Every year thousands of people throng the shrine of Baba Bulleh Shah in Kasur to pay homage to the great Sufi poet. There is disagreement amongst researchers and historians regarding his actual birth place and life span.

Most, however, believe that his life`s journey started in 1680 and concluded in 1757. They also hold the view that Sayed Abdullah Shah, popularly known as Bulleh Shah Qadri Shattari, a descendent of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through the progeny of Shaikh Abdul Qadir Gilani of Baghdad, was born in the village Uch Gilaniyan in district Bahawalpur.

According to them he remained in this village up to the age of six months or until the whole family moved to a village called Malakwal in district Multan.

Bulleh Shah`s father, Shah Mohammad Dervish, was a religious scholar. He was requested by the elders of the village Pandoki, which was 15 miles away from Kasur, to teach at the village mosque. Thereupon the family permanently shifted to Pandoki.

Bulleh Shah acquired proficiency in Arabic and Persian and studied the Quran. In time he moved to Kasur for higher education and was admitted at the Madressah Jamia Kot Androon which was headed by Hafiz Khawaja Ghulam Murtaza, a great scholar of his time.

Kasur and Multan were considered to be the hub of knowledge at the time. Indeed, Sayed Waris Shah came from Sheikhupura to the same institution to be taught by Hafiz Ghulam Murtaza. Like other scholars with an inclination towards Sufism who are seeking their own identity of, their relation with the Creator, and the oneness of the universe, Bulleh Shah felt a strong urge to find a spiritual guide and his search led him to Inayat Shah Qadri.
Inayat Shah Qadri (or Shah Inayat, as he is referred to in Bulleh Shah`s poetry) was a Sufi of the Qadri tradition who authored many Persian books on mysticism. He was a farmer from the Arian caste while, ironically, Bulleh Shah was from a much higher Sayyed caste.

This fact also created an uproar and people condemned Bulleh Shah for making a `low caste` person his spiritual guide. But the Sufi saint, whose philosophy of life was beyond the boundaries of worldly restrictions, remained strong in his dedication and obedience to his master. His poetry is filled with praise for the stature of Shah Inayat.
In this age of violence, materialism and the consequent anxiety Bulleh Shah`s works, which carry the message of inner peace and spiritual salvation, are a guide to a better state of mind. The Sufi saint is undoubtedly a matchless torchbearer of harmony, love and, above all, humanity.

He was condemned by contemporary religious leaders for his iconoclastic and critical views regarding the prevalent culture of theocracy and fanaticism. The following verses shed light on Bulleh Shah`s views about theocrats.

Although his biographical accounts are controversial, the Punjabi verses that have been authored by Bulleh Shah are counted among the greatest works of Punjab Sufi literature of all times. Because of his pure life and spirituality he is equally popular among other communities. Scholars and dervishes have referred to him as `The Sheikh of both the Worlds`, `The Man of God`, `The Knower of Spiritual Grace` and other such edifying titles.

Bulleh Shah carried the torch of the Sufi tradition of Punjabi poetry established by poets such as Shah Hussain (1538-1599), Sultan Bahu (1629-1691), and Shah Sharaf (1640-1724). The famous Punjabi poet Waris Shah (1719-1790), the creator of Heer, was his contemporary. Though the numbers are disputed, Bulleh Shah is credited with authoring anywhere from 50 to 150 Kafis, one Athwara, one Baramah, three Siharfi, 49 Oeodh and 40 Gandhan.

Bulleh Shah`s life and poetry encourage us to take the road that leads to real happiness and salvation, one that is not conditional to material or monetary achievements.

In order to achieve true inner peace one must resort to austerity and think beyond the luxuries and alluring pleasures of this mortal and momentary world.

Bulleh Shah provides us an example of the courage that is required to undergo the severest hardships to reach the ultimate spiritual goal.