Legends and anecdotes reg famous musicians

Every one has heard about the great Tansen,one of the scholars who adorned King Akbar's court.He was a famous composer and a gifted vocalist. Many would have known that he brought rains with Raga Megh Malhar and put lights to flame by the rag "Deepak'.
Recently I happened to read a book written by Natyacharya Balachandra Raju on some of the great musicians.
I was impressed by two anecdotes about Tansen.
1.Many people were jealous of Tansen and wanted to drive him away from the court of Akbar. As per customs prevalent in those days a competition was arranged with an intention to defeat Tansen.The new vidwan asked Tansen to sing first so that he could assess his style and excel him later.
Tansen began to sing. All the doves sitting on the window sills came into the Durbar without any fear and wandered here and there. Tansen took the japamala from Akbar's hands and threw it on the neck of one of the doves.Now all the doves flew away.
Akbar himself was very much shocked and asked Tansen"Why did you do like this? The Japamala is very precious to me."
Tansen replied" I sang the raga "Kapota Priya( liked by kapotas( doves).That is why all the doves came in. Now let the opponent sing Kapota priya once again, enchant the doves and get back the mala."
The new Vidwan said," It is absurd and ridiculous that he brought in the doves by his music.
He had used some trick to get doves inside the Durbar. NowTansen is afraid that he may lose the contest. That is why he is trying to divert your attention.
Tansen said,"Let the opponent sing . If he is unable to bring the doves, I will once again sing the raga and get the mala back."
The opponent used so many prayogas, sang in all the ways he could. But doves didn't come.
Once again Tansen started singing Kapota Priya Raga. All the doves entered and Tansen could get bck the mala.

2.The jealousy people were angry against Akbar also who supported Tansen. This time they planned to kill both Akbar and Tansen.But through some spies the king was able to detect the plot. He arrested the criminals and gave death sentence. But Tansen said that he would implement the death sentence.The king and other ministers were amazed and expressed doubt as to how an artist, who used to be very kind hearted could implement a death sentence.
But Akbar was sure that the criminals could never escape the punishment. If Tansen could not do it, he would implement the sentence by hanging them.

On the appointed day all the four criminals and Tansen were locked inside a glass chamber visible to everybody.As Akbar and all ministers in the hall were watching Tansen started singing with a Tambur in his hand. As it was a glass hall, people outside could only see what was happening they could not listen to the music.Yet Akbar was wondering " Tansen

has undertaken to kill the criminals, but he is giving a musical treat.'He could only see the criminals totally absorbed in Tansen's music.Half an hour was over.The criminals were totally captivated by Tansen's music.Suddenly Akbar saw Tansen keeping his tambur down and he came out of the glass hall. The security guards went inside and confirmed that all the criminals were dead and blood was seen oozing out of their mouths.What did Tansen do?

Now it was Tansen's turn to give explanation.
Tansen started singing the raga called" PASAND'-meaning'which is liked'.The raga is a 'panchama varja' raga in which the swara 'PA' will be absent.Tansen brought into all the delicate patterns of the raga and the criminals listened to their heart's content.As they were almost lost in music, Tansen suddenly introduced the swara 'PA',which should not be used. The introduction of apaswara shocked all the criminals .They stared at Tansen, their eye balls did not move,blood stated oozing out of their mouths and all fell dead.


Just as pure music leads to great joy, the apaswara could just take away the life.
Perhaps this is the power of music---- of course by great musicians like Tansen.
Whether the anecdote is real or imaginary, we don't know. But music is really soul stirring.



Now a days there are no Tansens,no rasikas of the highest order.We are also accustomed to listening apaswaras in between.
We can surely attend the concerts and be 100% sure of returning home alive.


Jayasala42

 

Come November,Chennai city with its mild climate and sharp drizzles gets prepared to welcome the grand music season and wears a festive look.In India nothing is free from legends. Music ic no exception.
The life line of music is Saptha swaras and here are two legends associated with saptha swaras.



1.Parasakthi,the Goddess created Sun,moon, and the aakash and ruled the entire universe.
When she needed some company, she created a form-Vishnu. But she had only sahodara Bhava towards Vishnu. Next she created a male form with 4 heads, that was Brahma.Third time she created another figure with 5 heads,namely Shiva.When Shakti wanted to marry Shiva, he told her that as she had been created by her she was like mother to him and that in the next birth he would marry her as Daksha's daughter.

As Shakti started doing penance ,with her grace ,some thrilling sounds arose from Shiva's five heads. Brahma Deva was greatly fascinated by these sounds and prostrated before the sounds while Shiva was still in meditation. Brahma Deva named these sounds as 'SWARAS' derived from two words SWAYAM+ RAMYAM=Swaram,
As they were automatically(swayam) born and as they were very beautiful( Ramyam) the sounds were known as SWARAS.
Shiva is Naada Roopam. As Shiva himself was created by Shakti she is hailed as Naadha Roopini.




2.There was a sage called'Shira Nasi'' doing penance on the banks of Ganges.His nostrils were formed on the top of his head and hence he was known as shira Nasi.With his vedic knowledge and strength of penance he acquired a very beautiful form.Saptha kannikas in the forest wanted to marry him but hesitated to approach him as he was shining with brilliance due to 'tapas'.
Sage Narada advised the ladies" Shira Nasi Sage would be on meditation before sun rise daily for 72 mts immersing himself into Ganges. All of you go to the river during the period and be taking bath. As the sage opens his eyes he would see all of you taking bath. Immediately insist on him to marry all of you, since he had seen you while taking bath"
Saptha Kannikas acted accordingly and forced Shira Nasi to marry them all.They gave birth to 7 daughters who became Saptha Swara Devatas later.
Jayasala42