Tansen: the famous musician

In June, SARA BUBBER celebrates World Music Day. The story of Tansen shows how a great teacher recognized the musical talents of a young boy through a prank he played and went on to make him the best musician ever known. Tansen, a music lover and a maestro went through many upheavals and created melodies that still inspire musicians and musical traditions.

This story comes from the center of India, from the city of Gwalior. Many years ago there lived a wealthy poet, Pandit Mishra, and his wife. They were sad that they had no children. A friend asked them to meet a famous saint and musician, Mohammad Ghaus. He blessed the Pandit and tied a holy thread and as predicted, a child was born named Ram Tanu.

Ram Tanu loved going to the forest more than he wanted to read and write. Sitting in the forest, he would imitate bird and animal calls.

Once a group of singers were passing through the forest. Tansen hid himself in some bushes and roared like a tiger. So life-like was the sound that the singers became frightened. When the boy showed himself, the leader of the group praised his tiger-like roar. Encouraged, Tansen made more animal and bird sounds.

The leader was greatly impressed by Tansen’s performance. He was none other than the famous music teacher, Haridas. Haridas went to Ram Tanu’s house and asked his parents if he could train the brilliant sound artist. His parents reluctantly agreed to send their only child away.

Starting with the basics, Ram Tanu mastered the art of singing and creating music called ragas. He earned the name Tansen because of his beautiful melodies. Ten years passed and he got a message to visit his father. As Tansen reached, his father was very ill and his last message for him was to visit Mohammad Ghaus, by whose grace Tansen was born. Tansen remained at home to look after his mother, but within a year she, too, died. Tansen wanted to visit Mohammad Ghaus and he went to Haridas for permission.

Haridas gladly agreed and told him to visit whenever he wanted. Tansen studied under Mohammad Ghaus for three years, developing his musical talent.

During that time Mohammad Ghaus introduced Tansen to the ruler of Gwalior. They became good friends and Tansen would often visit the ruler’s palace, where he would listen to other musicians. As he frequented the palace, Tansen met Hussaini, the queen's attendant and fell in love with her and married her. Tansen and Hussaini stayed with Mohammad Ghaus even after his passing, Mohammad Ghaus left his possessions and his music school to Tansen.

One day, Tansen got a message from the king of a city called Rewa. He was invited to perform. Tansen got a big opportunity and he was given many presents by the king. Once, as the great Emperor of the Mughals, king Akbar visited Rewa, and Tansen sang for him. Akbar was impressed and the king of Rewa asked Tansen to light up king Akbar’s court with his melodies.

Tansen received a royal welcome in the capital city of Agra. Akbar was so impressed by Tansen’s music that he bestowed on him the highest honour of the land. Tansen was included among his navratna, nine jewels—the nine most outstanding talents of the royal court.

Tansen often sang for Akbar, melodies to wake him up, melodies to put him to sleep and soothe his stress from running a mighty kingdom.

Tansen’s music helped calm situations of heated arguments, of taming wild animals who entered the cities and recognised the importance of music. One evening, Emperor Akbar decided to visit Tansen. When the Emperor arrived, Tansen was singing and playing the tanpura. The Emperor sat quietly on the veranda and listened to him. The emperor enjoyed the performance and gave him a diamond necklace. The other jealous courtiers began to plot his downfall in the eyes of the king.

Tansen had a lot of debts to pay off and used the money from selling the necklace. The courtiers brought this to the notice of king Akbar. The king was very angry and banished Tansen until he could bring back the necklace. Tansen, distraught, went to the king of Rewa and told him his problem.

The king asked him not to worry and told him to sing. Tansen sang beautifully. The king of Rewa gave Tansen his ancestral bejewelled sandals. Tansen took the sandals to king Akbar as a repayment.

The jewelled sandals were worth much more than the necklace. The Emperor immediately realized that he had misjudged Tansen and apologised. Tansen became more famous and people flocked to hear him. The courtiers who had plotted, grew even more jealous and they took up another plan. They told the king to ask Tansen to perform Raga Deepak. Raga Deepak was a melody that was so powerful that it could start fires and burn the singer.

Tansen pleaded to the king, but Akbar was adamant. Tansen thought about what he could do and asked for a few weeks for preparation.

Tansen knew that singing Deepak Raga was dangerous, but he also knew that if Megh Raga, which brings the rain, could be sung at the same time, he would be saved from the fury of fire. Tansen decided to train excellent singers, Saraswati, his daughter and Rupa, a disciple of Guru Haridas to sing the Megh Raga.

On the day of the performance, the court was packed with courtiers and royal guests. People had come from far and near to hear Tansen sing the most difficult of all ragas, Deepak Raga. Unlit lamps were placed in the court. Tansen began to perform. At the beginning of the song, the air became warm, thick and lamps lit. It went on to heat the air, fountains boiled and flowers drooped. Everyone broke into sweat. Tansen himself was feverish. He continued and anxiously Saraswati and Rupa started their performance. Wavering first, they began singing perfectly. The perfect notes brought clouds and began thundering. Tansen, now dizzy with heat ran out to welcome the rain. The rain couldn’t cool the fire he brought within himself and he fell sick for two months. Day and night, the king sat beside Tansen and prayed for his well-being. Tansen finally recovered and the jealous courtiers were banished.

After this incident, Tansen became unparalleled, the finest musician that ever lived.

Activity 1 - Fox Ears

This activity allows you to listen intently. You can use this activity to focus on some sounds more than others and practice concentration or use those sounds to soothe you. You can also learn a lot about your environment by doing Fox Ears.

Here is how to do it:

1. Close your eyes.
2. Put your hand behind your ears, cupping them slightly.
3. Listen for the various sounds that you hear.

Try to remember at least 5 sounds and write what they are:

1…………………………………………………  

2.…………………………………………………  

3………………………………………………… 

4…………………………………………………

5…………………………………………………

Activity 2 - Word Search Names of Singers

Here are the names of some of the great singers and musicians of the world. Let us try to find them in this grid
 

Solutions can be found here: https://heartfulness.org/magazine/word-search-names-of-singers