Maluk Das, also called Sant Baba Malukdas lovingly by his devotees, was a devotional poet-saint. He was born in Kada, near Prayagraj in a Kakkar Khatri family in Uttar Pradesh. He joined his family business of selling blankets and other clothing, but it is said that he sold less and gave away goods free of cost to the needy and poor. He received his education in the village school and was married at an early age, but his wife died at the time of her first delivery. He lived a divine and pious life and died in 1682 CE.
As per his followers, devotees, scholars and historians, Maluk Das had several Gurus or teachers including Guru Murari Swami, Devanathaji, Vitthal Dravida, Purushottama and Keel.
Mathuradasa, his nephew, mentions in Parichayi, a poetical biography of Sant Baba Malukdas, that Purushottama, the son of Devanatha was his guru. Maluk Das confirms this in his book, Sukhasagara.
Maluk Das was a reputed sage during the 17th century CE. His message reached as far as Nepal and Kabul. He covered Jagannath, Kalpi, Delhi and many other places on foot. It is said that he saw the rule of four Mughal emperors – Akbar, Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb, in his lifetime.
His important literary works are Jnana Bodha, Ratana Khan, Bhakta Vacanavali, Bhakti Viveka, Brij Lila, Dhruva Carita, Vibhaya Vibhuti, Sukh Sagara, and some sonnets on lyrical poetry. Jnana Bodha is said to be his best work.
Sant Baba Malukdas believed in one God who, he said, was omnipresent, like butter in milk. One of his famous couplets says that a serpent and a bird do no work but Bhagavan feeds them too.
Sant Baba Malukdas sampradaya (sect), or Malukdasi panth, began during the lifetime of the saint himself. The initiation is done in the presence of all the disciples in a special ceremony. After shaving his hair, the initiate goes to his guru who secretly utters the mantra. The goal of initiation is to impart the knowledge of the Supreme. After the ceremony they do kirtana and jagara until midnight. Marriage is not prohibited in the Malukdasi Sampradaya. Only the mahant (Head) has to lead a life of celibacy, though he can live with his wife and children.
Malukdasi panth has its seats in Kada, Jaipur, Gujarat, Multan and Patna. His Samadhi is in Kada, where is said to have realized Brahman; his rosary, wooden sandals (khadaun), and deity (Thakurji) are still said to be there.