Inni Kaur is Creative Director at the Sikh Research Institute (SikhRI). She has served SikhRI in several capacities since 2010, including Chair of the Board, and most recently as CEO.
She is a frequent speaker at community and interfaith events, the U.S. Office of the Pentagon Chaplin, and several universities. She is a passionate author, poet, and artist. Her published works include Journey with the Gurus, a children’s book series inspired by the life and teachings of Guru Nanak Sahib, Sakhi-Time with Nani ji, Thank-You Vahiguru, Daddy’s Turban, and The Story of Us.
She is passionately involved in transcreating Sabad (Infinite-Wisdom) and the writings of Bhai Vir Singh.
To Inni, every single day is a celebration. Her writing is inspired by that same outlook on life, as well as Sikh thought. While she writes anytime the spirit moves her, she thoroughly enjoys watching the clouds pass her, taking long mindful walks to appreciate nature’s innate beauty, and painting abstract artwork.
Inni Kaur resides with her family in the United States.
Guru Gobind Singh Sahib was the 10th and last Guru of the Sikhs in a line of Prophets stretching from the 15th to the early 18th century that resulted in the formation of Sikhi: New Faith and its Followers.
In the melodic strains of Rag Gond, Guru Ramdas Sahib's Sabad resonates with a triumphant yet humble spirit, reflecting a balanced perspective on spiritual attainment.
My mind burns deeply for All-Pervasive’s experience, as the thirsty without water. 1. My mind is pierced by the arrow of All-Pervasive’s love. My All-Pervasive Divine knows my pain, my mind’s internal pain. Reflect. Whoever tells my All-Pervasive Beloved’s narrative is my Bhai1, my brother. 2. Girl-friends, unite, unite, imbibe the resolute wisdom of the Eternal Guru, Recount the virtues of my Divine. 3. O! All-Pervasive, fulfill servant Nanak’s wish, Seeing All-Pervasive, body quietens. 4. Honorific title in Sikh tradition for the eminent narrators of the Guru. Guru Ramdas Sahib in Rag Gond | Guru Granth Sahib 861 ਗੋਂਡ ਮਹਲਾ ੪ ॥ ਹਰਿ ਦਰਸਨ ਕਉ ਮੇਰਾ ਮਨੁ ਬਹੁ ਤਪਤੈ ਜਿਉ ਤ੍ਰਿਖਾਵੰਤੁ ਬਿਨੁ ਨੀਰ ॥੧॥ ਮੇਰੈ ਮਨਿ ਪ੍ਰੇਮੁ ਲਗੋ ਹਰਿ ਤੀਰ ॥ ਹਮਰੀ ਬੇਦਨ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਜਾਨੈ ਮੇਰੇ ਮਨ ਅੰਤਰ ਕੀ ਪੀਰ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਮੇਰੇ ਹਰਿ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ ਕੀ ਕੋਈ ਬਾਤ ਸੁਨਾਵੈ ਸੋ ਭਾਈ ਸੋ ਮੇਰਾ ਬੀਰ ॥੨॥ ਮਿਲੁ ਮਿਲੁ ਸਖੀ ਗੁਣ ਕਹੁ ਮੇਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੇ ਲੇ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਮਤਿ ਧੀਰ ॥੩॥ ਜਨ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੀ ਹਰਿ ਆਸ ਪੁਜਾਵਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਦਰਸਨਿ ਸਾਂਤਿ ਸਰੀਰ ॥੪॥੬॥
To the world, he is Bhai Vir Singh, the “Sixth River of Panjab.” To me, he is simply Pitaji. There are no family or blood ties, but there is a bond that transcends time and space.
This Sakhi is an excerpt from "Journey with the Gurus" volume 3 by Inni Kaur.
In our Sabad of the Month Sikh Cast Host, Manpreet Singh and Inni Kaur explore the Sabad O’ My mother! Mind pierced by the Compassionate. Mind the temple, body the ascetic cloth, bathe within the heart pilgrim-shrine. One Sabad lives on my breath, no longer entering birth-cycle. 1. O’ My mother! Mind pierced by the Compassionate. Who knows the pain of others? I worry not about others. 1. Reflect. O’ Unreachable! O’ Unperceivable! O’ Indescribable! O’ Immeasurable, worry about me. Totally pervading on land, water and sky, Your Light is in each and every one. 2. All teaching, knowing, understanding is Yours, body-temple shade is Yours. I know no other except You. O’ My Sovereign! I forever sing and praise You. 3. All beings, creatures in Your sanctuary. All cares are Yours. Nanak’s one prayer: Whatever pleases You, that is good. 4. – Guru Nanak Sahib in Rag Bilaval | Guru Granth Sahib 795 ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ॥ ਮਨੁ ਮੰਦਰੁ ਤਨੁ ਵੇਸ ਕਲੰਦਰੁ ਘਟ ਹੀ ਤੀਰਥਿ ਨਾਵਾ ॥ ਏਕੁ ਸਬਦੁ ਮੇਰੈ ਪ੍ਰਾਨਿ ਬਸਤੁ ਹੈ ਬਾਹੁੜਿ ਜਨਮਿ ਨ ਆਵਾ ॥੧॥ ਮਨੁ ਬੇਧਿਆ ਦਇਆਲ ਸੇਤੀ ਮੇਰੀ ਮਾਈ ॥ ਕਉਣੁ ਜਾਣੈ ਪੀਰ ਪਰਾਈ ॥ ਹਮ ਨਾਹੀ ਚਿੰਤ ਪਰਾਈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਅਗਮ ਅਗੋਚਰ ਅਲਖ ਅਪਾਰਾ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਕਰਹੁ ਹਮਾਰੀ ॥ ਜਲਿ ਥਲਿ ਮਹੀਅਲਿ ਭਰਿਪੁਰਿ ਲੀਣਾ ਘਟਿ ਘਟਿ ਜੋਤਿ ਤੁਮ੍ਹਾਰੀ ॥੨॥ ਸਿਖ ਮਤਿ ਸਭ ਬੁਧਿ ਤੁਮ੍ਹਾਰੀ ਮੰਦਿਰ ਛਾਵਾ ਤੇਰੇ ॥ ਤੁਝ ਬਿਨੁ ਅਵਰੁ ਨ ਜਾਣਾ ਮੇਰੇ ਸਾਹਿਬਾ ਗੁਣ ਗਾਵਾ ਨਿਤ ਤੇਰੇ ॥੩॥ ਜੀਅ ਜੰਤ ਸਭਿ ਸਰਣਿ ਤੁਮ੍ਹਾਰੀ ਸਰਬ ਚਿੰਤ ਤੁਧੁ ਪਾਸੇ ॥ ਜੋ ਤੁਧੁ ਭਾਵੈ ਸੋਈ ਚੰਗਾ ਇਕ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੀ ਅਰਦਾਸੇ ॥੪॥੨॥
Inni Kaur recites a translation from the original writings of Bhai Vir Singh.
2019 would mark the 550th Prakash Purab (Illumination Day) of Guru Nanak Sahib. To commemorate this monumental event SikhRI is launching a children’s audio story series in English and Panjabi based on the life and travels of Guru Nanak Sahib.
In this special Valentine’s Day podcast, Inni Kaur explores the epic Panjabi love stories mentioned in the Varan of Bhai Gurdas.
In this episode, we explore what happened during Guru Nanak Sahib’s “janeu” ceremony. When Guru ji was eleven years old, Pandit Hardyal, the family priest, told his parents, Pita Kalu ji and Mata Tripta ji, that now was his time for the “janeu” ceremony.
ਸੂਹੀ ਮਹਲਾ ੧ ਸੁਚਜੀ ॥ ਜਾ ਤੂ ਤਾ ਮੈ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਤੂ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਮੇਰੀ ਰਾਸਿ ਜੀਉ ॥ ਤੁਧੁ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਹਉ ਸੁਖਿ ਵਸਾ ਤੂੰ ਅੰਤਰਿ ਸਾਬਾਸਿ ਜੀਉ ॥ ਭਾਣੈ ਤਖਤਿ ਵਡਾਈਆ ਭਾਣੈ ਭੀਖ ਉਦਾਸਿ ਜੀਉ ॥ ਭਾਣੈ ਥਲ ਸਿਰਿ ਸਰੁ ਵਹੈ ਕਮਲੁ ਫੁਲੈ ਆਕਾਸਿ ਜੀਉ ॥ ਭਾਣੈ ਭਵਜਲੁ ਲੰਘੀਐ ਭਾਣੈ ਮੰਝਿ ਭਰੀਆਸਿ ਜੀਉ ॥ ਭਾਣੈ ਸੋ ਸਹੁ ਰੰਗੁਲਾ ਸਿਫਤਿ ਰਤਾ ਗੁਣਤਾਸਿ ਜੀਉ ਭਾਣੈ ਸਹੁ ਭੀਹਾਵਲਾ ਹਉ ਆਵਣਿ ਜਾਣਿ ਮੁਈਆਸਿ ਜੀਉ ॥ ਤੂ ਸਹੁ ਅਗਮੁ ਅਤੋਲਵਾ ਹਉ ਕਹਿ ਕਹਿ ਢਹਿ ਪਈਆਸਿ ਜੀਉ ॥ ਕਿਆ ਮਾਗਉ ਕਿਆ ਕਹਿ ਸੁਣੀ ਮੈ ਦਰਸਨ ਭੂਖ ਪਿਆਸਿ ਜੀਉ ॥ ਗੁਰ ਸਬਦੀ ਸਹੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਸਚੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਕੀ ਅਰਦਾਸਿ ਜੀਉ ॥੨॥ O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath! When You are with me, I have all wealth. O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath! When You are within me, comfort, grandeur exists within me. O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath! In Your Will, I sit on a majestic throne. In Your Will, I wander begging. O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath! In Your Will, water flows in drylands. In Your Will, lotus blooms in the sky. O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath! In Your Will, I cross the world-ocean. In Your Will, I drown. O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath! In Your Will, I get colored by Husband. I am absorbed in the treasure-house of virtues. O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath! In Your Will, Husband seems fearful, hence - I go through birth-death-cycles. O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath! In Your Will, Husband is unweighable, unreachable. I fall down acknowledging. O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath! What to ask, what to say, what to listen? I hunger and thirst for Your vision. O’ Life of life! O’ Breath of breath! In Gur Sabad1 I met Husband. This is Nanak’s true prayer. 2. 1. Guru Nanak Sahib in Rag Suhi | Guru Granth Sahib 762 *The wisdom learnt from the Guru. Popularly refers to the hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib.
Guru Nanak Sahib and the Jogi narrative is from Bhai Sahib Bhai Vir Singh’s book, "Guru Nanak Chamatkar". The dialogue occurs at the hermitage of an ascetic sect residing in South India's Kanji Forest.
Genocide doesn’t happen in isolation. It is a combination of deep-seated hatred and racism. There are many who will deny the 1984 Genocide. But I remember…
The Guinness Book of World Records states: “On 15 August 1947, the partition of British India triggered the largest ever mass migration, uprooting over 18 million people.” The land of the five rivers, Panjab, became divided into two parts.
In this fifty-second ghazal, Bhai Nand Lal employs a striking repetitive structure, often repeating words or phrases three times to emphasize the Divine’s perfection and beauty.
In his 44th ghazal, Bhai Nand Lal ‘Goya’ explores the connection with the Divine within and beyond earthly life. Opening with joy at the Divine’s revelation, he offers his eyes and heart as his only worthy possessions.
In this thirty-sixth ghazal, Bhai Nand Lal reflects on the transformative nature of Divine love, symbolized by the “ār” sound. The Beloved’s arrival is likened to spring, bringing life and abundance. The Beloved’s smile and gaze sustain the...
We invite you to an inspiring talk by Inni Kaur, Creative Director of SikhRI (USA), on: “How Bhai Sahib Bhai Vir Singh’s Writings Transformed My Life.”
Sidak is a transformative educational experience designed for young Sikh adults aged 18 to 39. It brings together seekers from all over the world to learn, grow, and lead with purpose.