Baba Bulleh Shah: Let’s Walk You Through The Voice That Echoes Through Time
Some voices refuse to be drowned out by centuries. Some words, written in an era long past, still pierce through modern chaos, carrying the weight of wisdom, rebellion, and love. Syed Abdullah Shah Qadri, the soul we know as Bulleh Shah, was one such poet—a Sufi mystic, a seeker of truth, and a fearless challenger of societal norms. His verses, raw and piercing, continue to resonate with those who dare to question, those who refuse to conform, and those who seek love beyond the material world.
The Journey of a Mystic
Born in 1680 in Uch, Punjab, Bulleh Shah found himself drawn to the Sufi path early in life. He studied under Inayat Shah Qadri, a revered Sufi saint, a decision that led him to both enlightenment and ostracization. His defiance of rigid religious dogma made him a heretic in the eyes of the orthodox, but his poetry—imbued with divine love—made him eternal in the hearts of many.
His works are drenched in themes of unity, love, and the quest for a higher truth. Bulleh Shah spoke of self-annihilation, stripping away ego, and merging with the divine. His words often carried scorn for religious hypocrisy and the emptiness of rituals without true devotion. His life, much like his poetry, was a proof to his defiant spirit—one that bowed only to love.
The Best of Bulleh Shah
Here are some of his most celebrated works, each carrying the depth of his spiritual journey and the fire of his resistance:
1. Bulla Ki Jaana Main Kaun
A soul-searching masterpiece, this poem questions identity beyond worldly labels. It rejects the rigid structures of caste, religion, and hierarchy, embracing the boundless nature of human existence.
Bulla ki jaana main kaun?
(I know not who I am)
This verse alone is a doorway to deep introspection, challenging every assumption of selfhood.
2. Mera Piya Ghar Aaya
A metaphor for divine union, this ecstatic poem celebrates the long-awaited arrival of the beloved (the divine). It is sung in qawwali traditions, bringing alive the joy of spiritual realization.
3. Tere Ishq Nachaya
One of his most powerful verses, it describes how love has turned him into a madman, making him dance in divine ecstasy. This poem reflects the surrender of ego and the ultimate submission to love.
4. Ranjha Ranjha Kardi
Deeply inspired by the legendary Punjabi folk tale of Heer-Ranjha, Bulleh Shah identifies himself with Ranjha, the eternal lover, symbolizing the soul’s yearning for the divine.
Ranjha Ranjha kardi ni main aape Ranjha hoyi
(Chanting Ranjha’s name, I became Ranjha myself)
It speaks of the dissolution of the self into the beloved, blurring the lines between lover and beloved, seeker and sought. Read all of these in detail here.
5. Parh Parh Alam Fazal Hoya
A sharp critique of empty scholarship, this poem ridicules those who hoard knowledge but lack wisdom. It emphasizes the futility of mere book-learning without spiritual realization.
Bulleh Shah in Music
His poetry has found its way into contemporary music, keeping his legacy alive. Some well-known songs featuring his verses include:
- Bulla Ki Jaana – Rabbi Shergill (Fusion/Rock)
- Tere Ishq Nachaya
- Bandeya Ho
- Ranjha Ranjha – Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Qawwali)
- Aik Alif – Noori & Saeen Zahoor, featured in Coke Studio Pakistan
Click Here to listen top 10 by Bulleh Shah Baba
Some of his best couplets are
- On the Nature of Love and Separation:
– “Bulleya ki jaana main kaun, na main moman vich masjid, na main vich kaafiraan da jahan.”
– Translation: “Bulleh, I know not who I am; I am neither in the mosque of the believers nor in the world of the infidels.” - On the Quest for Truth:
– “Tere ishq nachaya kar ke thaya thaya.”
– Translation: “Your love has made me dance in ecstasy.” - On the Illusion of Identity:
– “Mitti da putla, mitti vich mil jaana.”
– Translation: “I am a lump of clay, destined to merge back into the earth.” - On the Unity of Existence:
– “Saa’nu ki janaa, tu ki janaa, sa’nun taan jind jaan.”
– Translation: “What do I know, and what do you know? We are but life itself.” - On Spiritual Awakening:
– “Jin ne dard na kita, ohna da ki kita.”
– Translation: “Those who have not felt pain, what can they understand?”
Bulleh Shah Shayari
- Chal Bullia Hun Othay Chalye Jithay Saray Anay
Na Koi Sanu Penchany Na Koi Sanu Manny - Bure Banday Nu Main Laban Turya Par Bura Laba Na Koi
Jad Main Andar Jhati Pai Te Main Tu Bura Na Koi - Bure Banday Nu Main Laban Turya Par Bura Laba Na Koi
Jad Main Andar Jhati Pai Te Main Tu Bura Na Koi
“Zeher vekh ke peeta ,Te ki peeta.
Ishq soch ke keeta ,Te ki keeta.
Dil ee k dil laaiyen di ass, rakhi ve bulleya.
Pyaar vi laalach naal keeta , te ki keeta.”
- Us ka deewana hoon uss ko mehboob hoon,
Kya yeh Kam hai Ke us Se monsoon hoon. - Jo Kuch Sade Ander Wasse, Zaat Sadi Soyi
Jis Dey Naal Mein Nunh Lgaya, Aoho Jesi Hoyi - Ranjha Mein Wich, Mein Ranjhe Wichh, Ghair Khayal Na Koi
Mein Nahi, Aoh Aap Hai, Apni Aap Kare Diljoi - Chitti Chadar La Sut Kurye, Pehn Faqeeran Loyi
Chitti Chadar Dagh Lakesi, Loyi Dagh Na Koi - Neend Na Wekhe Bistra,
Teh Bhuk Na Wekhe Maas,
Maut Na Wekhe Umar Nu,
Teh Ishq Na Wekhe Zaat - Haji Lok Makke no Janday
Asi Janan Takht Hazaray
Jit Dil Yar Atay Dil Kaaba
Sadain Phol Kitaban Charay
Ni Main Kamli Aan - Parh Parh Aalim Fazal Hoya
Kadi Apnay Aap Nu Parhya Ai Nai
Ja Ja Warda Masjidan Mandran Andar
Kadi Man Apnay Wich Warya Ai Nai
The Relevance of Bulleh Shah Today
In an age of rigid identities, political divides, and soulless routines, Bulleh Shah’s words serve as a call to break free. He challenges us to abandon dogma, to embrace love as the highest path, and to recognize the divine in every being. His poetry is not just literature—it is resistance, it is transcendence, it is a roadmap to the soul’s liberation.
The Eternal Flame
Bulleh Shah left this world in 1757, but his poetry remains an undying flame. His grave in Kasur, Pakistan, is a place of reverence where his followers still gather, singing his kalam, keeping his spirit alive. His defiant voice, steeped in divine love, will never be silenced.
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