Maharashtra Board Class 9 English Unit Four Chapter 4.5 Tansen PDF Download

Tansen

Warming Up!

(a) Indian Classical music consists of many Ragas. Find out from an expert or the internet, the names of at least 10 Ragas and the time when they are sung to produce greater effect.

(b) Archaic words are those that are no longer used in a language, but sometimes their usage adds a historical or old-times flavour to a piece of writing.

Examples: behold – look, afeared – frightened, forsooth – indeed, hither – this place

Now find out some archaic words from your mother tongue or another language that you are proficient in and write down at least ten of them, and against each, their modern equivalent and meaning in English.

Archaic Language

(c) There are many legends about the 'nine gems' in Akbar's Court. These are popular tales and they may not have a historical basis. Can you name some of the nine gems and the stories associated with them?

Teacher's Note

Ragas are special music patterns in Indian music. Each raga has its own feelings and time to play. Like how we sing happy songs on happy days, Ragas are also sung at special times.

Exam Trick

Remember: Archaic means old words. Just like your grandmother uses old words, archaic words are old English words that we don't use much now. Find examples in your history books to understand better.

Points to Remember

Indian Classical music has many ragas with different names.
Each raga is best sung at a particular time of day or season.
Archaic words are old words we don't use in modern language.
Akbar's nine gems were his nine best people in the court.
These stories about the gems are legends, not always true history.

Tansen, the singer, in great Akbar's Court
Won great renown; through the Badshahi Fort
His voice rang like the sound of silver bells
And Akbar ravished heard. The story tells
How the King praised him, gave him many a gem,
Called him chief jewel in his diadem.
One day the singer sang the Song of Fire,
The Deepak Râg, and burning like a pyre
His body burst into consuming flame.
To cure his burning heart a maiden came
And sang Malhar, the song of water cold,
Till health returned, and comfort as of old.
— Mighty thy Teacher must be and divine, —
Great Akbar said; — magic indeed is thine,
Learnt at his feet. — Then happy Tansen bowed
And said, — Beyond the world's ignoble crowd,

ignoble : not worthy

celestial : heavenly

Teacher's Note

Tansen was a famous singer in India's history. His songs were so magical that people believed they could control fire and water. This shows how powerful music and singing can be in our culture.

Exam Trick

Remember: Deepak Raga made Tansen's body burn like fire. Malhar Raga cooled him down like water. So Ragas can show different feelings – hot and cold, sad and happy.

Points to Remember

Akbar gave Tansen many gems and praise for his great singing.
Tansen sang Deepak Raga and his body felt like it was burning with heat.
A maiden sang Malhar Raga to cool him down with its water-like feeling.
Tansen's teacher was very powerful and spiritual.
Tansen told Akbar that his teacher lived in the Himalayan mountains.

Scorning its wealth, remote and far-away
He dwells within a cave of Himalay. —
— Could I but see him once, — desired the King,
— Sit at his feet awhile, and listening
Hear his celestial song, I would deny
My state and walk in robes of poverty. —
Then said Tansen. — As you desire, Huzoor,
Indeed 'twere better as a slave and poor
To come; for he, lifted above the things
Of earth, disdains to sing to earthly kings. —
Long was the road, and Akbar as a slave
Followed Tansen who rode towards the cave
High in the mountains. At the singer's feet
They knelt and prayed with supplication sweet:
— Towards thy shrine, lo, we have journeyed long,
O Holy Master, bless us with thy song! —
Then Ostad, won by their humility,
Sang songs of peace and high felicity;
The Malkous Raga all ecstatic rang
Till birds and beasts, enchanted as he sang,
Gathered to hear, o'er Akbar's dreaming soul
He felt the waves of heavenly rapture roll,
But, as he turned to speak his words of praise,
Ostad had vanished from his wondering gaze.
— Tell me, Tansen, what theme this is that holds
The soul enchanted, and the heart enfolds
In high delight — ; and, when he knew the name,
— Tell me, — again he said, — could you the same
Theme sing to lure my heart to paths untrod? —
— Ah no, to thee I sing; he sings to God. —

- Hazrat Inayat Khan

supplication : humble request

felicity : great happiness; also, pleasing style

theme : here it means a musical composition.

Teacher's Note

Ostad was Tansen's teacher and a very holy man. When he sang, even animals came to listen. This story teaches us that true music comes from the heart and from love for God, not just from wanting to please a king.

Exam Trick

Remember: Tansen sings to please the king. Ostad sings to please God. So the teacher's singing is more powerful because it comes from the soul. This is the main lesson of the poem.

Points to Remember

Ostad's singing had magical power that made birds and animals come to listen.
Akbar felt heavenly happiness when Ostad sang the Malkous Raga.
Ostad disappeared suddenly after singing, which shows he was very spiritual.
Tansen's singing could not have the same effect as Ostad's singing.
True and powerful music comes from singing to God, not just to please kings.

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