THE RED ROBED SUFI SAINT SHAHBAAZ QALANDHR

                                                                            

LAL KI SADHAA ( The call of the Red Sufi saint ). 

A Malangh outside the shrine of Shahbaaz Qalandhar..

A water colour done by noted painter Ali Abbas .

Baba Bulle shah wrote a song in praise of the highly revered sufi saint of sindh fondly known in the subcontinent as Jhule lal or Shahbaaz Qalandhar( 1177-1274 ) .

Shahbaaz Qalandhar belonged to Suhrawardi order of sufis . His real name was Syed Usman Marwandi .People believe that he wore red robes. Mothers in sindh and Punjab fondly call him their kid or Lal . And Shahbaz , Shah – King and Baz – Falcon or king of falcons or an ancient Iranian GOD , a divine spirit and lastly a Qalandhar , a sufi saint mystic or noble man .

He settled in Sehwan ( SERWAN in Sind ) and preached unity and harmony between Hindus and Muslims.Hindus regard him as Avtaar and fondly call him JHULE LAL while Muslims hail him as a great sufi mystic and call him Shahbaaz Qalandhar . Hindus from sindh regard him as the incarnation of Bhartihari, the saintly brother of King Vikramaditya, who is believed to have worshiped Shiva .They light rows of lamps ( Diyaas ) and bundles of Agarbattis at this shrine. Muslim devotees recite verses from Holy Quran inside the shrine.

I quote some lines from the spiritual song composed by Baba Bulle shah in praise of Shahbaaz Qalandhar . …

Hind Sindh peera teri naubat vaaje,

Naal vaje ghadiyaal bala jhoole laalan, 

Sindhri da ,

Sehvan da ,

sakhi Shabaaz Qalandar, 

Dama dam mast Qalandar, Ali dam dam de andhar, 

O Lal Meri pat rakhio ..

( Baba Bulle Shah )

O Master ! Let your darling name spread in entire Hind and sindh ,

Let the bells go out loud to spread your fame and glory O Jhule Laal. !

O master of sindh !

O master of Sehwan ( Serwan )!

O Red Robed spiritual leader !

O King falcon !

O Intoxicated great Mystic !

Carrying name of Ali In every breath ,

Glory be to you …

O Red Robed saint ,

keep me under your protection..

( Autar Mota )

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