Thus Sang Tansen

Gwalior in UCCN

As per media reports, on World Cities Day (31 Oct), UNESCO added 55 cities (https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/55-new-cities-join-unesco-creative-cities-network-world-cities-day) to UCCN - UNESCO Creative Cities Network, created in 2004 to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development.

The Network of about 350 cities covers seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Media Arts, Film, Design, Gastronomy, Literature and Music.[i]

Cities of India included in UCCN are: Varanasi, Chennai, and Gwalior[ii] – for music; Mumbai for film, Jaipur for crafts and folk art, Kozhikode for literature, and Hyderabad for gastronomy.

Gwalior Gharana: Navaratnas

In a front-page banner on 2^nd November, 2023 Dainik Bhaskar remembered with gratitude the Navaratnas who contributed to Gwalior’s musical heritage: Raja Mansingh, Baiju Bawra, Tansen, Hassu Haddu Khan, Krishna Rao Shankar Pandit, Vishnu Digambar, Raja Bhaiya Poonchwale, Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan, and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.

In a phone interview, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan said: Allah se dua hai ki Gwalior mein ek aur Tansen paida ho.

Tansen in Akbar’s Court

Tansen, the famed musician, was one of the nine gems in Akbar’s Court, and Swami Haridas, the great musician was his Guru. Akbar once teased Tansen: You are a gifted musician, Tansen, but don’t you agree that Swami Haridas is far better than you?

Tansen said, ‘Yes, Lord, my Guru’s performance is way above mine; I sing for you, the Emperor of Hindustan, but my Guru sings for the Lord of the Universe!’

Once Akbar urged him to sing Raag Deepak, and the musician hesitated. Why, what’s the problem? Can’t you sing Raag Deepak, asked the Emperor?

‘I can, Jahanpanah, but I need Saraswati, my daughter to also be by my side when I perform.’

‘Okay, tomorrow, you must sing Raag Deepak in my Court.’

And Tansen did, so mesmerising everyone that no one noticed flames shooting up from different corners of the Court, and not far from the throne. Father and daughter knew the outcome, and the daughter, a talented and trained musician was ready for it. She sang Raag Megh Malhar which brought in drifting moist clouds to douse the flames and prevent a disaster. Such is the power of music!

Swami Haridas, Tansen, and Akbar. 

(Source: wikimediacommons)

Raheem’s Doha in praise of Tansen

Raheem, another of Akbar’s nine gems, had composed the following doha in praise of Tansen:

विधना यह जिय जानिके सेसहि दिये न कान।

धरा मेरु सब डोलते तानसेन कि तान॥

 

Meaning

The Creator has purposely given no ears to Sheshnag (snakes have no ears and can not listen), or else the Earth and the Meru-mountain would tremble dangerously when Sheshnag swung to Tansen’s musical notes.

Tansen Samaroh

Tansen Samaroh is celebrated every year in the month of December in Behat village of Gwalior district, Madhya Pradesh. It is a 4-day musical extravaganza. Artists and music lovers from all over the country gather here to pay tribute to Tansen, the great Indian musical maestro. The event is organized near the tomb of Tansen by the Academy of the department of culture, Government of Madhya Pradesh.  

Postscript

I thank all readers who have appreciated my blog, and particularly those who have offered valuable comments and suggestions in light of which I am adding a few paras.

Tansen’s Name

Tansen’s original name was Tannu Mishra, claimed a reader.  Portals of MP Tourism (mptourism.com) and Tansen Samaroh (tansensamaroh.com) mention that Tansen’s original name was Ramtanu Mishra, and his father’s name was Mukund Mishra.

‘The details of Tansen’s life are shrouded in legend, including his birth name, but he was probably born about 1500—some sources have the date as early as 1492 or as late as 1520—in Gwalior, possibly in the nearby village of Behata. He is said to have been a follower of the poet and musician Swami Haridas and served in the court of Rewa.' (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tansen)

 Akbar persuaded the king of Rewa to send Tansen to his Court. A legend says that Akbar was so pleased with Tansen’s first performance that he gifted one lakh gold coins to the fabled singer.

Tansen became one of the navaratnas (nine gems) of Akbar’s Court and was conferred the honorary title ‘Mian’ (Master or Learned man).

Miraculous Tamarind (Imli) Tree

As per a legend, Tansen, the child, could not speak clearly. As recommended, he chewed the leaves of the tamarind tree in his compound which improved his speech, and bestowed a golden voice and musical talent, too.

Tansen was buried in the mausoleum complex of his Sufi master Shaikh Muhammad Ghaus in Gwalior. Soon, an imli tree grew upon his tomb, and the tree is believed to have magical powers. Visiting musicians and singers do not forget to chew a few leaves after paying their obeisance to Tansen. Pandit Jasraj, among others, is believed to have done this.

Incidentally, the tamarind tree has a life span of two hundred years. Possibly, a new tree grows when the old tree dies!

Dhrupad and other Ragas

Tansen is acknowledged as one of the tallest figures of North Indian or Hindustani Classical Music. He is credited with composing several Ragas, and Dhrupad - derived from Sanskrit Dhruva (fixed like the Pole Star) pada (words or song) - which is popular even today.

***

Comments by M.M. Upadhyay, an author and a dear friend:

मध्य प्रदेश के लिए यह खुशी की बात है कि यूनेस्को के धरोहर संरक्षण की श्रेणी में तानसेन की नगरी ग्वालियर  को चुना गया है। तानसेन को पूरे देश में जाना और पहचाना जाता है । अकबर के वह नवरत्न तो थे ही ।              

संगीत के क्षेत्र में  प्रदेश का बहुत बड़ा योगदान रहा है । कुमार गंधर्व, उस्ताद अलाउद्दीन, तानसेन ,बैजू बावरा, अमजद अली खान, ध्रुपद के देश में एकमात्र स्कूल के संचालक गुंडेचा बंधु  प्रमुख हैं। 

संगीत का देश का सबसे पहला महाविद्यालय भी मध्य प्रदेश में खैरागढ़ महाराज ने प्रारंभ किया था ।              खैरागढ़ 2000 तक मध्य प्रदेश का एक अंग था और अब छत्तीसगढ़ में आ गया है, लेकिन खैरागढ़ घराने के माध्यम से प्रदेश के संगीत प्रेमियों को निरंतर प्राण वायु मिलती रही है।                           

यह भी एक अनूठा संगम ही है की लता मंगेशकर का जन्म इंदौर में हुआ ,किशोर कुमार ने अपना युवा जीवन खंडवा में बताया और मुकेश का भी संबंध मध्य प्रदेश से रहा।     

बात यहीं तक सीमित नहीं है वर्तमान में प्रचलित राग में कई राग हैं जो मध्य प्रदेश में विकसित हुए, जैसे राग भूपाली।  रियासतों के समय में ,जो मध्य प्रदेश में काफी तादाद में थी , सभी राजघराने ने संगीत प्रेमियों को और उस्तादों को संरक्षण दिया । मुख्य रूप से इसमें रीवा खैरागढ़ ग्वालियर आदि प्रमुख हैं।    

संगीत से जुड़ी दो-तीन और विधाएं हैं जिनमें पहली है पंडवानी शैली में महाभारत का गायन , जो छत्तीसगढ़ी अंचल में काफी प्रचलित था ,लेकिन पहली बार एक महिला तीजन बाई ने बाल काल में अपनी ठेठ देसी अंदाज में उसे प्रस्तुत कर इस गायन को एक नई ही पहचान दी । 

टिपानिया बंधु मालवा क्षेत्र में कबीर भजनों के लिए विश्व विख्यात है ।

बुंदेलखंड क्षेत्र में आल्हा ऊदल गायन लोक संस्कृति की रग रग में बसा हुआ है और सैकड़ो वर्ष पश्चात भी वहां के गांव-गांव में आल्हा ऊदल के वीर रस से भरे संगीत गायन को सुना जा सकता है।

            मध्य प्रदेश में यूनेस्को श्रेणी में आने वाले और भी अनेकों स्थान है ,जो आगे आने वाले समय में अपना समुचित स्थान प्राप्त करेंगे ।             

आपके उत्तम ब्लॉग के लिए बधाई।

---

[i] https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/content/about-us

 

[ii] UCCN portal is yet to list Gwalior and Kozhikode, but would do it soon, it is hoped.