Tansen (c. 1500-1586 CE) was a supremely gifted Indian composer, musician and vocalist, most known to the world for his position as one the ‘Navaratnas’ (‘Nine Jewels’) in the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar.  His compositions are today fundamental in Northern Indian Classical music, and when the Nizam of Hyderabad wished to honour Hazrat Inayat Khan, he named him ‘the second Tansen.’

In spite of his important influence, though, little is certain about Tansen’s life.  He was a student, musically and spiritually, of Swami Haridas, and also was close to the Sufi mystic and musician Mohammad Ghaus of Gwalior. There are stories of miracles — that by singing Raag Malhar, traditionally associated with the monsoon season, Tansen brought rain, and that by singing Raag Dipak, associated with fire, all the lamps in the palace were kindled. The following story, told by Hazrat Inayat Khan, seems to turn history upside down, since it has Tansen going from Akbar’s court to the kingdom of Rewa, when most sources say that Tansen’s career began in Rewa, and he went from there to Akbar’s court.  But when a Sufi tells a story, it is not intended to teach us history, but has another purpose — as this tale clearly demonstrates.

When Tansen, the great singer, left the court, hurt by a remark of the emperor Akbar, he went to Rewa, a state in central India. When the maharajah of Rewa heard that Tansen was coming he was perplexed, wondering in what way he should honour him.

A chair was sent for Tansen, to bring him to the palace, and when he arrived there, Tansen expected the maharajah at least to receive him at the door. So, as soon as he got out of the chair he said, “Where is the maharajah?”  And the man whom he asked replied, “Here is the maharajah!” pointing to the one who had been carrying the chair all through the city.

Tansen was most touched, and he said, “You could not have given me a greater reward.” From that day Tansen saluted him with his right hand, saying, “This hand will never salute anyone else all my life.”

And so it was. Tansen would not even salute the emperor with his right hand. Such was the appreciation, the acknowledgement of talent in ancient India.