Syncretism in Indian Religions and Spiritual Traditions with Special Reference to Sikhism

India’s religious traditions have evolved through sustained interaction across cultures, languages, and spiritual systems. Syncretism defined as the blending or cross-fertilisation of ideas, practices, and symbols has been a hallmark of the subcontinent’s intellectual history. This paper examines syncretism within major Indian religions and situates Sikhism within this broader landscape. While Sikhism appeared amid rich inter-religious dialogue, it simultaneously articulated a distinct theological vision. Through an overview of Vedic-Shramanic exchanges, Bhakti-Sufi interactions, and the pluralistic milieu of medieval Punjab, the paper evaluates scholarly debates on whether Sikhism is a syncretic tradition or an original revelation that engaged with its context in transformative ways.

Syncretism, Indian Religions, Spiritual Traditions and Sikhism

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