The New Mexico State Transportation Commission renamed a state highway - Highway 106 - near Española in honour of the late Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji, known to his American followers as "Yogi Bhajan.
The highway will now be called "Yogi Bhajan Memorial Highway."
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson made the announcement after the state transportation commission unanimously approved the resolution at a meeting held at the pueblo of Laguna.
"Yogi Bhajan was a special man - a man of peace, compassion, and intelligence who profoundly influenced the lives of those he met and countless others around the world," Richardson said in a statement.
Earlier this year, the US Congress had passed a bipartisan resolution honouring the life of Yogi Bhajan and extolling his mission and life's work.
A former customs agent in New Delhi, and a master of Kundalini Yoga, Yogi Bhajan emigrated to the United Stated from India during the late 1960s. He became a Los Angeles yoga teacher and ultimately formed a religious group known as "3HO" - The "Happy, Holy, Healthy Organization"- a nonprofit educational and scientific association offering guidance on nutrition and health, interpersonal relations and human behavior.
After his Sikh Dharma was legally incorporated and recognized as a religion in the United States in 1971, Yogi Bhajan founded the Sikh Dharma Community in Espanola. He lived and taught in New Mexico until his death in October 2004.
{{/usCountry}}After his Sikh Dharma was legally incorporated and recognized as a religion in the United States in 1971, Yogi Bhajan founded the Sikh Dharma Community in Espanola. He lived and taught in New Mexico until his death in October 2004.
{{/usCountry}}The popular "world Sikh leader" ruled over a relatively considerable religious following composed primarily of Americans and situated largely in New Mexico, Arizona and California.
Yogi Bhajan also owned several businesses in Northern New Mexico, including Akal Security, one of the largest private security firms in the United States.
The charismatic Sikh guru also had his share of celebrity followers. 3HO has been linked to singers Courtney Love and Seal. As a yoga teacher he is also know to have attracted celebrity students like Madonna, Rosanna Arquette, Melissa Etheridge, Cindy Crawford, David Duchovny and Sherilyn Fenn.
Yogi Bhajan's followers were known for their yoga, vegetarian diet and white dress code.