NOT many people know that music maestro, Tansen, who became known to everybody during the rule of Emperor Akbar (1543-1605) in the subcontinent, was indebted to a Muslim saint, Hazrat Sheikh Mohammad Ghaus of Gwalior, for his phenomenal achievements in music.
Tansen was born in 1520 into a Hindu Brahmin family. His father, Makaranda Pande, used to sing bhajans and mythological hymns in temples. Tansen displayed a strong proclivity towards music and singing from an early age. He would accompany his father to temples and learn bhajans from his father and other pujaris (caretakers of the temple). He would practise the same songs on the streets in front of his friends. Listening to his mellifluous voice, people would come rushing to appreciate his talent. But his urge to acquire the knowledge of music from a professional ustad (music teacher) would keep him restless.
He would go to different ustads, but they would scornfully send him away for being poor and unable to afford the high cost of music learning, as in those days only rajas and maharajas could afford music as their pastime. Disappointed, he would keep singing in the company of his friends.
Very often Tansen would attend the majlis (sittings) of Hazrat Sheikh Mohammad Ghaus, a renowned saint of his time. The people of Gwalior highly respected this saint and would benefit from his knowledge and barakah (spiritual blessings). In his majlis, the small boy Tansen would quietly sit in a corner, with his head resting on his knees, intently listening to the religious and spiritual discourse of the Sheikh.
One day the saint asked Tansen: “Why do you come here, you should go to a temple?”
“I like your teachings very much,” humbly replied the boy.
“What do you do?” again asked the saint.
“I sing songs.”
Pleased with the boy’s answer, the Sheikh asked him to sing for him. The Sheikh himself often listened to Qawwalis and religious songs and knew a lot about Arabic and Persian music. The boy sung a beautiful bhajan in his sweet voice, which impressed the Sheikh very much. Knowing his financial constraints, the Sheikh took the responsibility for paying his expenses and asked him to learn music from a proper tutor. He showered blessings on him in the following words: “May Allah bless you with a unique music talent, to be remembered by one and all, now and later.”
The boy went to Swami Haridas, who, at that time, was regarded as the music genius of India. While learning from him, Tansen continued benefiting from the Sheikh as well. Soon he touched the heights of fame and glory in music, which captured the attention of Emperor Akbar. He invited him to his court. Akbar, despite being illiterate, was a connoisseur of music and fine art. He immediately recognized the great talent in Tansen and made him one of the Nau Ratans (nine gems) of his court.
Akbar made Tansen leader of a group of musicians in his court to enjoy his music whenever he pleased. Tansen composed over 1,000 compositions of raga and ragnis. Some of his ragas and ragnis such as Darbari Kanada, Darbari Todi and Mian ki Malhar are still considered as basics of classical and semi-classical music. Tansen was not only a great musician and composer, but his songs had a poetic and saintly touch to them as well.
As he reached his glory, it is said, Tansen accepted Islam at the hands of his Sheikh. This caused a great stir in the Hindu community. They alleged that Tansen was forcibly converted. Tansen, however, in the presence of several thousand Hindus, declared that he accepted Islam at his own volition and will, and his talent and belief was nothing but the blessings of his Sheikh. Acclaimed as the greatest musician of India, Emperor Akbar bestowed upon him the title Mian Tansen.
Tansen’s ragas represent different moods and are capable of achieving miraculous feats — at this is what his contemporaries believed in. It is said, if he played raga Malhar, it would rain. And the lamps in the court of the emperor would light up when he played raga Deepak. This great Indian musician lived as a legend not only in his lifetime, but even in present-day music scenarios, he is hailed as the greatest there ever was.
Tansen died in Fatehpur where Akbar’s court was located. His body was taken to Gwalior and he was buried close to the grave of his religious guide, Hazrat Mohammad Ghaus. There is a tamarind tree next to his tomb, which is said to be as old as the tomb itself.
Every year, in the month of December, the government of Madhya Pradesh arranges a festival at the tomb of this great music maestro. Music lovers from all over India gather here to perform and pay homage to Tansen. The Tansen award — Prashasthi Patra — with cash money of Rs100,000, is also given to the best performer every year.
