100 Songs of Hasan Raja [Translated] Bengali To English

Hasan Raja is one of the most famous names in the arena of Baul songs in Bangladesh. Baul’s theme is one of the popular music of greater Bangla. For this reason, I have determined to publish some of the 100 songs of Hasan Raja famous Bangla Baul lyricist, in English.

In the 100 songs of Hasan Raja, I have used the book “100 Songs of Hasan Raja” published by Freedom of the press, May 2004, translate, edited, compiled, and research by Nurul Amin. In this book, 207 songs of Hasan Raja have been printed.

Life Sketch of Hasan Raja

Dewan Hasan Raja Chowdhury alias Hasan Raja was born in 1854 in Laxmanshree in the district of Sunamganj in the maternal grandfather’s house. His father’s name is Dewan Ali Raja Chowdhury, and his paternal home is in Rampasha in the neighborhood of Sylhet.

He died in 1922 and was Broan at Laxmanshree in the district of Sunamganj.

Hasan Raja composed a lot of Baul songs. Of them, 207 have been published and sung by different singers. Besides, he wrote 330 songs in Bengali and 13 pieces in Hindi that were not published.

Baul Culture in Bangladesh:

In Bangladesh, a class of Sufi mystics, male and feminine, travel from place to position carrying folk musical instruments and solicitation bag product of torn off cloths called ‘Anchla’. These people are better known as Bauls.

In Persia, the place of origin, the Bauls ware obscure as a sect because of their erotic and esoteric approach to life. They are neither Hindu nor Muslims and glorious for heresy, disregard of caste, and social formalities.

Their worship Man because the center of all creation and preach humanism. They’re love music, which speaks of the physical body because of the microcosm and soul an elusive birds of the unattainable man of the hearts.

Sufi Tradition in Bangladesh:

In Bangladesh, the Sufi tradition bears the name of ‘PIR’, who are referred to as spiritual leaders. These people have a variety of followers referred to as ‘Murid’ or disciples. In the Baul-Sufi category because it is found in Bangladesh and Indian, a part of West Bengal (Kolkata).

However, the disciples are referred to as ‘shiva. The word ‘PIR’ is being used in all categories of Muslim mystics to denote spiritual leaders. But the ‘Guru’ is only used by the Hindi-Buddist mystics and the Sufi Bauls in the Subcontinent.

The Hindu & Barua:

The Hindi ‘Barua’ represents the same denomination as the Bauls. The Barua spiritual leader is also called the Guru.

The Bauls, however, use other Sufi words as ‘Murshid’, ‘Darvish’, and ‘Shain’. In Sufi mysticism, yet as in Baul cult, ‘Shah’ is often accustomed to determine their category.

The word ‘Gosain’ refers to the Vaisnava religious seat. Although the Bauls claim that they differ significantly from the Vaisnava, they have many things in common.

What is Mysticism?

Mysticism is a type of human experience that can’t be explained in terms of material estimation. Baul culture isn’t simple to understand; because it has rather elaborate levels of philosophy and understanding.

Though, some basic area unit standards among the Bauls:

they leave regular life and embrace the life of wandered and sleep in a relatively harsh state of affairs among detachments. But, they lead a life checking out the truth within the mystic domain of Baul’s philosophy.

They sporadically provide feasts, during which an extensive range of the devotees is invited. The host and hostess receive each guest with due reverence. Their feet are washed as they arrive, which they’re then conducted to their seats.

Sufism:

The word mysticism is a term generally applied to the Pantheism of the ancient Hindu, to the Gnosticism of the ancient Greek, to the Quietism of Madame Guyon and Fenelon.

To the Pietism of Malinois, to the doctrines of illumination of Germany, to the visions of Swedenborg, and to the mystic views of the modern Christian sects.

“One of the most convincing aspects of the mystic illumination is the apparent revelation of the oneness of all things, giving rise to Pantheism.”- Said Bertrand Russell.

Critical Notes for Understanding the 100 Songs of Hasan Raja:

1. BAISAL: According to the Sufi system of union (Wisal) with God, the ultimate reality is the ‘summum bonum’ of Man’s life. This union achieves by the only means of self-realization.
2. Surma: Surma is the name of the river of Sylhet district, the home district of Hasan Raja.
3. Shree Hari: According to Hindu mythology, Shri Krishna, Narayana, Visnu, and Shiva.
4. Yama: The Hindu God of Death.
5. Shiva: According to Hindu mythology, Shiva is the third God of the Hindu Triad.
6. Durga: According to Hindu mythology, the goddess Durga is the wife of Shiva.
7. Shakti: The goddess Durga is the wife of Shiva and Laxmi.
8. Radha: According to Hindu mythology, Radha is the name of a celebrated cowherd or Gopi loved by Sri Krishna.
9. Kanu and Krishna: An incarnation of Vishnu, according to Hindu scripture. Sri Krishna, the hero of the Mahabharat.
10. Kanai: Kanai is Krishna.
11. Dilaram: A maidservant, most favorable to Hasan Raja.
12. Adam: The first man of the Universe mentioned in both Quran and Bible. Adam also uses as a human being.
13. Fana or Fana Fillah: The act of forgetting or losing self-consciousness in a state of ecstasy is called ‘Fana’ or passing away or self-annihilation. It’s a moral transformation of the soul through the extinction of all its passions and desires.
14. Allah(The Mighty Allah): It’s an Arabic word of God.
15. Laxmanshree: The place of birth of Hasan Raja. Laxmanshree is situated in the district of Sunamganj and the home of his maternal grandfather. Hasan Raja spent his boyhood in Laxmanshree.
16. Koli: A clan of Indian aborigines.
17. Kadam: A kind of flower or tree.
18. Khoda: In the Persian language, Khoda is Allah.
19. Shyam: Sri Krishna, the hero of the Mahabharat.
20. La Ilaha Illallah: It is ‘Zikr’ or utterance by the devotees, the last part of ‘there is no God but Allah.’
21. Baul: A type of mystic song in Bengali.
22. Mayna: A kind of indigenous bird in Bangladesh that is also compared with the soul of a human being in mystic songs.
23. Zamindar: A landlord in the Indian sub-continent.