Princess Flowing with the Sun's Radiance
The Passing of SS Ravi Kaur Khalsa, Madison, WI
SS Shiva Singh & Shabad Kaur Khalsa
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Ravi Kaur was born September 5, 1953, in Shelbyville, Indiana, to Charles and Ann Gushwa. Her husband, Mahan Rishi Singh, says he and everyone else always knew she was special. She showed this in her educational pursuits, always achieving highest honors, as well as in many other ways. Ravi Kaur and Mahan Rishi Singh knew each other since 8th grade, and they married in 1975, and moved to San Antonio, Texas.
They were always searching for Truth. Mahan Rishi Singh tells the story of how Ravi Kaur handed him the book Be Here Now and said "Read it and believe." Through Guru's Grace, they were introduced to the Guru's Word and became active members of the local ashram community. Ravi Kaur and Mahan Rishi Singh did a regular morning sadhana every day for twenty years, and Ravi Kaur preceded it with an hour of her own meditations. She took Amrit in 1979, took two inspiring trips to India where she "felt at home" and had been ordained as a Sikh minister several years ago. She taught Kundalini yoga classes and touched many people with the teachings.
In 1981 they moved to Madison Wisconsin, as what Mahan Rishi Singh calls a "mission." Ravi Kaur started working at what is today Merriter Hospital in their Laboratory Department, where over the years she became a highly accomplished and respected administrator. She also made close and dear friends there. Norma was one of these close friends, and she assisted us in preparing Ravi Kaur's body after her passing.
About two and one half years ago, Ravi Kaur was diagnosed with breast cancer, which resulted in a concerted effort to heal her through conventional and alternative healing treatments. At this time, they decided to sell their house and Mahan Rishi Singh built, with his own hands, a beautiful, spacious three bedroom home in rural Marshall, Wisconsin. It was here that she enjoyed the warm breeze of the first spring day. The next morning Mahan Rishi Singh read Japji Sahib to his wife and she passed peacefully away at 9 am Friday, March 28, 1997.
As per Ravi Kaur's and Mahan Rishi Singh's requests, we provided Ravi Kaur with all the last rites of a Khalsa Sikh. We prepared her body by first washing it with yogurt and then dressing it in beautiful new bana and 5 Ks, recently purchased in India, and lovingly sent by Sat Mohine Kaur from Atlanta, Georgia.
A beautiful memorial service followed, during which family members and many friends came to share their memories of Ravi Kaur. Siri Bahadur Singh and Ardas Kaur from Austin, Texas, and Hari Kaur from Chicago, Illinois, were in attendance and all contributed their prayers and support. During the cremation, we repeatedly chanted Japji Sahib and Kirtan Sohila for over two and one half hours until there was no substance left of the physical body. As the final jaikara sounded we experienced a rush of energy at that moment which was one of belief and reality rather than sadness or loss.
Everyone who knew and loved Ravi Kaur will always remember her calm, serviceful nature and generous heart. We are convinced that she has achieved the spiritual goals set by God, the Creator of the human soul, and she will no longer experience any suffering in this world or the next. The Siri Singh Sahib verified our feelings, saying that her life as a devoted Sikh propelled her to the fourth blue ether and she is liberated.