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NEW MEXICO, USA, October 7, 2004: Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji, 75, known as Yogi Bhajan to thousands of his adherents worldwide, passed away on Wednesday, October 6, 2004, following complications due to heart failure. His death took place at his home in Espanola, New Mexico, surrounded by family and friends. He announced he had come to “to create teachers, not to gain students,” when he arrived in the West in 1968. With the yogic sciences of yoga, meditation, yogic philosophy and loving acceptance, he gave the soon to be called “Baby Boomers” an alternative to the prevalent drug culture. He called it the “3HO” (healthy, happy, holy) way of life. Through his efforts, Sikh Dharma was legally incorporated in the USA in 1971. In 1971, the president of the SGPC (governing body of Sikh Temples in India), Sant Charan Singh called him the Siri Singh Sahib, Chief Religious and Administrative Authority for the Western Hemisphere, and he was given the responsibility of creating a Sikh Ministry in the West by the Akal Takht, the Sikh seat of religious authority in Amritsar, India. He was honoured with the title Bhai Sahib by the Akal Takhat in 1974.



Born Harbhajan Singh Puri on August 26, 1929, in the part of India that became Pakistan in 1948, he was the son of a doctor. He spent his youth in private schools and his summers in the exclusive Dalhousie mountain region of Uttar Pradesh. He is survived by his wife, children, five grandchildren and all those in his 3HO and Sikh Dharma families. In accordance with Sikh tradition, and his wishes, cremation will take place at Berardinelli’s Family Funeral Services, 399 Luisa Street Santa Fe, NM 87505. Memorial services will be held throughout the world in his honor.



The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has condoled the death of Yogi Harbhajan Singh. In a condolence message, he said: “I have heard with profound sadness the deeply distressing news of the passing away of Yogi Harbhajan Singh. He had endeared himself to the followers of the Sikh faith across the world with his inspired and dedicated service to the faith and to the legacy of the Great Gurus. Yogi Harbhajan spread the message of Sikhism in many parts of the world, most notably North America. Many devout Sikhs the world over have been deeply moved by the words of Yogi Harbhajan, ‘Wherever you are and whatever you may be doing, keep chanting Sat Nam Wahe Guru in your hearts and the Gurus will be with you.’ It was, therefore, only fitting that he was a recipient of the prestigious Akal Takht title of Singh Sahiban. I join his disciples and well-wishers in this moment of grief and in mourning Yogi Harbhajan’s untimely demise.”

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