hells and heavens, cosmology and astrology. The Jain system, like the Buddhist, is non-theistic. It does not acknowledge the existence of a Creator God. Another important feature is that it is a pluralistic system. The atmans are many, infinite in number. Moksha is not absorption into the supreme but the attainment of a perfect, luminous and blessed atman which is without body and without actions. Philosophically, an important contribution of Jainism is the doctrine of anekantavada. The  Jaina thinkers thought that reality can be examined from many (aneka) standpoints (anta). A thing can be described from at least seven standpoints (saptabhangi) and all can be equally true. This doctrine has contributed to the tolerance of contrary opinions among theologians and philosophers. In modern times, when exclusive claims of religions are under strain, this doctrine has a special relevance and meaning. Sikhi,(Gurmukhi: ਸਿੱਖੀ ), amongst the youngest of the major world religions, originated and primarily developed in the 15th-17th century sub-continental India (South Asia). The word "Sikhi" derives from the word "Sikh", which itself is based on the  Sanskrit root "śiṣya" (शिष्यः), meaning a "disciple" or "learner". Guru Nanak Dev Ji was the founder of Sikhi. He was born in 1469 in the village of Nankana Sahib, near Lahore in present-day Pakistan. The faith system is based on the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji and ten successive Sikh Gurus (divine messengers or enlighteners), with the last one being the revealed sacred scripture, Guru Granth Sahib. This system of religious philosophy and expression has been traditionally known as Gurmat (literally the counsel of the Gurus) or the Sikh Dharma. With around 30 million followers worldwide, Sikhism is  the fifth largest organized religion in the world. The principal belief of Sikhism is faith in Waheguruji — represented using the sacred symbol of ik onkar, the Universal God. Sikhism advocates the pursuit of salvation through disciplined, personal meditation on the name and message of God. A key distinctive feature of Sikhism is a non-anthropomorphic concept of God, to the extent that one can interpret God as the entire creation itself. The followers of Sikhism, or Sikhs, are ordained to follow the teachings of the ten Sikh Gurus, enshrined in the holy scripture the Guru Granth Sahib. While compiling the  scripture, the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji incorporated not only the writings of the Sikh Gurus, but also included selected works of many devotees and saints from diverse socio-economic and religious backgrounds, who believed in the unity of God and denounced caste and superstition. The text was decreed by Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth and last human guru, as the final guru of the Khalsa Panth. Sikhism's traditions and teachings are distinctively associated with the history, society and culture of the Punjab region, the traditional homeland of the Sikhs and the site of the Sikh  Empire. Presently, a majority of the Sikhs live in Punjab, India, and until India's partition in 1947, millions of Sikhs had lived in what is now Pakistani Punjab. Besides Sikhi and Gurmat, Sikhism is also referred to as Aad-Matt (the primal counsel). Lineage of teachers. The 24th tirthankara of the Jain community was Mahavira, the last in a series who lived in East India. Sikhism has 10 Gurus, with the religious text called the Guru Granth Sahib according status as the final Guru by Guru Gobind Singh. Mutual Cooperation. Author Khushvant Singh notes that many eminent Jains never  shied from helping the cause of an ascetic. They tremendously helped the Sikh gurus by coming to their help in difficult times. When the ninth Sikh guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, was on his preaching mission in eastern India, he and his family were invited by Salis Rai Johri to stay in his "haveli" in Patna. In his hukamnamas sent from Assam, the guru referred to Patna as "guru-ka-ghar", meaning "home of the guru". Salis Rai donated half of his haveli to build a gurdwara, Janam Sthan, because Guru Gobind Singh was born there. On the other half, he  built a Śvētāmbara Jain temple; both have a common wall. Todar Mal was an Oswal Jain who rose to become the diwan in the court of Nawab Wazir Khan of Sirhind. When the Nawab had Guru Gobind Singh's two younger sons put to death, Todar Mal conveyed the sad news to their grandmother—who died of shock. Diwan Todar Mal donated his own family gold to purchase a small piece of land to cremate the young sons of the guru. He had built Gurdwara Jyoti Sarup on the site of the cremation at Fatehgarh Sahib. A large hall of  the gurdwara honours the builder by being named after him: Diwan Todar Mal Jain Yadagiri Hall. Practices and differences. Diwali. Diwali is celebrated by both religions. Although Sikhs celebrate the day as Bandi Chhor Divas, the homecoming to Amritsar of the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind from Gwalior. The release of 52 Rajas from the fort of Gwalior is attributed to this Guru. For Jains, Diwali is the celebration of the 24th Tirthankara Mahavira, attaining Nirvana on this day at Pavapuri on October 15, 527 BCE, on Chaturdashi of Karti. Ahimsa and vegetarianism. Jains are strictly vegetarian as it is  a sin to killl any animal including a beetle or an ant. The majority of Sikhs believe that in Sikhism, eating meat is left up to the individual's conscience, which should be Jhatka as practiced in most Indian cultures. Khushwant Singh also notes that most Sikhs are meat-eaters and decry vegetarians as daal khorey (lentil-eaters). Sikh scriptures however, promotes eating conscious Vegetarianism for spiritual awareness and having less impact on environment. Sikh who take Amrit are vegetarians. The food served in gurudwaras is invariably vegetarian in order to accommodate all sections of society. Although Halal and Kosher  are banned for Sikhs. On the views that eating vegetation would be eating flesh, first Sikh Guru Nanak states: On vegetation, the Guru described it as living and experiencing pain: Page 143 of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Ahimsa for the Jains is a code of practice to always be kind and compassionate and prevent hurt to oneself and others. Sikhs reject Ahimsa. There are occasional references to Jainism in the Guru Granth Sahib and other Sikh texts. Asceticism. Sikhism rejects asceticism - The Gurus lived as householders. On asceticism Guru Nanak stated: Jain community is a fourfold order of  male monastics ("muni"), female monastics ("aryika") and householder ("Śrāvaka and Śrāvika)" Other practices. A Sikh is bound to the Truth at all times and practices god Consciousness through Nam Simran and selfless service (Sewa). Jains, too, place high regard in prayers and meditation. Sikhs reject the caste system and promote social and gender equality, as the soul is the same for both men and women. All are equal in the eyes of God. God is accessible without priests or a middle person. Sikhs and Jains, like Hindus, are expected to be tolerant of all faiths and do not believe that  any one path has a monopoly on the Truth. There are many paths to seek out the Love of God and incur Divine Grace. In fact to call another's path inferior is a sign of ignorance and intolerance. Both personal devotion and communal prayers are a part of Sikh's way of life. Politics and War. The Jain Dharma states that one must be completely differentiated from worldly objects like politics and war and that these should be avoided. No joining the army and no killing of any sort, unless it is absolutely necessary. One incident from the Rajasthan  State of India shows a Jain praying in the midst of a war and when asked about the meaning of praying while simultaneously killing, he replied, "The killing is for the protection of the state. The prayer is for the protection of the soul." Jainism permits participation in wars, but only for self defence. Starting a war is considered a sin. This is the reason that all the Tirthankaras were princes of kingdoms and is symbolic that politics has no meaning. The 27th Hukam of Guru Gobind Singh Ji states- Maintain independent rule. "In the affairs of governing, do not  give the power of religious authority to others, bow your head to the Khalsa and no other state" like the Mughals, Afghans, Sikh Empire, Indians etc. The 30th Hukam of Guru Gobind Singh Ji states- "Train in the skills of weaponry and horsemanship" this reiterates the fact that each Khalsa is a fauj or army, if an oppressor is killing others the Khalsa are like policeman and will fight them. Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji fought against Shah Jahan and Jehangir and Shah-I-Shenshah Guru Gobind Singh Ji fought against Muhammad Azam Shah and Wazir Khan of Sirhind who oppressed  innocents. Concept of God. Jains do not believe in the concept of a God head responsible for the manifestation of the Creation. They believe the universe is eternal, without beginning or end, and that all happens in an autonomous fashion with no necessity of a coordinator/God. Sikhism is a monotheistic religion, believing in the singular power of the Formless Creator God, Ik Onkaar, without a parallel. Customs. During the 18th century, there were a number of attempts to prepare an accurate portrayal of Sikh customs. Sikh scholars and theologians started in 1931 to prepare the Reht Maryada—the Sikh  code of conduct and conventions. This has successfully achieved a high level of uniformity in the religious and social practices of Sikhism throughout the world. It contains 27 articles. Article 1 defines who is a Sikh: Fasting is an accepted practice for the Jains. A Sikh will eat to partially satisfy the hunger at all times. Where the Guru Granth Sahib is present, that place becomes a Gurdwara. The focal point of worship in a Gurdwara (the gateway to God) is the eternal teachings of Guru Granth Sahib -the Shabad (Word) Guru. Jains exhibit the statues of their Tirthankaras in  their temples. Special shrines in residences or in public temples include images of the Tirthankaras, who are not worshiped but remembered and revered; other shrines house images of deities who are more properly invoked to intercede with worldly problems. Daily rituals may include meditation and bathing; bathing the images; offering food, flowers, and lighted lamps for the images; and reciting mantras in Ardhamagadhi, an ancient language of northeast India related to Sanskrit. Jainism express non violence in thought, word and action. Sikhism seeks peace; when all other means have been exhausted then they find it justifiable to draw the sword  against oppression and injustice. Jains believe a peaceful way can always be found, perhaps sometimes after tremendous effort. War or violence against humans or animals is never justified. Karma and salvation. Both Jains and Sikhs believe in the Karma theory and re-incarnation of the soul. Salvation for a Sikh is attained through the Divine Grace and Will of Waheguru (God) and through good deeds in one's life and the selfless service of Sewa and charity. Jains too believe in personal effort and aims and do not depend on a heavenly being for assistance. Both believe in the conquest  of the mind through control of the passions through the five senses as the path to ending the cycle of sufferance of birth and death.