Syncretism in Sindhi Culture

After partition of the country Jhulelal from among many pantheons of Hindu Gods have been adopted by Sindhi Community as a symbol of their distinct Community identity. Jhulelal in fact represents  an ancient an ancient cult of water worship. It is referred as ‘ Varun’ in old scriptures. In Sind the same deity is worshiped by Muslims as Zinda Pir or Khwaja Khizir.  

William Dyrampal  in his book “Delhi- City of Djins” mentions that Khwaja Khizir is mentioned in old Babylonian sacred book ‘ Gilgamesh Epic’ as well as It finds mention in old Testament. According to Hindu Mythology the early incarnation of Lord Vishnu is ‘ Matsya Awtar’ that has a connection with great flood and Man left after the flood ‘Manu’. Interestingly the mount of Jhulelal is also shown as a Fish ( Palla). In a way the oldest tradition of water worship is kept alive even in present times by Hindus and Muslims of Sind till this day.

Richard Burton in His Book “Sind and the races that inhabit the valley of the Indus” writes, “There certainly is wonderful resemblance between Taswuuf and Vedantic system; and modern efficacy of Jog (penance and abstinence) exactly contain the Sufi’s ideas of Riyazar.” (Page 199).

Shah Abdul Latif whose poetry flows in the vein of every Sindhi as a blood stream in Sur Sri Rag has dwelt on the practices of Jogi’s in whose company he went to pilgrimage of Temple of MATA HINGLAJ. SAchal also speaks about Jap Saheb and Hanuman. At the same time  Sami has no compunction in invoking Allah.

No wonder that monotheist Sikh religion found ready acceptance in Sind as it has Sufi ethos as its core. It Speaks of “EKO ANKAR” as Holy Quran speaks of “ IL A ALLAH”. It would be interesting to observe that the foundation of the Golden Temple at Amritsar was laid by none else than Mia Mir a Towering Sufi saint of his Times.

Sindhis are open to all external religious practices now they happily participate in Ganesh Utsaw in Maharashtra and Navratra in Gujarat as well as Durga Puja at Kolkatta.  Such openness is a core of Value system of Sindhi Community.

L K Advani who was projected as a hard-line Hindu Leader  has this to say in his Autobiography.  While speaking about his visit to Pakistan he mentions,” … in the case of my wife Kamla ( had) the darshan  of Sain Noor Hussain Shah, the Sufi Saint who specially flew down from Dubai to meet her.” ( Page 809).

What more could be said about syncretism culture of Sind.