বাংলা 
English 
Duddu Shah (born 1841; died 1911 AD) — after Lalon, Duddu Shah is famed in the Baul world as the most honoured of mahajans. The lines of his songs are counted as a commentary on Baul doctrine, and his role in the preaching and spread of the Baul ideology is of great importance.
Bringing the secret lore of the body-centred sadhana of the Baul fakirs out beyond the circle of mystery, Duddu Shah gave it new life. For seekers of doctrine, therefore, Duddu's verses are a focal point of intense attraction.
Duddu Shah took discipleship directly from Lalon himself, and for that reason he had the opportunity to stay a long time at the Lalon akhra. There he came to know and understand Lalon's creed and path directly, and the knowledge of those experiences he expressed in his writings in simple, accessible language.
In 1841 he was born in Beltala village of Harinakundu upazila in Jhenaidah district (greater Jessore). His real name was Dabiruddin; after taking initiation into the Fakiri creed he came to be called Dud Mandal or Duddu Shah. His father, Mohammad Jharu Mandal, was a farmer, as was his uncle Jindar Ali Biswas. Duddu Shah was the youngest of his brothers; his other brothers were named Madhu Mandal, Piru Mandal and Gorai Mandal.
Duddu Shah finished his primary education at the school of Srinath Biswas of Harishpur. At the same time he learned Arabic and Persian from the local ulama and moulvis; besides, from Madandas Goswami of Harishpur he learned Sanskrit. Many books written in Sanskrit, and the Chaitanya Charitamrita, it is known, were committed to memory by him.
At one time there was a settlement of many sadhus and darweshes at Harishpur, near his village. Coming into contact with them, Duddu Shah became a man of faith, and drawn to the Fakiri creed he began searching for the true guru. In search of a guru he travelled through Jessore, Nadia and other regions, and during this time he entered into debates on religion with the ulama and scholars of various places. At last he came to Kushtia, then the sub-divisional town of Nadia district. Arriving here, he learned of Lalon Shah's songs and philosophy and met Lalon Shah. At that time Lalon Shah lived at the akhra in Cheuria, Kushtia. At this akhra Duddu first sat with Lalon in religious discussion; later the discussion turned into a debate, and at last, defeated by Lalon's arguments, he took discipleship of Lalon. In one of his songs Duddu Shah tells of this:
I came to argue, and ended by taking the vow,
worthless as I am, I know no lord but Lalon Sai.
Inspired thereafter by Lalon's ideals, he composed a great many songs. Many consider Duddu Shah a worthy successor of Lalon Shah.
In later times these songs came to be known as Duddu Shah's songs. In them we find the tale of devoted sadhana toward the Creator. In his view, without single-minded devotion no attainment is possible; for it, meditation is required. Human character is two-sided: one side good, the other evil. For evil deeds one ought to beg the Creator's forgiveness — and that too is found in his songs.
The Baul faith and the Vaishnav faith are not one, O brother,
the Baul creed has nothing in common with Vaishnavism. ॥Vaishnavs are a particular sect:
through the five truths they do their chanting and penance,
ever performing their rites with beads of tulsi. ॥The Baul worships Man
where He himself resides,
steeped in boundless nectar — with woman as his companion. ॥In eternal Nityananda two persons become one:
Birbhadra and Biradamoni, they say —
in the two I hear the lords of two different creeds. ॥The practice of the darweshi Baul —
Birbhadra knows that stream;
through the words of the darwesh Lalon Sai
Duddu knows it too. ॥
He spent the last part of his life at Beltala, his paternal home. In 1911, it is believed, he passed away, and he was buried at the paternal homestead in Beltala.
Written works:
- Lalon Charit
- Nure Mohammadi
