Given the society where people chase materialistic fulfilment and the desire for personal success, the songs of Sufi bards like Bulleh Shah and Waris Shah bring a glimpse of the eternal truth. The respective works penned down in the 17th and 18th centuries touch on issues to do with divine love, unity, and self-realization, which are still relevant in the modern world. It can be wisely noted that despite these mystics aiming to compose their poetry, they indeed inspire the readers to turn within, find serenity, embrace the creation and be kind to oneself. The messages stress that the knowledge is above the religious and cultural divide teaching people how to find spirituality and move towards love and what it means to be human. To the readers of the present world, their work is indeed an appeal to embrace timelessness and come back to embrace some of the cherished values that are social cohesion and compassion amidst division and materialism.
The Punjab Sufi poet, Bulleh Shah (1680–1757) for example grappled with issues of duality and searching for one’s essence in his work. One of his most well-known verses, Bulleya Ki Jaana Main Kaun ("Bulleh, to whom do I belong?") captures this profound exploration of self beyond the constraints of social, religious, and cultural labels. This verse, and others chosen from his works presented in Sufi Lyrics (translated by Christopher Shackle, Harvard University press, 2015), resonates with the humanistic desire to find the Divine through self-awareness, devoid of conventional norms. The distinct message conveyed by his work taken up to this point is that the true power lies not in the tags that one dons, but in the process of figuring out what makes one’s soul vibrate, a process that involves fading out the ego self.
In another powerful verse, Bulleh Shah declares:
“Masjid dha de, mandir dha de, dha de jo kuch dainda / Par kisay da dil na dhaween, Rab dilan wich rehnda”
("Tear down the mosque, tear down the temple, tear down everything in sight / But don’t break anyone’s heart, for God resides there.")
This couplet from Sufi Lyrics expresses a spirituality that is quite the contrary and transcends prayers and other forms of devotion in religious places as well as dogmatic beliefs. Therefore, the heart is the true Kaaba, according to Bulleh shah, while rejecting someone is similar to denying the divine truth. He teaches people that achieve spirituality through understanding others and having compassion, which is much wiser than minding a set of rules. He on persona provokes people to ‘let go their dogma’ and embrace the revealed ‘truths’ that are free from divisions; love and compassion are the two ways to attained spiritual salvation.
As equally alternative but aligned to Bulleh Shah’s way, Warris Shah (1722 – 1798) provides quite a different yet similar approach through Heer Ranjha. It is an Urdu-based epic poem written by Waris Shah; translated by Charles Frederick Usborne in the year 1910 and revolves around the true love story of Heer and Ranjha, facing all odds, societal pressures and stigma to be together. Reading Heer Ranjha one can say that it is a love story, however, there is a hidden Sufi path that describes the spiritual evolution of a seeker. The relationship between Heer and Ranjha represents a seeker’s deep, unwavering love for God, often described in Sufi teachings as “Ishq-e-Haqiqi” (divine love). In one verse, Waris Shah poignantly states, “O Ranjha, lover of Heer, you are indeed the manifestation of God,” suggesting that divine love is embodied in human relationships. Here, Waris Shah suggests that when the human heart gets such love, it has been touched by godliness, by divinity.
Besides being a romantic tragedy, the story of Heer and Ranjha embodies the transcendental process of search for the soul. The difficulties faced by the lovers parallel the hardships that any seeker has to undergo in order to attain enlightenment. Thus, in this symbolic story, Waris Shah conveys moral lessons of patience, perseverance, and striving for the deliverance of ultimate inamorato. Finally, Heer and Ranjha’s love which gets sacrificed in the end, represents devotion and desire for the eternal divine truth stating that ‘love’ and ‘sacrifice’ are the ways to approach and attain the ultimate ‘Truth’.
While both poets challenged traditional views of culture and religion getting criticism for their unconventional wisdom. But they did not lose sight of their ideal of truth and the search for the Higher Self. Their poetry ask the readers to look beyond the religious differences and embrace love, kindness and humane aspects of life. Of them, Bulleh Shah spoke more frequently about the hypocrisy of the dogmatic authorities and the divisions caused by focus on the laws rather than the spirit of religion. In the same manner, Waris Shah used the story of Heer and Ranjha to condemn constraints of the society on freedom and relationships. These critique have been daring and provocative but explained that the poets posted such notions and ideas stressing that wisdom is in love beyond earthly possessions and conventional vices.
The sayings of Bulleh Shah and Waris Shah are timeless and their teachings serve humanity the best in the modern world which is materialistic and sectarian. Bearing this in mind, both poets make their readers aware that enlightenment and spiritual sensitivity should be sought not outside but within a person as the process of reaching out for the higher good, for love, tolerance, and acceptance of each other. Whereas, Bulleh Shah’s poetry teaches us to dismantle the barriers of rituals and prejudice, Waris Shah’s Heer Ranjha enlightens us on the subject of human love as manifestation of the divine love. The one which their teachings can provide timelessness to those who seek profundity within lives, which superficiality dominates in most cases.
Altogether, their poetry is a guiding beacon pointing to a way of pursuing the self-realization, love, and liberation of the spirit. The works of Bulleh Shah and Waris Shah not only help one to rethink the constantly discussed concepts such as faith, love, friendship but also not only serve as the guide for the better person which is sacred in its essence. Their legacy guides us to remember that truth-seeking is the process of cherishing – a truth which may help navigate the most harrowing aspects of life. Now, as people become more polarized along ethnic and religious lines, their words are a light that calls for recognition of the Divine in every person and the creation of societies based on love rather than hatred.
References:
Shackle, Christopher. Sufi Lyrics. Harvard University Press, 2015. (This book contains translations of Bulleh Shah's poetry with detailed commentary.)
Usborne, Charles Frederick. Heer Ranjha: The Romance of Punjab. 1910. (An English translation of Waris Shah’s Heer, offering insights into the metaphor of love in the context of Sufi teachings.)