Kalyan sheds some light on the world of the Bauls:
Linked by kuffir. Join Blogbharti facebook group.The word ‘Baul’ refers to three terms- betul meaning ‘out of rhythm’, vayu meaning ‘air’ or the inner flow of energy which gives life and harmony to all living beings ; and auliya, a term of Arabic origin, which means ’saint’ or ‘holy man’. This is music rooted in the sheer bliss of being alive, perfectly in keeping with the philosophy of the nomadic Baul musicians, who espouse a kind of ecumenical, all-men-are-brothers religiosity.
The singer or the bauls, as they are popularly called wears a saffron robe and a saffron head gear and wanders in the villages from home to home entertaining everyone with their beautiful lyrical songs. In return some offer food and some also offer money. The bauls themselves compose the songs and perform them through acting and dancing to their own tunes. They wander the countryside, singing their songs. Their beliefs are a mixture of many influences and traditions, and break away from many common Indian beliefs.
I thought that the word ‘baul’ has connotations of madness. I remember listening to some Baul songs in 70’s possibly bu Purna chandra Das. There is one which goes approximately ‘chorporeche babur bagane..’. Is it available somewhere? I vaguely remember that there is a Baul type song in one of Guru Dutt movies.