Bulleh Shah is popularly known as Syed Abdullah Shah Qadri. He was a renowned Sufi Saint of India in the 17th century AD. He spread the message of love and spirituality beyond the barriers of caste, creed and religion. Bulleh Shah was a Punjabi Muslim Sufi poet, a humanist and philosopher. His first spiritual teacher was Shah Inayat Qadiri, a Sufi murshid (teacher) of Lahore. He wrote various forms of Punjabi poetry but the majority of his verses were Kafi"s, a style of Punjabi, Sindhi and Saraiki poetry.
Early Life of Bulleh Shah
Bulleh Shah was born around 1680 AD in Uchh Galaniyan. His, father Shah Muhammad Dervesh, was a knowledgeable person, who had acquired good knowledge of Arabic and Persian languages and a good understanding of the Holy Quran. When Bulleh Shah was 6 months old his parents moved to Malakwal, Pakistan. His father later got a job in Pandoke, about 50 miles southeast of Kasur, Pakistan. He also received education from Maulana Mohiyuddin. His religious teacher was the famous Sufi saint, Shah Inayat Qadiri. Bulleh Shah also was given good education by competent teachers. Study of available literature on Islam and Sufism had aroused in him the desire to seek a Pir (spiritual Master), who could guide him to God.
Career of Bulleh Shah
Bulleh Shah"s lifetime also overlapped with the Punjabi poet Waris Shah of Heer Ranjha reputation, and the Sindhi Sufi poet Abdul Wahab. Bulleh Shah practised the Sufi tradition of Punjabi poetry established by poets like Shah Husain, Sultan Bahu and Shah Sharaf. His search for a Pir led him to Hajrat Inayat Shah, who was a Sufi saint of the Qadiri Order. It is said that Bulleh Shah had already acquired some miraculous powers and he also came under the guidance of Hajrat Inayat Shah as his Pir.
Hajrat Inayat Shah then initiated Bulleh Shah in the Qadiri Order. Soon Bulleh Shah got immersed in the divine bliss flowing to him from his Master. He forgot about everything else. It is said that in order to distract people from him, Bulleh Shah started living with donkeys. Bulleh Shah through his poetical eloquence reached the heart of the common people. He is considered to be one of the most famous and revered Sufis of India, who realized the truth through the love for his Master.
Works of Bulleh Shah
Some of Bulleh Shah`s verses, including "Tere Ishq Nachaya", which have been adapted and used in Bollywood film songs including "Chaiyya Chaiyya" in the 1998 film "Dil Se..", and "Ranjha Ranjha" in the 2010 film Raavan. Following are the works of Bulleh Shah:
•Makkeh Gaya, Gal Mukdee Naheen
•Bulleya Ki Jana Main Kaun
•Main Jana Jogi De Naal
•Bas Karjee Hun Bas Karjee
•Gharyali Diyo Nikal Ni
•Ek Nukta Yaar Parhaya Ae
Amongst Urdu poets, Bulleh Shah`s poetry highlights his supernatural spiritual journey through the four stages of Sufism: Shariat (Path), Tariqat (Observance), Haqiqat (Truth) and Marfat (Union). Bulleh Shah"s writings symbolize him as a humanist, someone providing solutions to the sociological problems of the world around him as he lives through it while concurrently searching for God.
