Miyan Tansen

Born - 1506
Died - 1589
Achievements - Miyan Tansen, who was one of the nine jewels or navaratnas in the court of Emperor Akbar, is regarded as the greatest of all musicians India has ever produced till date. He has composed several ragas and is said to have played a pivotal role in crating the classical genre of north Indian music we know today.

Miyan Tansen, who was one of the nine jewels or navaratnas in the court of Emperor Akbar, is regarded as the greatest of all musicians India has ever produced till date. Normally referred to as just Tansen, he is said to have played a pivotal role in crating the classical genre of north Indian music we know today. Read on to know more about Tansen, who was born in a Hindu family at Behat near Gwalior in the Madhya Pradesh state.

Makarand Pande, the father of Tansen, was a poet and had originally named his son Ramtanu. Having an inclination towards music from childhood, this boy started taking a musical training under the legendary Swami Haridas from the Indian holy city of Brindavan and later became a singer in the court of King Ramchandra of Reva. From here, he was passed on to the court of Emperor Akbar as a gift. And it was here that the life history of Miyan Tansen changed forever.

The title Miyan was conferred upon Tansen by Emperor Akbar and he embraced Islam at the hands of the great Sufi mystic Shaykh Muhammad Ghaus of Gwalior, who acted as both his teacher and spiritual guide. Apart from his own guru, Tansen is said to have no equal during his time. Infact his voice was so melodious that it's often said to have created miracles while Tansen was singing. For instance, Tansen could beckon the rains by Raga Megh Malhar and light up fires with Raga Deepak.

The legendary Miyan Tansen is said to have composed numerous ragas, which have continued to remain cornerstones in the Indian classical music repertoire ever since. Some of them are Miyan ka Bhairav known today as Bhairav, Darbari Todi, Darbari Kanada, Miyan ki Todi, Miyan ki Malhar, Miyan ki Mand, Miyan ki Sarang and Rageshwari. Almost every gharana or school strives to trace its origin to him, though some try to go further back to poet Amir Khusrau.