OUR INDIAN MUSIC : STORIES AND ANECDOTES— R. Srinivasan Class 10th

About the Author :

R. Srinivasan is a famous writer in English. He has written so many essays, music reviews and short stories. His writings are on social subjects and general topics. He style is very interesting.

About the Lesson :

Music has always had the Power ta stir our emotions deeply. The Best Performances given by most of our truly great musicians have been those when they have sung or played spontaneously, Urged by an inner need to pour out their music. Here is a story about on of our greatest musicians, who underlines this points.

OUR INDIAN MUSIC : STORIES AND ANECDOTES— R. SRINIVASAN, Class-10th, Lession-1 (English)

[1] The History of Indian Music is brimming with stories and anecdotes. Why, the very origin of music and other fine arts is in itself a story. The creator, Brahma, made this Universe. He created a variety of wonderfully beautiful and enchanting things : He created the majestic mountain ranges, the thundering Water-falls and the giant forest trees, as also the nimble deer, the colourful peacock and the exquisite flowers.

What is the Current Electricity| Definition, Example, Equations

He filled his creation with beauty, charm and Splendour. But he was sad. His consort Saraswati asked him the reason for his sadness. Brahma said “It is true I have created all this wonder and charm and showered beauty everywhere . But what is the use ? My children, the Human souls, simply pass them by; this creation seems to be purposeless.”

[2] Saraswati understood his feelings and told him, "Well, let me da my shere in the great work. You have created all this beauty and splendour; I shall create in our children the power to respond to appreciate and be uplifted by them. I shall give them music and other arts which will draw out from deep within them the Capacity to respond to the majestic splendour and exquisite charm and wondrous beauty of all creations."

THE GANGA—Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru (1889-1964), Lesson-3, Solution, Prose, Class-10th.

The great Muse then gave us music and the Other fine arts, in the hope that through them man would understand something of the Divine in his manifestation. A strange story? Yes, but it has a great moral. On of the basic truths on which all Indian art is developed is that art is never made to order; It comes as a result of an irresistible inner urge. We hear a song of Thyagaraja and are enthralled;

We see a majestic temple tower and gaze on It with Wonder; we see some of our ancient sculptured and feel thrilled. Why?  Behind all such works of art is a great spiritual urge. The artists who gave them to us poured their devotion into the shape of such exquisite works of art; it was an act of self Effacing dedication.

[3] A story is told of Tansen, the great bard of Akbar's court, which illustrates the point vividly.Tansen was a great magician and Akbar was very fond of his music. One day When Tansen was in particularly good form Akbar went into ecstasy and asked him, " What is the secret of this sweet concord of notes which takes me out of this world and transports me to Divine regions ? I have not heard anyone else who can thus cast a spell of magic and make a slave of our hearts. You are really wonderful, Tansen."

[4] The great bard replied, " Sir, I am only a humble pupil of my master, Swami Hari Das; I have not mastered even a fraction of the master's technique, grace and charm. What am I beside him whose music is a rhythmic flow of Divine harmony, beauty and charm in sound ?"

" What ! ," the emperor eried " Is there one who can sing better than you ? Is your mester such a great Expert ?"

" I am but a pigmy by my master's side," said Tansen. Akbar was greatly intrigued; he wanted to hear Hari Das But, emperor though he was, he could not get Heri to his court. So he and Tansen went to the Himalayas where in his ashram dwolt the Swami. Several days they stayed at the ashrama; but the swami Hari Das did not sing. Then, one day Tansen sang one of the Songs taught by the Swami Heri Das and deliberately introduced a false note.

It had almost an electric effect on the saint; his aesthetic nature received a rude stock. He turned to Tansen and rebuked him, saying, " what has happened to you, Tansen, that you, a pupil of mine, should commit such a gross blander ?"

[5] He then started singing the piece correctly; the mood came upon him and enveloped him, and he forget himself in the music, which filled the earth and heaven. Akbar and Tansen forget themselves in the sheer melody and charm of the music. It was a unique experience. When the music stopped, Akbar turned to Tansen and said, " You say you learnt music from this saint and yet you seem to have missed the living charm of It all. Yours seems to be but chaff beside this soul stirring music."

" It is true, Sir, " said Tansen. " It is true that my music is wooden and liftless by the side to the living harmony and melody of the master. Bet then there is this difference—I sing to the emperor's.bidding, but my master sings to not man's bidding but only when the prompting comes from his innermost self. That makes all the difference."  

[Glossary]

Words	Meaning in Hindi
Urged by	प्रेरित
Pour out	उड़ेलना, व्यक्त करना
Universe	ब्रह्मांड
Veriety	विविधता, भिन्नता
Enchanting	मोहक, आकर्षक
Majestic	भव्य
Thundering	गर्जन, शोर करते हुए
Giant	विशालकाय
Nimble	तेज, फुर्तीला
Exquisite	अति सुंदर
Creation	रचना, संसार
Splendour	वैभव
Consort	पति या पत्नी
Showered	बिखेरा
Pass them by	उसके पास से गुजर जाना
Sensitive	संवेदनशील
Appreciate	प्रशंसा करना
Capacity	क्षमता
Muse	ज्ञान की देवी
Divine	दैवी
Manifestation	प्रदर्शन
Made to Order	कहने पर बनाया
Irresistible	जिसे रोका न जा सके
Urge	प्रेरणा
Enthralled	मोहित कर दिया
Ancient	प्राचीन
Sculpture	मूर्तिकार
Thrilled	प्रफुल्लित हो जाना
Self-Effacing	विनम्र
Dedication	समर्पण
Bard	संगीतज्ञ, कवि
Illustrates	समझाता है
Vividly	स्पष्ट रूप से
particularly	विशेष रुप से
Ecstasy	अत्याधिक आनंद
Concord	समन्वय