Above: The new Sri Sahib. Below: more images of the kirpan.
Art
The Master KirpanMaker and His Newest Sri Sahib
by JOT SINGH KHALSA
It was 2004 when I received a phone call from a Chicago family who was interested in having me build 3 full sized kirpans.
There was to be one for each of their 3 children. They wished to inspire their sons and daughter to fully embrace and honor the Sikh path. We designed 3 unique pieces, that had similarities. This family has a long affiliation with our 3HO Foundation family and Sikh Dharma of the West. They hosted our teacher Yogi Harbhajan Singh, while they were living in Toronto and met him on several occasions. I first met them at our Summer Solstice Sadhana in New Mexico, where they expressed interest in this kirpan project after viewing a photo album of my kirpans.
It has been a great pleasure and privilege creating these high quality unique pieces for this family, which honor ‘Sikhi' at their core. I stayed in their home on several occasions while at exhibitions in the Chicago area. I was fortunate to win two awards at these Chicago exhibitions (one for their daughter's sword) that had just been completed and delivered.
The first sword created in this project was finished in 2005 for their eldest son's wedding.
[Courtesy: SikhNet.com]
May 15, 2011