Much of what is known today about Bulleh Shah, comes through folklore, and is anecdotal; to the point, there isn’t even complete agreement, amongst historians, about his exact date and place of birth. Some parts about his life have been connected together from his own writings. Other parts seem to have been passed down through oral traditions. However, what are neither anecdotal nor folklore, are the Punjabi verses that have been authored by Bulleh Shah – arguably the greatest Punjabi poet of all time, and perhaps one of the greatest humanist minds of his era.
Bulleh Shah practiced and enhanced the Sufi tradition of Punjabi poetry established by poets like Shah Hussain (1538- 1599), Sultan Bahu (1629-1691), and Shah Sharaf (1640-1724), to name a few. Bulleh Shah (1680-1757) lived in the same timeframe as the famous Punjabi poet Waris Shah (1719-1790), of Heer fame, from Shiekhupura. As well as the famous Sindhi Sufi poet Abdul Wahad (1739-1829) - popularly known as Sachal Sarmast (“truth seeking leader of the intoxicated ones”) – from Khairpur. He shared an almost identical time span as the famous Sindhi Sufi poet, Shah Abdul Latif Bhatai (1689-1752) of Hyderabad. Amongst Urdu poets, Bulleh Shah lived a mere 400 miles from Mir Taqi Mir (1723-1810), of Agra. Mir, was authoring the finest Urdu ghazals, ever written, just when Bulleh Shah was finishing the best Sufiana Punjabi poetry ever written.
Bulleh Shah’s style of writing is called Kafi (Refrain) – an established style of Punjabi poetry used by Punjabi Sufis (mentioned above) and Sikh gurus (from Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh). Sufi poets generally did not adapt the courtly languages of Persian and Urdu, and tended to write their verses in Punjabi, Sariaki, Sindhi etc. – languages of the common folk, amongst whom they lived. Though the number is disputed, Bulleh Shah is credited with authoring anywhere from fifty to one hundred and fifty Kafi, one Athwara, one Baramah, three Siharfi, forty-nine Oeodh and forty Gandhan. This appears to be a large content of work. However, in reality, this collection of works is so small that one can read it all in a few weeks.
Sufis, traditionally, spent their lives searching for the meaning of life, and for God, Himself. Those amongst them, who were poets, expressed this search, beautifully, through their poetry. Who is the Creator? What is the truth? What is the meaning of life? How can one find God? Who am I? These are some of the questions Sufis have tried to answer, by disassociating themselves from worldly knowledge and deeds, and moving onto a spiritual sphere, where they are no longer bound by traditionally interpreted religious or material restrictions.
Bulleh Shah gained knowledge of Arabic, Persian and the Quran, through his traditional teacher(s). After that, in an effort to move to the next level (of mystic realization) he searched for a spiritual guide. Eventually he found his murshid, in the form of Inayat Shah Qadri. Inayat Shah Qadri (or Shah Inayat, as he is referred to in Bulleh Shah’s poetry) was a Sufi of the Qadri tradition, who authored many Persian books on mysticism. He was from the Arian cast and grew vegetables to earn a living. Ironically, Bulleh Shah was of a much higher Sayyad caste. Yet, contrary to common social practice, Bulleh Shah accepted Shah Inayat as his spiritual master, and subordinated his life to his lower-caste murshid. Much of Bulleh Shah’s verses about love are actually written directly for his spiritual guide, Shah Inayat
Bulleh Shah
some verses from his kalaam with english translation.
Mulla tay mashaalchi dohaan ikko chit
Loukan karday chananan, aap anhairae vich
translation:
Mullah and the torch-bearer, both from the same flock
Guiding others; themselves in the dark
Masjid dha de, mandir dha de, dha de jo kucch dainda
Par kisi da dil na dhain, Rab dilan vich rehnda..
translation:
Tear down the mosque and the temple; break everything in sight
But do not break a person’s heart, it is there that God resides
