The word "Baul" is believed to have originated from various sources. Some think it comes from the Sanskrit word "Batul," meaning "mad" or "ecstatic." Others associate it with "bayu" or breath, as breathwork is a crucial aspect of Baul spiritual practice. The term can also be interpreted as "Ba + Ul," meaning "one who searches for the wind" or "seeks the divine breath."
The Baul religion emerged from the influences of Sahajiya Vaishnavism and Sufism. Like the Sahajiya Vaishnavas, Bauls emphasize the liberation of the soul and experiencing God through devotion. Similar to Sufism, they avoid external pomp and focus on inner spiritual practice. The fusion of these two traditions gave birth to Baul philosophy, which centers on humanism, love, and the unity of the soul. It is estimated that Baul philosophy was established between the 14th and early 15th centuries. Notable Bauls who have significantly contributed to Bengali literature include Fakir Lalon Sai, Panju Sai, Haure Gosai, Radharaman, Hason Raja, Nilkantha, Khodabaksh Sai, Duddu Shah, Mokshed Ali Sai, and Shah Abdul Karim, among others.
Bauls are typically liberal and non-sectarian, showing respect to all, regardless of religion or caste. Baul songs are the devotional music of the Baul community and form an essential part of folk music. Bauls primarily follow a guru-centric humanistic path. As expressed by Fakir Lalon Sai
“সর্ব সাধন সিদ্ধ হয় তার
ভবে মানুষ গুরু নিষ্ঠা যার
"All spiritual practices succeed for those who are devoted to the human guru." — Fakir Lalon Sai
For Bauls, the ultimate spiritual goal is to truly become human, despite being born as one. In the words of Duddu Shah-
“যে খোঁজে মানুষে খোদা সেই তো বাউল“
"One who seeks the divine within the human body is a Baul.” — Duddu Shah
Bauls practice their spirituality secretly, following the guru-disciple tradition. Their spiritual journey consists of four stages, which they strive to complete with devotion and dedication. According to Baul philosophy, a person's journey is an earnest attempt to discover themselves under the guidance of a guru.
The terms “স্থুল“ “Sthulo”, “প্রবর্তক“ “Prabartak”, “সাধক“ “Sadhak," and “সিদ্ধি“ "Siddhi" are commonly used in Baul tradition to describe the four stages of spiritual progress. Each term represents a specific phase where the practitioner advances on their path of spiritual growth.
1. Sthulo (স্থুল):
This is the initial stage, where one is attached to worldly matters and desires. Here, the mind and body remain engaged in materialistic activities.
Prabartak (Initiator) প্রবর্তক:
In this stage, the practitioner begins to move away from materialism and embarks on the spiritual path. Gradually, they attempt to free themselves from worldly attractions.
Sadhak (Practitioner) সাধক:
At this stage, the practitioner delves deeper into spirituality, engaging in regular practices, meditation, and self-reflection to attain self-realization.
Siddhi (Attainment) সিদ্ধি:
This is the final stage, where the practitioner achieves self-realization and attains mental and spiritual power.
These four stages follow a sequential order, where a Baul practitioner, under the guidance of a true guru (Samakya Guru), begins their journey from the gross/material world (স্থুল জগত), gradually progresses on the spiritual path becomes a Sadhak (সাধক), and ultimately attains Spiritual Fulfillment (সিদ্ধিলাভ).
This framework of spiritual development is also found in various other cultures and traditions. Bauls characterizes their spiritual journey into four phases:আউল (A-ul), বাউল (Ba-ul), ফকির (Fakir), দরবেশ / সাঁই (Darvesh / Sai).