The lineage of Baul music is illuminated above all by the figure of Lalon Fakir (also known as Lalon Shah or Lalon Sai), who is widely regarded as the central architect of the tradition. His vast body of songs, numbering in the thousands, has come to form the philosophical and musical backbone of Baul practice, articulating themes of inner realization, the formless Divine, and a radical questioning of social and religious boundaries. Through his compositions, Baul music took on a more defined spiritual vocabulary and a distinctive poetic idiom that continues to guide practitioners and listeners alike.

Around Lalon’s life and work stand several other pivotal figures whose contributions shaped the unfolding of this mystical folk stream. Siraj Sai, remembered as Lalon’s guru, is honored as an early master whose teachings helped form the spiritual soil from which Lalon’s own vision grew. Duddu Shah and Panju Shah are also recognized as important composers and teachers, their songs enriching the shared repertoire and deepening the contemplative and devotional dimensions of Baul expression. In a related current, Kangal Harinath Majumdar and Radharaman Datta are noted for weaving Baul sensibilities into broader currents of social reflection and musical practice.

The tradition did not remain confined to its early rural milieu but continued to evolve through later saint-poets and performers. Bhaba Pagla (also known as Bhoba Pagla) stands out as a major Baul saint and composer, whose ecstatic and unconventional style carried the inner fire of Baul devotion into the modern era. Figures such as Purna Das Baul and Nabani Das Khyapa Baul played a crucial role in bringing Baul music from village gatherings to urban stages and international audiences, transforming a largely local mystical practice into a form of spiritual art recognized far beyond Bengal. Sanatan Das Baul, too, is regarded as a guardian of this living heritage, preserving and transmitting the traditional teachings through performance and discipleship.

Alongside these practitioners, certain cultural interlocutors helped ensure that Baul music would not remain hidden at the margins. Rabindranath Tagore, though not a Baul himself, immersed himself in Baul thought and melody, incorporating Baul tunes and ideas into his own songs and writings. Through this engagement, Baul music entered literary and elite cultural circles, gaining a new visibility while retaining its inner emphasis on direct, experiential spirituality. Scholars such as Kshitimohan Sen further documented and interpreted Baul literature and philosophy, helping to preserve the voices of these wandering minstrels so that their songs could continue to serve as a bridge between diverse religious and philosophical worlds.