India’s spiritual heritage is more than history — it is a living river, flowing through time, carrying wisdom, beauty and a way of life that sees the sacred in all things.
His Holiness Sohamm Babajee carries that river across the world.
Through His work, the songs, rituals and philosophies of India are not just preserved — they are shared, inspiring hearts far beyond her shores.
He reminds the world that these traditions are not relics of the past; they are gifts for the present — a timeless vision of harmony, reverence and the art of living.
Baul
The Baul : A Mystic Heritage of Bengal
The word 'Baul' comes from the Sanskrit word 'Vatul,' which means 'mad' or 'eccentric.'
Bauls are Mystic Ballad Singers living in rural areas of West Bengal, India.
Bauls live either near a village or travel from place to place and earn their living from singing. They are always accompanied with their signature instruments like the Ektara, Dotara, Khamak and a drum called Dubki.
Bauls belong to a devotional tradition, influenced by Hinduism, Vaishnavism and Sufism, yet distinctly different from them.
Bauls neither identify with any organised religion nor with the caste system, special deities, temples or sacred places.
Their emphasis lies on the importance of a person’s physical body as the place where God resides.
Bauls are admired for their freedom from convention as well as their music and poetry.
Baul Singers used to go door-to-door in the villages to explain the deeper meaning of life in a simpler form meaning 'Sahaja Kotha'. That is why they are called as 'Sahajia Sampraday’.
Baul poetry, song, music and dance are devoted to find the relationship of Humankind with the Almighty to achieve spiritual upliftment.
Baul song represents a particular type of folk song, carrying influences of Hindu Bhakti Movement and the Sufi Tradition.
Baul songs are used to be handed over to the disciples by their Spiritual Master. The Baul philosophy is taught orally from generation to generation.
The language of the songs is continuously modernised thus endowing it with contemporary relevance.
Baul philosophy teaches that Divinity dwells within the human body, not in temples, institutions or hierarchies.
The spiritual Baul tradition emphasises the bond between the spiritual nature of mankind and Mother Nature itself.
The Mystic Resonance of the Songs & Music of the Baul Tradition is incorporated in the music of the wind whispering to the leaves of the trees in the Forest, the rhythm of the Sun, Moon and Stars, the sound of the Sea-waves, the melody of the flowing rivers, the silence of the Mountain and the pulse of the Earth itself — a true symphony of nature and Soul.
The Baul Tradition has been declared in 2005 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on the list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
Explaining the Historical Legacy and Cultural Impact of Baul
Although Bauls constitute only a small fraction of the Bengali population, their influence has an enormous impact on the culture of Bengal, particularly the compositions of Nobel Prize laureate
Kabi Guru Rabindranath Tagore.
The Baul movement, at its peak in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, has now regained popularity among the rural population of West Bengal, India.
Babajee's contribution in Reviving and Preserving the Baul Tradition
His Holiness Babajee has played a pivotal role in preserving and revitalising the ancient Baul Tradition, which uniquely binds the Mystical nature of humankind with Mother Nature herself.
In His visionary leadership, Babajee has uplifted this marginalised lineage and transformed it into a living spiritual legacy recognised across the world.
Under Babajee’s guidance, the Songs and Dances of the Bauls have been re-established not merely as folk practices, but as sacred expressions of cosmic harmony.
With deep reverence for the roots of the Baul lineage, which historically flourished across the Bengali heartland, Babajee has ensured the continuation of this Tradition even amid historical upheavals and the subsequent political transformations of Bengal.
The Baul Tradition resonates deeply with Babajee’s own path of Soul-to-Soul awakening and Universal Oneness.
Establishing the Faculty of Baul Tradition and Education
Recognising the spiritual and cultural urgency to protect this tradition from further decline, Babajee established the Faculty for Traditional Baul Heritage.
This Faculty actively archives, transmits and teaches Baul music, poetry and philosophy — empowering new generations of Baul practitioners and scholars both in India and internationally.
Babajee has also been instrumental in integrating Baul teachings into spiritual education, using Baul songs not only as cultural heritage but as living transmissions of wisdom.
He emphasises their relevance for contemporary seekers, supporting the continual modernisation of the language and style of Baul songs while preserving their core message of Divine love and inner freedom.
During the International 'Joydev Baul Mela', He organises a huge Song-Festival every year at the Eco-Temple Village Billamangal Dhaam.
He finds new Talents of Baul; acknowledges, recognises, confers Awards and helps them to get subsidy by the Government of West Bengal, India.
Dokhra
Explaining the Sacred Symbolism of Dokhra
In the Eco-Temple Village, Babajee used the Dokhra Art in Temples, sanctified ritual spaces and as devotional sculptures that harmonise Earth, Fire and Metal — elements that echo the rhythms of nature and Mystic Cosmology.
These handcrafted Dokhra pieces are not industrial products; they are consecrated forms, merging indigenous knowledge with Sacred Wisdom.
Revival of an Ancient Art and Craft : Dokhra
In the Eco-Temple Village, Billamangal Dhaam, His Holiness Babajee, envisioned to preserve the ancient Art and Craft of Dokhra and to manifest its ancient living expression of Spiritual Heritage of India.
Rooted in India’s tribal heritage dating back over 5,000 years, during the time of Harappa-Mahenjo-Daro; Dokhra is a form of "lost-wax metal casting", traditionally used to create Idols, Human figures, Animals and Sacred Ornaments. This craft is well known across the world by the famous Statue of "Mahenjo-Daro Girl".
This timeless craft is presently located in three places namely — BIKNA village at Bakura District, DARIYAPUR village at Purba Bardhaman District in West Bengal and at BASTAR village in Madhya Pradesh.
Under Babajee's initiative and tremendous effort the Antique Importance of this craft has been demonstrated to the Government and brought to the public eye of West Bengal.
Empowering Traditional Artisans
Recognising the challenges of traditional Dokhra artisans, Babajee actively engages Dokhra craftspeople and modern master metallurgists to make their living by selling all their items in the Metro Cities.
He not only provides them economic support but also a spiritual platform, restoring pride and dignity to their culture.
Through mentorship, apprenticeship programs and fair trade practices Babajee has enabled these artisans to sustain their Heritage in a modern world.
Redefining Sustainability through Dokhra Art
Babajee has redefined sustainability by integrating Dokhra — not just in terms of materials and design, but also as the preservation of Cultural Soul and Ancestral Wisdom.
His approach ensures that each Dokhra object is both an artistic creation and a spiritual offering. It resonates with the same principle that underlies His entire Mission : to bridge ancient traditions with contemporary needs.
Adivasi
Protecting Adivasi : the indigenous Tribe of India
The Adivasi people have long been the guardians of the rich cultural and eco-spiritual heritage of India.
Rooted deeply in the forests and rural landscapes, they have preserved ancient customs, Spiritual practices and a profound connection to the Mother Nature.
To honour and uplift these tribal communities, His Holiness Babajee has played a pivotal role in recognising and preserving the heritage of the Adivasi people.
Through His leadership and the establishment of various initiatives in the Sohamm Babajee Missions, Babajee engages Himself to empower the Adivasi communities while ensuring their traditions continue to thrive.
One of the most significant contributions of Babajee lies in providing a spiritual and economic platform for Adivasi artisans, musicians and ritual practitioners.
At the Eco-Temple Village, He has created an environment where traditional Adivasi performances such as drumming, dance and music are celebrated and integrated into the spiritual life of the community.
Instruments like 'Dhamsha', 'Dhol', 'Madol' and Bamboo Flute alongside dance forms and rituals, are showcased, preserving them as essential expressions of Adivasi culture.
By encouraging these communities to continue their ancient practices — such as the production of handmade crafts, textiles and tools — Babajee has ensured that Adivasi culture remains vibrant and relevant to future generations.
Through His humanitarian initiatives, Babajee has supported the socio-economic upliftment of Adivasi communities, providing access to education, healthcare and fair trade practices.
He has established training programs, apprenticeship systems and platforms for Adivasi artisans to showcase their work and activities.
Babajee’s commitment to environmental sustainability aligns perfectly with Adivasi traditions, which emphasise living in harmony with the Nature.
His efforts to preserve these practices while integrating them into modern ecological consciousness have made the Adivasi way of life an example of how to live in harmony with the Earth.
In recognising the contributions of the Adivasi people and providing them with platforms to share their wisdom, culture and artistry; Babajee has not only safeguarded a vital part of Bengal’s heritage but ensured that it flourishes.
Through His visionary work, the Adivasi people of India are empowered and their traditions are celebrated as a vital link in the chain of spiritual and cultural continuity.
