He was one of the most famous Indian faces in the US whose disciples and friends included presidents, governors, congressmen, senators, the Pope and Hollywood celebrities (Just a month ago, four former New Mexico governors had come for his 75th birthday party).
He took Sikhism and yoga to the West, coverted thousands Whites, Blacks and Hispanics (most hippies) to Sikhism and set up the Sikh Dharma of the Western Hemisphere.
He created Akal Security which is America's biggest security compnay today. As The New York Times in its issue of Sept 28, 2004, says, Akal Securities is ``one of the nation's fastest growing security companies..... With 12,000 employees and more than $ 1 billion in federal contracts, Akal specialises in protecting vital and sensitive government sites such as military installations, federal courts, airports and water supply systems.''
He set up 3HO Foundation (Healthy, Happy, Holy) which teaches humanistic and holistic apprroach to life at more than 300 centres in 35 countries.
His Yogi Tea is a top brand in North America.
When he died of a heart failure at Espanola, New Mexico, in the US last night, Yogi Harbhajan Singh Khalsa, 75, left an unparalelled legacy.
As Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says in his homage, "He had endeared himself to the followers of the Sikh faith with his inspired service to the legacy of the great (Sikh) gurus.''
Known as Yogiji to his followers worldwide and standing six feet-three inches tall, he came to the West in 1968. The first to ``publicly'' teach Kundalini Yoga in the West, he inspired thousands to embrace Sikhism.
His Sikh Dharma was incorporated and recognized as a religion in the US in 1971. For his contribution to promoting Sikhism in the West, he was given the title of Bhai Sahib by the Akal Takht in 1974.
{{/usCountry}}His Sikh Dharma was incorporated and recognized as a religion in the US in 1971. For his contribution to promoting Sikhism in the West, he was given the title of Bhai Sahib by the Akal Takht in 1974.
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