On June 10th, in Satyajit Ray auditorium, ICCR Kolkata, Baul Premik – Book Authored by Sri Sanātan Das Baul (4th Edition) , compiled and presented by Parvathy Baul was launched in the august presence of Baul Masters, eminent scholars and authors. The special guests shared their reflections about the book and the message it carries. Some of them shared their cherished memories about Sri Sanātan Das Baul’s life as a Baul Practitioner and Master. There was a short audio visual presentation about Life and teachings of Sri Sanātan Das Baul.
The book “Baul Premik” is the result of Sri Sanatan Baul Das Thakur’s entire life of sadhana. This book is the first of its kind to introduce Baul Sadhana to the contemporary modern world, coming from a Baul Sadhak himself.
It is a conversation between Baul and Premik. Premik puts his question forward and the Baul solves his query by explaining the verses based on his knowledge (Mahagyani bhandar). As this conversation progresses, towards the end, the Baul enters into deep sadhana tattva.That is why this book is different from any other explanatory book. Dialogues have been the mode of sharing profound mysteries of sadhana in several ancient and valuable scriptures. For example, Nachiketa-Dharmaraja dialogue in Kathopanishad or Shiva-Parvati dialogue in Shiva Swarodaya.
In some places, this book creates a dramatic exuberance. The book ‘Baul Premik’ introduces us to the devotional life of the Baul saints. Many ideas about Baul Marga (Yoga and Bhakti) get clarified. Baul music and Sadhana are complementary — one is not exclusive of the other. The spirit of Baul Sadhana attains its purest form in combining sadhana and music, as there is no Baul music without sadhana.The entire philosophy of the Baul Marg is based on auditory expression. Keeping that trend, Guru Sri Sanatan Baul Das Thakur expresses his knowledge in written format, making this book an invaluable source of information about the Baul tradition. In the future, this book will be a treasure for those who will be interested and will want to take up the sadhana in the Baul tradition.
The previously published first and second edition of the book “Baul Premik” are presented in this fourth edition in the section named ‘Sutrapat’, and an unpublished manuscript has been added in the section named ‘Antim Charan’. The dialogue between Baul and Premik, which seemed somewhat fragmented in the third edition, flows like a river here in the fourth edition.
Apart from this, the reader will get to know several songs composed by Baba. Some of the audio tracks sung by him have also been included in this book. Several pictures have been added for the reader to get a glimpse of his life.
