Baba Bulleh Shah's Mahiya Tere Vekhan Nu

One of the most loved renditions of the Punjabi Kalaam Mahiya Tere Vekhan Nu is the one by Ali Abbas. Have you ever wondered why Baba Bulleh Shah wrote it?

In the 16th century, the Mughal Emperor Akbar combined the names of the Beas and Ravi rivers to call the land between them the Bari Doab. Deep in this region lies Dipalpur, a stronghold of the Bhatti Rajput clan with stories echoing through time.

Dipalpur’s history holds the story of a battle against the Mongol invasion of India. In 1285, Sultan Balban deflected the Mongol forces here, though the cost was high—his own son’s life.

One of Dipalpur's most remarkable landmarks is the monastery of Lal Jas Raj Dipal. Locals venerate this shrine, which traces back to a legend of family and fate that warns of the power of our words.

Legend says Lal Jas Raj was the son of Raja Dipa Chand, Dipalpur’s founder. Known for his playful spirit, one day he teased his stepmother a bit too much. She cursed him in frustration, telling him to “bury himself.”

Miraculously, the curse took hold, and Dipal’s body began sinking into the earth. His stepmother ran to save him, but only his choti (lock of hair) remained above ground. This spot became a shrine, symbolizing the harm that cruel words can inflict.

The lands of Dipalpur are holy to many faiths and saints. Hazrat Bahawal Haq, known as Bahawal Sher Qalandar, traveled from Baghdad to make Dipalpur his home. Guru Nanak also lived here for a time, making the town sacred to many.

And so, Baba Bulleh Shah's Mahiya Tere Vekhan Nu, in 1578, Shehshah Akbar visited Dipalpur with his son, the future Shehshah Jahangir, to pay respects to the revered Hazrat Farid Ganj Shakar.