The real meaning of Damadam Mast Qalandar, the unheard story of 700 years old Qawwali.

Ho Lal Meri Pat Rakhiyo Bala Jhoole Lalan…” This is such a tune, which fills the soul with Sufi peace as soon as it falls into the ears. Be it the spiritual voice of Abida Parveen, the classic style of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan or the modern remix of Mika Singh, the magic of this Sindhi Kalam speaks to every generation. Even today, the lines of ‘Chaar Charag Tere Baran Hamesh’ are on the internet and social media reels. That much is trending.

But have you ever wondered what is the real meaning of ‘Damadam Mast Kalandar’, which breaks the boundaries of every religion and country and captivates people? And for whom has it been sung so passionately? Let us know the 700 year old very interesting story related to the soil of Sindh.

Who was ‘Mast Qalandar’?

The real story of this Qawwali starts about 700 years ago in the 13th century. The ‘Qalandar’ which is repeatedly mentioned in Qawwali, is actually Hazrat Osman Marwandi Who was a great Sufi saint of the 13th century. them the world ‘Lal Shahbaz Qalandar’ Knows by the name of.

• Why is it called ‘red’?: Sufi saint Hazrat Usman Marwandi’s favorite color was red. He always wore a red robe and red cap, hence he was called ‘Red’.

• Meaning of ‘Shahbaz’: Shahbaz means ‘royal falcon’ in Persian. He received this title because of his sharp intelligence and spiritual flight.

• Meaning of ‘Kalandar’: Qalandar is said to be that great fakir or saint, who is beyond the worldly attachments and rules and regulations and remains engrossed only in the worship of God.

• Dargah: His Dargah is still in Sindh province of Pakistan. Sehwan Sharif It is situated in, where every year lakhs of people (both Hindus and Muslims) come to perform Sajdah.

Unique confluence of ‘Jhulelal’ and ‘Ali’

The most beautiful thing about this Qawwali is its secular fabric. On one side, the worshipable deity of Sindhi Hindus ‘Jhulelal’ (who is considered to be an incarnation of Varuna, the god of water and is also known as ‘Lal’), on the other hand, the glory of Sufi saint Shahbaz Qalandar and the fourth Caliph of Islam is seen. Hazrat Ali Is mentioned.

‘Damdam Mast Qalandar, Ali Dum Dum De Andar’ It simply means that within every breath (dum) resides that supreme power and Maula Ali, and dancing in that devotion is ‘Damdam Mast Kalandar’.

Who wrote this timeless qawwali?

According to historians and experts, this Qawwali was originally composed by the great Sufi poet Amir Khusro, who was the favorite disciple of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya. With time there were changes in it and later the famous Punjabi Sufi poet Baba Bulleh Shah also gave it a new expansion by adding lines like ‘Ali da pehla number’.

Deep meaning of lines of bhajans/qawwali

It is very beautiful to understand the hidden meaning in the lines of Qawwali:

• ‘Sindari Da Sevan Da Sakhi Shah Baz Qalandar’: Dear friend (donor) Lal Shahbaz Qalandar of Sehwan city of Sindh, please keep my name.

• ‘There are always four lamps in your fire, I am the rain in Panjwa, I am a swinger’: Hey Jhulelal! There are four lamps always burning on your Dargah/doorstep (which are symbols of four directions or four great Sufi saints), but I have come to light the fifth lamp with my vow and devotion.

This Qawwali is not just a song, but a symbol of the common culture (Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb) of that era where the walls of religion had no significance for music and devotion. This is the reason that even after 700 years, when this song is played, the human mind becomes truly happy.