Documentation that predates the formation of RSS, or uses sources from the 19th Century.
Arya Samaj predates RSS to about the 1870's. And even before the organization of Arya Samaj, splinter Udasis, Nirmalas, and Mahants attempted to create sanatan Sikhism. Prior to Singh Sabha movement the Nirankari reform of the 1850's resisted this Hinduization of Gursikhi. And prior to Maharaja Ranjit Singhs empire, in the 1700's the Dal Khalsa under the Sikh Misls ruled Punjab and were not in any way sanatan. Sanatan corruptions of Sikhism are a later historical development.
Singh Sabha Tat Khalsa started in 1879 as a reform reacting to the corruptions that began occuring during and after the Kingdom of Maharaja Rangit Singh, when the Arya Samaj together with sanatan Nirmalay and Udasi sects had taken control of Gurdwaras and put Hindu devas in them. Singh Sabha went back over the Sikh history, evaluating rehitnamay, various granths such as Prem Sumarag, Sarbloh Granth, Sri Dasam Granth, Mukti Marg, Gur Bilases, etc. And tried to make comprehensible sense out of what in some cases was conflicting in light of Gurbani.
Much of this forms the basis of the SGPC Rehit Maryada of 1951, the contentions to the Rehit Maryada by DDT and AKJ (Bhai Sahib Bhai Randhir Singh Ji was one of the scholars of the Gurdwara Reform Movement and honored by all 5 Takhts.) A lot of the practices of AKJ which other Jathas interpret as
strict come from rare and not well know sources such as these janam sakis and rehitnamay. (The earliest janam-sakhis were written in 1500's by Bhai Bala). The point is, Singh Sabha sought a return to the Tat (true) Khalsa, the original, not the movement. And wanted to restore the original Sikh religion as much as possible from historical sources. And in any event, Sikh historical writings far predate the Arya Samaj and bear no resemblance to Udasis or Nirmalas.
BTW the earliest version of Prem Sumarag is 1701. And in Prem Sumarag is the teaching of Saas Giras Simran as practiced by AKJ today.
They too fought for India's freedom ... - Google Book Search
Mcleod calls the work
sanatan, which is unfortunate. It is sanatan in the sense that Sri Dasam Granth is sanatan because it
believes in Hindu gods. But just as close examination of Sri Dasam Granth you will find Guruji taught the Sikhs not to worship them but to worship the Akal. So this is unfortunately a literary bias. If you read Shabadguru Ji, you will find belief in Hindu devas, but a distinctly clear instruction not to worship them but the one God alone who is far above them.
Not being sanatan doesn't mean
not having resemblance to Hinduism. Sanatan
is Hindu religion, making worship of Hindu gods prerequisite, such as claiming the name of god in Gurbani Ram, refers to Hindu deva Ram. So sanatanism is
not part of Gursikhi. Gursikhi is expressly distinct while building on a foundation and tradition that included Hinduism: the vedas, puranas, simritis, shastras, etc, as well as the Koran and even Christian Bible, kateb. Obviously Guruji was a Master of all these writings. He expounded on the major principles and even made corrections. If you read Gurbani, not only does it talk about Hindu devs but chakras, reincarnation, etc. So it is NOT a
Vaishnavite error on part of Jathas like AKJ, but a broader understanding of Sikhism in light of Gurbani and Sikh historical literature. Sikhism is a religion founded with Vaishnavite and Sufi saints. And it says something that these Sikh scholars at the time of Singh Sabha were clear Sikhism is NOT a sect of Hindu religion. Not for political purposes, but because the Sikh history and Gurbani was so unequivocally clear.
ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਨਾਦੰ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਵੇਦੰ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਰਹਿਆ ਸਮਾਈ ॥
guramukh naadhan guramukh vaedhan guramukh rehiaa samaaee ||
The Guru's Word is the Sound-current of the Naad; the Guru's Word is the Wisdom of the Vedas; the Guru's Word is all-pervading.
ਗੁਰੁ ਈਸਰੁ ਗੁਰੁ ਗੋਰਖੁ ਬਰਮਾ ਗੁਰੁ ਪਾਰਬਤੀ ਮਾਈ ॥
gur eesar gur gorakh baramaa gur paarabathee maaee ||
The Guru is Shiva, the Guru is Vishnu and Brahma; the Guru is Paarvati and Lakhshmi.
~SGGS Ji p. 2
Sikhism isn't a true monotheism in the sense that Abrahamic religions teach and denounce idolatry of strange gods. Sikhism is a monotheism that is polytheistic in the sense that Akal Purakh is pervading all, and that All-ness is Ek Oangkar. And ultimately the salvation of Sikhism is finding the True Guru within and merging with the Infinite Lord. What is the difference between Omkar and Oangkar? Most Hindu scriptures begin with Om or Aum.
"Aum is the mystic name for the Hindu Trimurti, and represents the union of the three gods, viz. A for Brahma, U for Vishnu and M for Mahadev which is another name of Shiva." Aum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
ੴ is a radical concept to the traditional Omkar. It distinguishes that the Oangkar is really one, not a trinity, not a multiplicity. Nevertheless, everything is manifested within that One, unity of the Primal Being.
Vaaran Bhai Gurdas :Vaar3Pauri15:SearchGurbani.com
So this is an example where Guruji takes a Hindu concept and turns it on it's head and makes an entirely new concept out of it. Bhagwati means goddess in Sanskrit. Commonly it relates to goddess Durga. But Guruji also uses Bhaguati as the concept of Akal in the sword.
ਪ੍ਰਿਥਮ ਭਗੌਤੀ ਸਿਮਰ ਕੈ...॥
In the beginning I remember Bhagauti..
According to the RSS this clearly shows that in Khalsa Dharma there is worship of the goddess. They claim that the word "Bhagauti" is 'Bhagwati', which means goddess. Guru Gobind Singh Ji used to write poetry in Persian script and hence Bhawati and Bhagauti are written in the same way due to the lack of inflection to differentiate both. What Bhagauti really means in Gurmukhi though means Akal Purakh Sahib...
It is written in the Var of Chandi:
ਲਈ ਭਗਉਤੀ ਦੁਰਗਸਾਹ ਵਰ ਜਾਗਨ ਭਾਰੀ ॥ ਲਾਈ ਰਾਜੇ ਸੁੰਭ ਨੋ ਰਤੁ ਪੀਐ ਪਿਆਰੀ ॥
Durga held out her sword, appearing like a great lustrous fire; She struck it on the king Sumbh and this lovely weapon drank blood.
If the word 'Bhagauti' means goddess then does, the above mean, "Durga caught hold of bhagauti (goddess) and hit her on the head of Raja Sumbh and tasted his blood?" What kind of goddess is this bhagauti? Is she a tool that can be to used to hit others?
...In the Bhagauti Stotar (Panegyric verse) and in the writings of Bhai Gurdas Ji it is written:
ਨਮੋ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਭਗੌਤੀ ਬਢੈਲੀ ਸਰੋਹੀ ॥ (ਭਗਉਤੀ ਸਤੋਤ੍ਰ ਸਤਰ 1)
Hail to Siri (mighty) Bhagauti (Sword) that cuts sharp.
ਨਾਉ ਭਗਉਤੀ ਲੋਹੁ ਘੜਾਇਆ ॥
Name Bhagauti made of iron. (Bhai Gurdas Ji, Vaar 25)
Does it mean that Bhagauti, a goddess, is made of iron?
Panthic Weekly: Guru Sahib, Kalika and Bhagauti - PART 2
ਤੈ ਹੀ ਦੁਰਗਾ ਸਾਜਿ ਕੈ ਦੈਤਾ ਦਾ ਨਾਸੁ ਕਰਾਇਆ ॥
Tai hoo Durgaa saaj(i) kai daigaa daa naas(u) karaaiaa||
O Lord! By creating Durga, Thou hast caused the destruction of demons.
~Sri Dasam Granth Sahib Ji p. 298
The Gurbani is very clear, whether it is Shabadguru Ji or Dasam Granth bani, the Oangkar is primary, but all the Hindu devas are created from it. And all the Hindu devas are subordinate to it. And Guruji makes no inconsistency in saying Gurmukhs serve only the Oangkar.
ਓਅੰਕਾਰਿ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਉਤਪਤਿ ॥
ouankaar brehamaa outhapath ||
From Ongkaar, the One Universal Creator God, Brahma was created.
ਓਅੰਕਾਰੁ ਕੀਆ ਜਿਨਿ ਚਿਤਿ ॥
ouankaar keeaa jin chith ||
He kept Ongkaar in his consciousness.
ਓਅੰਕਾਰਿ ਸੈਲ ਜੁਗ ਭਏ ॥
ouankaar sail jug bheae ||
From Ongkaar, the mountains and the ages were created.
ਓਅੰਕਾਰਿ ਬੇਦ ਨਿਰਮਏ ॥
ouankaar baedh nirameae ||
Ongkaar created the Vedas.
ਓਅੰਕਾਰਿ ਸਬਦਿ ਉਧਰੇ ॥
ouankaar sabadh oudhharae ||
Ongkaar saves the world through the Shabad.
ਓਅੰਕਾਰਿ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਤਰੇ ॥
ouankaar guramukh tharae ||
Ongkaar saves the Gurmukhs.
ਓਨਮ ਅਖਰ ਸੁਣਹੁ ਬੀਚਾਰੁ ॥
ounam akhar sunahu beechaar ||
Listen to the Message of the Universal, Imperishable Creator Lord.
~SGGS Ji p. 930
ਮੈ ਨ ਗਨੇਸ਼ਹਿ ਪ੍ਰਿਥਮ ਮਨਾਊਂ ॥ ਕਿਸ਼ਨ ਬਿਸ਼ਨ ਕਬਹੂੰ ਨਹ ਧਿਆਊਂ ॥ਕਾਨ ਸੁਨੇ ਪਹਿਚਾਨ ਨ ਤਿਨ ਸੋਂ ॥ ਲਿਵ ਲਾਗੀ ਮੋਰੀ ਪਗ ਇਨ ਸੋਂ ॥੪੩੪॥
Mai na Ganeshah(i) pritham manaaoon|| Kishan Bishan kab-hoon nah dhiaaoon|| Kaan sune paihchaan na tin son|| Liv laagimoripag in son||434||
I do not adore Ganesha in the beginning and also do not mediatate on Krishna and Vishnu; I have only heard about them with my ears and I do not recognize them; my consciousness is absorbed at the feet of the Supreme Kal (the Immanent Brahman).434.
ਮਹਾਕਾਲ ਰਖਵਾਰ ਹਮਾਰੋ ॥ ਮਹਾ ਲੋਹ ਮੈਂ ਕਿੰਕਰ ਥਾਰੋ ॥ ਅਪਨਾ ਜਾਨ ਕਰੋ ਰਖਵਾਰ ॥ ਬਾਹਿ ਗਹੇ ਕੀ ਲਾਜ ਬਿਚਾਰ ॥੪੩੫॥
Mahaakaal rakhvaar hamaaro|| Mahaa loh main kinkar thaaro|| Apnaa jaan karo rakhvaarr|| Baah(i) gahe kilaaj bichaar||435||
The Supreme Kal (God) is my Protector and O Steel-Purusha Lort ! I am Thy slave; Protect me, considering me as Thy own and do me the honour of catching my arm.435.
~Sri Dasam Granth Sahib Ji p. 732
ਬਰਨ ਚਿਹਨ ਸਭਹੂੰ ਤੇ ਨਿਆਰਾ ॥
Baran chihar sabh-hoon te niaarraa||
He distinct from all others of various colours and signs.
ਆਦਿ ਪੁਰਖ ਅਦ੍ਵੈ ਅਬਿਕਾਰਾ ॥੩॥
aadh purakh advbai abikaaraa||3||
He is the Primal Purusha, Unique and Changeless.3.
ਬਰਨ ਚਿਹਨ ਜਿਹ ਜਾਤ ਨ ਪਾਤਾ ॥
Baran chihan jih jaat na paataa||
He is without colour, mark, caste and lineage.
ਸੱਤ੍ਰ ਮਿੱਤ੍ਰ ਜਿਹ ਤਾਤ ਨ ਪਾਤਾ ॥
Sattra mittra jih taat na maataa||
He is the without enemy, friend, father and mother.
ਸਭ ਤੇ ਦੂਰਿ ਸਭਨ ਤੇ ਨੇਰਾ ॥
Sabh te door(i) sabham te neraa||
He is far away from all and closest to all.
ਜਲ ਥਲ ਮਹੀਅਲ ਜਾਹਿ ਬਸੇਰਾ ॥੪॥
Jal thal mahooal jaah(i) baseraa||4||
His dwelling is within water, on earth and in heavens.4.
ਅਨਹਦ ਰੂਪ ਅਨਾਹਦ ਬਾਨੀ ॥
Anhad roop anaahad baanoo||
He is Limitless Entity and hath infinite celestial strain.
ਚਰਨ ਸਰਨ ਜਿਹ ਬਸਤ ਭਵਾਨੀ ॥
Charan saran jih basat bhavaanoo||
The goddess Durga takes refuge at His Feet and abides there.
~Sri Dasam Granth Sahib Ji p. 34
ਏਕ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਨੇਕ ਦਰਸਨ ਕੀਨ ਰੂਪ ਅਨੇਕ ॥
Ek moorat(i) anek darsan koon roop anek||
Thou, the One Entity, appearest as Many creating innumerable forms.
ਖੇਲ ਖੇਲ ਅਖੇਲ ਖੇਲਨ ਅੰਤ ਕੋ ਫਿਰਿ ਏਕ ॥੮੧॥
Khel khel akhel khelan ant ko phir(i) ek||81||
After playing the world-drama, when Thou wilt stop the play, Thou wilt be the same One again.81.
ਦੇਵ ਭੇਵ ਨ ਜਾਨਹੀ ਜਿਹ ਬੇਦ ਅਉਰ ਕਤੇਬ ॥
Dev bhev na jaan-hoo jih bed aur kateb||
The gods and the Scriptures of Hindus and Muslims do not know Thy secret.
~Sri Dasam Granth Sahib Ji p. 14
So from the very beginning, before any reform movements in Sikh history, Guru's bani is remarkably clear, Sikhism is a whole new religion which worships the Akal alone. But that Sikhism is built on a foundation and culture of the ancient Indic faith.
~Bhul chak maaf karni ji