Photos by: (at left) Harbhajan Kaur Khalsa, (at right) Krishna Singh Khalsa
March 16, 1946 – December 17, 2024
by SS Harbhajan Kaur Khalsa
2025 (First Quarter)
Sangeet Kaur is probably best known for her angelic voice, and the uplifting melody she drew from the ethers for the Dhan Dhan Ram Das Gur recording. But she also recorded sadhana mantras, banis, and other shabds, always collaborating with other musicians.
Fewer people know the many other ways Sangeet Kaur served Sikh Dharma, the Ministry, Solstices, several Ashrams and Gurdwaras, and the Kundalini Yoga Community over nearly half a century since she first entered Guru Ram Das Ashram in Toronto, Canada.
Sangeet Kaur grew up Canadian. But she found her destiny working and living in service as a Green Card “Permanent Resident” in the U.S. During her college years in Canada, she studied and sang opera, becoming part of a close-knit choral group that toured the world. She was introduced to Kundalini Yoga, Sadhana, and Gurdwara at the Toronto Ashram…where she developed several life- long friendships—as well as life-long spiritual practices.
From the moment Sangeet Kaur and I met at a Winter Solstice at Ponce de Leon Springs, Florida in the early 80’s, I trusted her open, truthful nature and the sincere, steady friendship she offered spontaneously, and without attachment. Our ease in relating and communicating has lasted a lifetime; yet it has never been exclusive.
Sangeet and I shared the love of singing, creating melodies and harmonies, and writing—especially poems and lyrics. Our destiny names had afforded us some clue to that possibility. Sangeet used her editorial skills to support many Dharmic non-profits, including the Sikh Dharma Ministry Newsletter, and book publishing by the Kundalini Research Institute (KRI)
Dhan Dhan Ram Das Gur, notably Sangeet Kaur’s most well-known recording, was composed while she was still living in Toronto, though she did not record it until she had moved into Guru Ram Das Ashram in Millis, Massachusetts. I remember the Siri Singh Sahib praising the recording, “Millis went into the bliss and recorded this shabd.” More specifically, Sangeet Kaur first went into the bliss to draw the melody from the ethers—then easily drew the support of a few Millis musicians to go into the bliss with her to create the recording that Yogi Bhajan used so often thereafter for Dharmic and Yoga classes. It has become a classic source of comfort and healing for many.
Sangeet Kaur and I sang together regularly, often in harmony, in the Millis Gurdwara, Solstices, and other events. To her credit, I never experienced Sangeet Kaur behaving like a musical diva. She appreciated harmony on every level, so her aims always included maintaining an atmosphere of unity and harmony while collaborating on any Dharmic project, including the practice, performance, or recording of Gurbani Kirtan.
When Sangeet Kaur moved to Espanola in 1992, she continued to perform live music in Gurdwara and Sadhana, to record Gurbani Kirtan, and to accept responsibility for scheduling Sadhana, Gurdwara and Solstice Kirtan over decades. A few years before moving to Espanola, Sangeet Kaur had moved to Albuquerque, NM, where she earned a Master’s degree in Speech Therapy. For 22 years she provided speech development for children of the Pojoaque, New Mexico schools, to aid them in discovering their own true inner voices. And they discovered the beauty of their own voices participating in the children’s choir she created. She was guiding and supporting them to find the capacity to express their true identities to the world around them.
On September 25, 2011, Sangeet Kaur Khalsa and Krishna Singh Khalsa were married in the Hacienda de Guru Ram Das Gurdwara in Espanola, New Mexico. Khalsa Council meetings had just ended, so friends from all over the world were able to attend the wedding. Before Sangeet Kaur and Krishna Singh met in person in Espanola, they had already decided they wanted to be married. They had spoken on the phone numerous times. Krishna Singh said that he had already understood Sangeet at a “soul” level since the late 1980’s, solely from her recording of Dhan Dhan Ram Das Gur.
Krishna Singh had impressed me with the courage and integrity he demonstrated in protecting our community-owned Oregon businesses from those wishing to profit themselves by their sale.
My husband and I consider both Sangeet Kaur and Krishna Singh family. One or both of us has been welcome to stay in their home in Espanola—with a view of the Jemez mountains—for over 35 years while attending Khalsa Council, Summer Solstice, or several of Bhai Baldeep Singh’s Gurbani Kirtan-Percussion courses held in Espanola since 1997.
I never heard Sangeet Kaur so much as complain or display upset about her loss of vocal control or the fact that it had become harder for her to pump the bellows of a harmonium. Nor did she later despair about the physical pain she endured. It had always been her preference to sing with other musicians anyway—of all ages, male or female. And many have felt honored by that affiliation.
Sangeet Kaur and Krishna Singh celebrated their 13th wedding Anniversary a few months before Sangeet Kaur’s passing. During those final 13 years of Sangeet Kaur’s life, she and Krishna Singh had shared as their primary commitment creating a beautiful marriage. They were devoted as one soul in two bodies. Their devoted bond was tested during Sangeet Kaur’s final six years of physical illness—but their love and commitment proved unshakeable. More than once, Sangeet Kaur detailed for me—and others—regarding Krishna Singh’s complete dedication to her care.
The following message from Sangeet Kaur embodies her attitude of gratitude, compassion and care for the Sangat, Wahe Guru, and her teacher; as well as the courage with which she lived and died. Sangeet Kaur has written her own beautiful Memoriam of her precious life:
Dearest Sadh Sangat,
The time is nearing when I will be moving on to the next adventure! I want to tell you I have had a lot of time to reflect on the beautiful moments we have shared across the years, and it has been a joy and a comfort to have been in community with you. I have entered Hospice with advanced pancreatic cancer.
I am being cared for so well by my beloved husband, Krishna Singh, and my beautiful Hospice caregivers. I have been cared for every step of the way and I want you to know I am at peace, and I have no fear. I believe it will be the same for you when your time comes. We have been preparing for a lifetime. It is my wish that I will hear from you in cards, letters, and prayers. I am unable to receive you in person at this time. I know you will understand.
By the Grace of Wahe Guru
and all the inspirations of our beloved teacher, Yogi Bhajan ~
Sangeet Kaur
Guru Nanak said: “Death is nothing but a gateway to birth. Nothing that lives ever dies, it only changes form. When our body is weary, the soul leaves the body to receive newer and fresher garments. And so, on goes this great play of God – from eternity to eternity.”
December 6, 2024
Note: Warm Greetings from Sangeet Kaur, Espanola, NM is attached to this Memoriam as a pdf for those who have not had the opportunity to read it. One Ishnaan Sevadar expressed that she loves this note so much that she wants to write the same thing when her time comes. Even non-Sikh family members with whom I shared this note responded, “It’s beautiful.” I consider it a legacy gift from a beloved soul.
And finally, here is a link to a sampling of so many tributes to her on Facebook and other social media after her passing:
