Bauls from Bengal and their Bauliana,
The origin unknown,
But they consider Lalon,
As the father and the constant companion being the ektara.
Loyal mystic they are,
Easily identified by the distinct clothes and musical apparatus,
The wandering minstrels comprise Sufi Muslims and Vaishnava Hindus,
In search of the ‘man of the heart’ forever.
Agnostic monotheism is what the bauls know about,
The devotional music passes on celestial love beyond doubt.
Author's Notes/Comments:
The term ‘Bauliana’ refers to the ‘baul music’ and the agnostic-monotheistic beliefs of the bauls. Their philosophy matches with that of the Buddhists. It’s ‘celestial love’ that the baul music concentrates on and is performed in an extremely simple manner. Baul devotional music goes beyond religion and the ostentation of religious partitions has been criticised by a number of bauls especially by the celebrated baul composer Lalon Fokir (1774 -1890). The bauls greatly influenced and encouraged the eminent Bengali poet and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. It’s a fact that the bauls consist of only a diminutive portion of the Bengali population but their influence on the Bengali culture is substantial. In 2005, UNESCO incorporated the Baul tradition in the list of "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity". Currently, bauls are found in Bangladesh and in some parts of India (West Bengal and the eastern parts of Bihar and Jharkhand).
Lalon the Great......... Glad you have highlighted the thinker
One of Lalon's works close to the heart
Tell me how the nameless bird
Enters the cage,
Flies away
If only I could catch it once,
I would
Throw my mind's chain around its feet.
This house has eight chambers with nine doors,
There are lattices on the walls,
And a Hall of Mirrors at the top.
Luck has abandoned you,
O Mind
Or why should the bird act so strange? Breaking open the cage once again
It vanishes into the forest!
O Mind,
You never tire of gazing upon the cage,
It is only made of green cane ---
It will fall down any moment,
Says Lalon, wailing.
©bishu
Thank you
Thank you so much Mr. Bishu. I think the Bengali version is more soothing and enchanting than the English one. I reckon you'll agree with me as well. :)
No second opinion on it Mr Haque
©bishu
Thank you
Thank you again.