Tansen - The Epitome of Music

Tansen's Tomb in Gwalior
Mia Tansen

The one and only name which stands out still after hundreds of years of Dhrupad Gaayki is Sangeet Saamrat Taansen. The moghul emperor Akbar just bowed down to this genius. Akbar had sent his army to the king Ramachandra Baghela to get Mia Tansen into his court. Tansen was granted the highest rank in the court of Akbar.

An anecdote - Some of the musicians who were jealous of Tansen, conspired and asked him to sing Raag Deepak so that the heat creates uncomfort for Tansen (After all, human beings !!) . All the lamps were lit with this raag and the heat in the atmosphere was too much to tolerate. Tansen asked his daughter to sing Raag Malhar and the impact was unbelievable !!! The atmosphere became cool. That was the power of Tansen.

Another incident - Akbar was praising Tansen and was saying, you sing so well, obviously your Guru must be really good. Tansen nodded his head in agreement. Akbar said, why don't we get your Guru Swami Haridas into our court and organize for a baithak? Tansen said, no point, he won't come. If you want to listen to his music, you need to go where he is. Akbar agreed to this with bit of uncomfort feeling. Mughal Badshah and going to someone's house to listen to music?? Well, They reached the hermitage of Haridas and they could hear Haridas singing. Akbar was about to get in, Tansen stopped him and told him that he do not like getting disturbed when he is singing. The Badshah stood outside the hermitage for couple of hours listening to Haridas's music and the king was in tears !!! He could not control his emotions after listening to his singing. Akbar told Tansen that he is nothing in front of his Guru. Akbar was curious to know the reason on how Guru Haridas's music is more sweeter and mellow than Tansen's music. Tansen answered "The reason is simple. I sing for you, whereas my Guru sings for the God"

Tansen was introduced to Sufi Saint Salim Chisti by Akbar. This widened the horizons of Tansen.

Tansen created many Raagas. Darbari Kanada, Mia ki Thodi, Mia Malhar were just the tip of the iceberg. We are really fortunate that Tansen lived in the same as we are living and he sang and composed so many compositions which till today are held in high esteem in the world of Hindusthani classical music.

Just a remembering all these as it is his 423rd Anniversary today.

Thanks to Sunaad for pushing all these thoughts in my mind.