Jasleen Kaur

Research Associate

Jasleen Kaur is a Research Associate at the Sikh Research Institute. She has received a Religious Studies B.A./M.A. from the University of Virginia, focusing on South Asian Religions through the lens of literature and poetry.

She is one of the commentators and transcreators of The Guru Granth Sahib Project. She is passionate about projects that create comfortable spaces for community members of all ages and backgrounds to engage in dialogue and learn from one another. She also loves singing in her free time, whether on stage with her friends or alone in her kitchen.

She hopes to go back to school to pursue a Ph.D. in either religious ethnography or history and fulfill her dream of teaching and learning from others.

Jasleen Kaur resides with her family in the United States.

Videos

Thursday
,
17
October
2024

Explore Patti (Mahala 1)

Patti is a poetic form based on the Gurmukhi alphabet. Historically, students used a wooden tablet, known as patti in Panjabi, to practice writing the alphabet. The Guru Granth Sahib includes many compositions based on the alphabet.

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Thursday
,
22
August
2024

Explore Chaubole

Chaubole is typically described as a poetic form governed primarily by meter and lines, usually four, as a song with four segments, or as a verse containing four languages.The theme of the Chaubole composition by Guru Arjan Sahib is love.

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Saturday
,
13
July
2024

Exploring Death in Salok Mahala 9

Explore some of the major themes of Guru Teghbahadar Sahib’s bani as contained in Guru Granth Sahib.

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Thursday
,
20
June
2024

Explore Vanjara

This composition is revealed by Guru Ramdas Sahib (1534-1581 CE) in Rag Sirirag and is recorded on pages 81-82 of the Guru Granth Sahib. It has six stanzas of five lines each. With every stanza, there is an additional stanza of rahau of two lines.

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Thursday
,
25
April
2024

Explore Alahania (Mahala 3)

Just like the Alahania revealed by Guru Nanak Sahib, this composition revealed by Guru Amards Sahib also illustrates the impermanence of the material world and inspires the mind towards a perpetual connection with IkOankar (the Divine).

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Wednesday
,
10
April
2024

Countdown to Vaisakhi 2024: Jasleen Kaur

Jasleen Kaur serves as a Research Associate at SikhRI and one of the commentators and transcreators of The Guru Granth Sahib Project.

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Podcasts

Wednesday
,
9
October
2024

Explore Maru Kaphi

In Maru Kaphi, Guru Nanak Sahib reflects on the grief caused by separation from IkOankar, showing that even with worldly comforts, one remains unhappy without this connection.

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Thursday
,
5
September
2024

Explore Chaubole

Guru Arjan Sahib’s Chaubole focuses on love, teaching that true devotion to IkOankar (the Divine) brings constant joy. A lover fully immersed in this love is ready to sacrifice everything for the Beloved.

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Wednesday
,
7
August
2024

Explore Anand Sanskar 2/2

The ceremony of ‘Anand Karaj’ (blissful task) is very important in ‘Anand Sanskar’ (blissful ceremony). ‘Anand Sanskar’ is considered complete only with the ceremony of ‘Anand Karaj.’

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Wednesday
,
10
July
2024

Explore Anand Sanskar 1/2

The Guru Granth Sahib contains many Sabads related to the wedding ceremony, in which themes of happiness, blessings, and teachings are conveyed through vocabulary related to the wedding.

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Wednesday
,
3
July
2024

Explore Sabads On the Theme of Amrit (Initiation) Ceremony

Amrit Ceremony is a fundamental and an essential rite for a seeker to join the Khalsa Panth. Through this the seeker is given ‘amrit’ and the core principles and values of Sikhi are explained to them.

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Thursday
,
27
June
2024

Explore Vanjara

In Vanjara, the seeker has been affectionately addressed as a merchant friend (vaṇjāriā mitrā). They have been made aware that they have come to this world to trade in the Nam. They are, therefore, instructed to engage in this true trade so that their fac

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Articles

Friday
,
31
July
2026

A Postcard from Miracle Valley: Reflections on Sidak 2026

Sikhi 201 Facilitator Jasleen Kaur reflects on the first week of Sidak through the lens of Guru Nanak Sahib’s ‘So Daru.’

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Thursday
,
25
June
2026

On the Kirpan: Panthic Accountability & Inner Grace

The murder of Henry Nowak by an Amritdhari Sikh in the UK has triggered global backlash against Sikhs and calls to ban the Kirpan. This article looks beyond the immediate controversy to ask what the Kirpan truly represents, examining Sikh theology...

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Tuesday
,
31
March
2026

On Separation, Patience, and Shedding Pretense

In this blog, Jasleen Kaur reflects on her Sikhi journey through the saloks of Sheikh Farid Ji. She explores themes of genuineness and pretense, patience and vastness, and the profound value of experiencing separation.

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Monday
,
17
March
2025

On Performing Piety

Jasleen Kaur reflects on Guru Nanak Sahib’s sabad, exploring the question of what is genuine within us, and what elements of ego we must navigate.

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Monday
,
11
December
2023

Sikhs, Panjab, India & the Diaspora: Locating the Current Crisis

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the current crisis involving Sikhs, Panjab, India, and the diaspora, with a focus on the historical context primarily from 1984 to 2023.

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Wednesday
,
21
August
2024

Caste & Race

This report aims to understand and explore caste and race within a Sikh worldview, the complexities of their intertwined developments, and the varied responses to practices and structures of casteism and racism from dominant and marginalized groups.

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Presenting at Upcoming Events

Jasleen Kaur
 is not presenting at any upcoming events as of yet. Explore our upcoming events.