Snatam Kaur Khalsa is an emerging and celebrated spiritual music ambassador. Snatam, a Sanskrit word, meaning universal, nucleus, and friend to all; Kaur, a Punjabi word and a faith-mandated surname for all Sikh women, means a princess and lioness; and Khalsa, a Sikh term that defines the Order of the Pure; Snatam truly embodies a rare composite of those qualities through her devotional music and her radiant persona.

Her music is another bridge between the traditions and cultures of East and West. Snatam Kaur brilliantly interfaces Gurbani Keertan, the Sikh style of religious music, the western classical, and popular styles in her music and concerts. Snatam is popularizing her own unique style, rhythms, musical arrangements, and is introducing the Sikh sacred music to global audiences. Her music transcends traditional musical familiarities and frontiers, reaches deep into our soul where Gurmukhi, the language of Sikh scriptures, offers no formidable threshold that our spirit cannot cross or joyfully embrace.

Snatam Kaur Khalsa

Snatam Kaur is many attributes in one. She is an accomplished music soloist, songstress and poet; Kundalini Yoga master, spiritual healer; teacher, and cultural commentator. Her music seamlessly combines many musical, cultural, and spiritual textures: of a Sikh Ragi (a musician well versed in Indian musical patterns known as Ragas); sacred Sanskrit, Buddhist, American Indian chants; Celtic song and music tradition, use of western orchestra, folk genre, cathedral choir, and many other musical influences.

Snatam Kaur presents her music with a deep sense of reverence. Snatam is modest and approachable; unassuming and friendly. Her contagious optimism captures the imagination and attention to her words, message of peace, and music as a shared and precious human legacy. With a gentle passion, she offers:

“For people of all faiths, all walks of life, and through the power of our own voices singing songs of peace, we provide a place for the spirit of humanity to rise.”

She reminds us of the words of her mentor, Sri Singh Sahib Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogijee or affectionately, Yogi Bhajan:

“If you cannot see God in all, you cannot see God at all.”

The sacred Sikh commandments and spiritual wisdom, that have formed the foundation of Snatam’s faith and her spirit since she was a young child, remind us:

“O mortal, recognize all humanity as One Race, One Brotherhood.”
“Every living being is a repository of Divine Light.”
“No one is outside the circle of God’s boundless benevolence.”

Snatam’s music mosaic and teachings seem to affirm this deep conviction and respect for all life, cultures, and faiths. Her interfaith, multi-cultural, and multi-generational audience and admirers of her music see her as an ambassador of goodwill and peace.

Snatam’s album Shanti, was nominated for a Grammy in 2002 and made it to the semi-finals in the New Age music category. This emerging star is now enthralling audiences of music lovers on her current “Celebrate Peace” World Tour, sponsored by Spirit Voyage Music, Peace Cereal and others, recently brought her to Indianapolis. Snatam Kaur’s Concert, at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, was sponsored by the Indiana Yoga Association and Midland Yoga Center in Bloomington.

Snatam Kaur Khalsa, dressed in traditional Punjabi clothes with a neatly-tied white turban supporting a jeweled Sikh emblem, arrived without much fanfare and greeted the audience with some opening thoughts about Naad: Divine Sound Current. The Concert venue was a very intimate space and full to capacity. There was a remarkable simplicity in the room with a tastefully decorated stage. A large blue mural with a sacred lotus design reminded the audience about peace as a central nucleus of our humanity.

Snatam, playing the harmonium and violin, led a moving rendition of songs and chants. Accompanying Snatam were GuruGanesha Singh on the guitar, dressed in Punjabi kurta-pajama and the traditional white Sikh turban, and young Krishan on the tabla (a pair of Indian drums) and surrounded by other percussion instruments, also dressed in Punjabi kurta-pajama with a patterned scarf on his head. GuruGanesha Singh is a very spirited, exuberant, and expressive member of the group. Krishan offers youthful energy and impeccable sense of timing on the tabla and other musical instruments. Each musician gave an incredible account of his talent and complimented the richness of the experience. There seemed to be an invisible thread guiding their music in perfect harmony.

At a few points during the two-hour Concert, taped instrumental music, from her four CDs (Mother’s Blessings, Prem, Shanti, Grace, and latest album Celebrate Peace) under the label of Spirit Voyage Music, was added to the musical mix to further embellish the experience. One can hear the resounding echoes of sarod, enchanting sitar, Indian sultry flute; the sounds of versatile keyboard, piano, and other ancient and exotic instruments forming the musical backdrop in addition to harmonium, guitar, and tabla on her CDs.

It is the lilting and shimmering voice of Snatam that leaves a hauntingly beautiful resonance and imprint on the spirit, whether she is singing “Ek Ong Kar;” “Jut Paharah Dheeraj Suni-aar;” chanting “Tudhe Aagay Ardas …Guru, Guru, Wahe Guru, Guru Ram Das;” an inspired rendition of “By Thy Grace,” “Long Time Sun;” a composition by a Sufi saint in English, or an Irish blessing. She encourages audience participation; she invited young children to the stage and led them in a song inspired by another hymn in Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred scripture of the Sikhs, “Sun shines on everyone, it does not make choices….One spirit is in everyone, it does not make choices.”

With a serene glow on her face, Snatam offered sacred chants and mantras of “Ek Ong Kar,” “Gobinda, Gobinda, Hari, Hari,” and several hymns by Guru Nanak (Founder of the Sikh faith) from Japji Sahib (morning Sikh prayer). Each hymn was presented in a voice that seemed to originate from the deep sanctum of her soul. I felt that my spirit was on a pilgrimage and being carried in and was a part of the powerful Divine Sound Current. I imagined the celestial realms reverberating with unstruck music and melodies of Praise as revealed in SoDar (Rag Asa) in Rehras (the Sikh evening prayer). I imagined countless musicians, singers, and chanters like Snatam with melodious voices performing Keertan (sacred music of Praise) in the Highest Court at the Lotus Feet of Sutguru.

When Snatam picked up her violin, played a few beautiful notes, and began to sing, “Aad Guray Nameh, Jugaad Guray Nameh, Sutguray Nameh, Sri Guru Devay Nameh,” the opening lines of Sukhmani Sahib (pearl of bliss), a composition of the Fifth Sikh Guru, Arjan Dev, a colorful tapestry of images, emotions, and memories overwhelmed my spirit. The glorious history, culture, and heritage of the Sikh flashed across my mind. I imagined standing at the magnificent Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of the Sikh faith at Amritsar, in prayer and thanksgiving for the all-embracing and universal message of the Sikh faith that has traveled to the farthest corners of the earth. I marveled at what technology, internet, and the transcendence of people and cultures across traditional boundaries have made possible. I prayed that in solidarity all humanity must embrace Light: “In Thy Name, By Thy Grace, may there be peace among all people everywhere.”

I imagined music angels directing Snatam’s spirit, voice, and fingers; her cathedral voice emanating from realms beyond my sight or understanding and caressing the sacred. I felt the sound currents of the Sikh spirituals that Snatam was singing with such deep devotion descending into the innermost core of our being and gently stirring up some unopened chambers about the Immaculate Glory of God and His Divine Messengers. I felt that I was in a sanctuary of Peace and Light on a spirit voyage and being given privilege to witness the beauty, power, grace, and inspirations enshrined in the scriptures and music of all faiths and sacred traditions. I saw an unmistaken reminder to honor and celebrate this collective sacred heritage as a part of God’s benevolent treasure bestowed upon all.

When music critics talk about transforming music, I understood that in that fleeting moment of bliss. I had seen the sacred facade of music, the universal language of humanity that has the power to connect us with the Divine and with one another.


Copyright ©2006 K.P. Singh. About the author