THE EMERGENCE OF BAUL CULTURE

A Baul Performance

Bauls are a religious and cultural group of India, best known for their songs and poems to the god who dwells within. They are found primarily in the state of West Bengal in India and in Bangladesh. The mystical Baul music cult is not just unique to Bengal though, it also has a special place in the history of world music.  There are three major communities or lineages (sampradayas). The first is associated with the Birbhum District, which is traditionally considered to be the source of the Baul tradition in West Bengal. This community is in the western part of the state, and it inhabits the districts of Birbhum, Burdwan, Bankura, and Midnapore. It shows many influences, including Tantric Buddhism and Shaktism (goddess worship). The second community is known as the Navadvipa sampradaya, which shows strong Bengali Vaishnava influence and is found primarily in the Nadia and Murshidabad districts. The third group is the Muslim Bauls or fakir sampradaya, found primarily in Bangladesh.

Not much is known of the origin, though it is conjectured that the cult of traveling musicians may date back to the 9th century. Not until the mid 18th century are they noted by historians as a major, identifiable cult. The word "Baul" has its etymological origin in the Sanskrit words "Vatula" (madcap), or "Vyakula" (restless), and is often used to describe someone who is "possessed" or "crazy." Originally, the Bauls were simply eccentrics who rejected the traditional social norms to form a distinct sect that upheld music as their religion. "Baul" is also the name given to the genre of folk music developed by this creative cult.