Perfecting Youth

Author(s): Udayvallabhvijay
Publisher: Samkit Yuvak Mandal

Page 14

minute, equivalent to that of a resting human heart, provides an environment conducive to creative and intellectual development. [Dr. Thomas Vemy- "The secret life of the unborn child"]
On the order of the emperor, the contest was announced and Tansen started Todi raga. Soon, a herd of deer, having been attracted by the music, arrived there and gathered around Tansen. Tansen put a garland of flowers around the neck of a black deer. As the Raag ended, the herd of deer disappeared into the jungle.
Masters of classical music, who could sing most of the 'Raagas' that exist in the world, Megh Malhar (to bring rain), Dipak Raag (to light the lamp), Todi Raag (attracts deer) were some of them.
Establishing his superiority in music in state after state, Tansen reached Agra and threw his challenge. Akbar had already heard about the fame of Tansen through Abul Fazal. Even the best singer of the Mughal court, Jihan Khan, pretended to have a stomach ache and avoided the contest. Tansen's challenge to the master of music in the Mughal court in the year 1562, was not taken to undermine the musician.
Baiju, modest and selfless, stood before the emperor and admired Tansen's art with all his heart. He
announced that he would sing the Mrig Ranjani Todi with the effect of attracting only that specific deer around whose neck Tansen had put the garland. Baiju started the Mrig Ranjani Todi (nowadays known as
Gujree Todi). Soon, the same deer around whose neck Tansen had put the garland came to Baiju and sat near him in a hypnotized state. Baiju took off the garland from the deer's neck and put it on the neck of the emperor. Dumbfounded, Tansen continued to stare.
However, Akbar freely admired and accepted the merit and greatness of Tansen's art, which reminded him of Baiju and his skill. A desire to see the magnificent contest between the two great masters arose in Akbar's heart.
The emperor asked Baiju to start a Raag which Tansen could reply to. Baiju said, "I should start with Malkosh Raag and after melting the
08
PERFECTING YOUTH