THE INFLUENCE OF SUFI PHILOSOPHY ON THE BAUL COMMUNITY : AN ANALYTICAL STUDY/ বাউল সম্প্রদায়ের ওপর সুফি মতবাদের প্রভাব : একটি বিশ্লেষণাত্মক অধ্যয়ন

Abstract

The examination of the Sufi influence on the Baul community is an intriguing field of study. The word ‘Baul’ was first used in Bengali literature in Maladhar Basu’s ‘Sri Krishna Vijay   Kavya’. Through Advaita Acharya Jagadananda Pandit, the term ‘Aul’ and ‘Baul’ were used several times in a cryptic verse directed at Mahaprabhu Chaitanyadeb, where Advaita Acharya referred to Mahaprabhu as a ‘Baul’ and also called himself a ‘Baul’. Baul is a combination of Buddhist, Vaishnav, and Sufi traditions. During the emergence of the Baul philosophy, it is said that the influence of Buddhism, Tantric practices, folk music, Vaishnavism, and Sufism combined to create the Baul tradition in Bengal. The Bauls prefer not to mingle with common people for various reasons. They tend to live in seclusion, and because they do not confine themselves to ordinary lifestyles, they are called Bauls. Like the Sufis, Bauls practice spiritualism through songs. Similar to the Sufis, Bauls are indifferent to materialistic concerns in their attire and lifestyle. The Baul songs, such as Marfati or Murshidi songs, are enriched by Sufi influence. Both Sufis and Bauls focus on spiritual devotion to the Creator. However, one notable difference is that while Sufis are engrossed in thoughts of the soul and the spiritual world, Bauls focus on the physical world and the philosophy of the body. The impact of Sufi thought is clearly evident in the form, philosophy, and spiritual practices of Baul songs. Sufi thought, which is a branch of Islamic mysticism, has profoundly influenced the spiritual and social life of the Baul community. According to Sufi principles, love, the quest for unity, and self-exploration are central themes in Baul songs. Just as Sufi mystics aim for purification of the heart and unity with the Divine, the Baul community follows a similar path in their music and practices. This influence is reflected in the Baul songs through Sufi elements such as loving thoughts, specific musical styles, and spiritual practices. This study analyzes the mutual relationship between Sufi and Baul cultures, their cultural exchange, and spiritual unity. We will discuss this matter in detail in our proposed paper.