New Ministers Ordained in 2020

In this time of quarantine, the Secretary of Religion wanted to ensure that individuals seeking to become ordained Sikh Dharma Ministers would have the ability to take their Ministerial vows in a timely fashion.

Traditionally, Sikh Dharma Ministers took vows at our Winter and Summer Solstices, as well as at the European and Chilean Yoga Festivals and—in some rare cases with permission—within their local sangats.

This Ministerial ordination tradition began in 1971 and has continued for nearly 50 years, following the first “group” ordination ceremonies at the Summer Solstice celebrations in the early 1970s. That all changed in 2020. Fortunately, with the advent of online meeting spaces, the Office of the Secretary of Religion (with approval from the Sikh Dharma International Board) recognized the need to offer “virtual” Minister vows.

Virtual Minister Vows

The first virtual vows of 2020 were given in July to SS Gururaj Singh of Brazil (see Fall Issue writeup). Two new Ministers were ordained in November 2020: SS Livtar Singh of Lima, Peru, took his vows on November 7 and SS Charansev Kaur of Viña del Mar, Chile was ordained on November 21.

These new Sikh Dharma Ministers were ordained in the presence of the Siri Guru Granth Sahib. The vows and oath of a Sikh Dharma International Minister were performed by SS Dr. Sat Kaur Khalsa, Secretary of Religion for Sikh Dharma International.

New Ministers Ordained in November

SS Livtar Singh Khalsa of Lima, Peru began his journey as a Sikh in 2008. He is devoted to spreading the Guru’s teachings with the Peruvian community. He is also working with sangat members and Ministers in Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, and Brazil in building community. By profession, he is an architect and is a KRI-certified Kundalini Yoga teacher.

His passion for cooking and healthy, organic food products led to the development of an artisanal Peruvian food company (www.pranasnacks.com) that supports local communities and environmental organizations. He also directs seva projects in conjunction with Shunia Cultural Association supporting communities in extreme poverty in Peru. He lives with his wife Kirpal Kaur in Lima, Peru.

SS Charansev Kaur Khalsa of Viña del Mar, Chile has been recognized as an “Aquarian Sevadar” by Sikh Dharma International for her participation and direction of a langar program—Langar Guru Ram Das Ashram. She works with others in her community to provide nourishing, vegetarian meals to those in need. She took her Sikh vows in 2014.

Charansev Kaur Khalsa is a kirtan ragi, a KRI-certified Kundalini yoga teacher, and a marketing and engineering student. She is also board president of Breathe Global, a non-profit dedicated to teaching Kundalini Yoga.

Today, she lives with her husband in Viña del Mar, Chile, supporting and managing Guru Ram Das Ashram Gurdwara and langar programs. She is in her final year of studying Business Administration and Marketing.

Her Minister vow ceremony was attended virtually by many friends and family members who blessed her on her new path as a Minister of Sikh Dharma. Her husband, Agia Akal Singh, attended the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, as Charansev Kaur made her formal vows of ordination.

Connection to the Divine Through Gratitude

Sikh Dharma International hosts a global community chanting program, Your Miracle Mantra Moment, hosted by SS Pritpal Singh leading 11 minutes of chanting the Dhan Dhan Ram Das Guru shabd.

This live program is recorded for later viewing. For more information and inspirational Sikh Dharma practices, visit sikhdharma.org.

The November 25 video included a discussion on rebuilding our connection to the Divine through gratitude.