The Raja Hasan Blog

From past few weeks I have been intrigued with one member who visits the website regularly and leaves mocking messages for Raja Hasan fans. He has been writing some sarcastic comments comparing Raja with “Miyan Tansen”. So I thought it is time now to pay a tribute to Miyan Tansen as I feel it will be helpful for our young music fans and learners from all around the world to know who Miyan Tansen was. It will be a tribute plus also a good learning exercise. So with due thanks to the mockery man for bringing Miyan Tansen to our attention, we would like to start a tribute to the great maestro of all times.

On the funnier side, friends please do contact “He” if you want to misuse this person’s IP address. He will be more then happy to provide you a “sbcglobal” IP that is being used with different usernames. Let’s have some fun every time a new IP address/ Username is used by this person. After all we Raja fans are entitled to some fun. Isn’t?

Ok back to the tribute.
Miyan Tansen was born somewhere between 1493 and 1506. He is considered “THE” greatest musician in music especially in Hindustani Classical Music.

Miyan Tansen was one of the Navratans at the court of Emperor Akbar and the title “Miyan” was given to Tansen by Emperor Akbar himself. The meaning of word “Miyan” is “a learned man.” Tansen hailed from Gwalior and for some time he also learned music from Swami Haridas especially dhrupad style of singing. (Maybe Rahul can throw some light on Dhrupad style of singing so watch out for his articles.)

From Swamy Haridas, Tansen acquired not only his love for dhrupad but also gained knowledge in composing in the local language. Tansens style highlighted the bhakti tradition which was fomenting a shift from Sanskit to Brajbhasa or Hindi.
In later years when Tansens’s father died, Tansen went to Mohammad Ghaus who became his spiritual mentor.

Tansen’s name is found amoung the Mureeds (Fans) of the Shuttari Tariqat – a Sufi spiritual lineage founded by Shaik Muhammad Ghaus of Gwalior. Tansen was also buried near his master’s mausoleum. At that time the prominent disciples of a saint were buried near the master’s mausoleum.

Tansen joined the court of the King Ramachandra Beghela of Rewa, India. It is this place that Mughal emperor had heard him first and then sent his emissary Jalaluddin Qurchi to Ramachandra to bring Tansen to his court. Tansen then joined the court of Emperor Akbar as one of his Navratans (9 Jewels). It is also said that when Tansen joined the court of Emperor Akbar, he was gifted with 100,000 gold coins (One Lakh)

The fort of Fatehpur Sikri is where Tansen had his tenure. Right near the Emperor’s chambers, a pond was built with a small island right in the middle where the musicians use to perform. Miyan Tansen use to render different ragas at different times of the day at this place.

Miyan Tansen possessed such musical qualities that it is said that when he sang his Raga Megh Malhar, it use to bring rains. There are also stories that Miyan Tansen could start fires with raga Deepak. It is also said Miyan Tansen once melted a rock while rendering one of his ragas.
Once a wild elephant was captured but as it was fierce and could not be tamed, Miyan Tansen was asked to sing by Emperor Akbar and it was no surprise to see that the elephant calmed down once Miyan Tansen started singing and Emporor Akbar was able to ride on him.

Several popular raga compositions by Tansen have become mainstays of the Hindustani tradition. These ragas are called: Miyan ki Todi, Miyan ki Malhar, Miyan ki Mand, Miyah ki Sarang. He is the creator of major ragas like Darbari Kanada, Darbari Todi and Rageshwari.

Miyan Tansen is said to have died in the year 1586 and it is said that along with Emperor Akbar, all of his court attended his funeral procession. Though the exact year of his death is still not known as some say he died in the year 1589 but he is buried in the mausoleum of his Sufi guru Shaik Muhammad Ghaus in Gwalior. Every December in Gwalior an annual festival is held to celebrate Miyan Tansen.

Now some sarcastic minds have prompted Raja fans to compare Raja with Tansen. We Raja fans are very thankful to them. May they all turn out to be true! For us, Raja is a modern Tansen as he knows the art to melt our hearts. We pray that may God bring a day when Raja will really be compared as the modern Tansen and may his name be read in History for future generations to come. Amen!
“Mudai lakh bura chahe toh kya hota hai
Wahi hota hai joh manzoor e Qudaa hota hai”

- Raffu