Latest news with #Tansen
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
True Art Takes Us Beyond Medium
Shastras mention 64 art forms , including dance, music, painting, sculpture, and others. But what is the deeper purpose behind these diverse expressions? The Sanskrit word for art is kala, which means 'that which brings out or manifests joy.' Thus, the purpose of art is to evoke joy and uplift the heart. However, every art needs a locus - the artist. Without an artist, art cannot manifest. So, the two main aspects are: art and the artist. Once, a deeply moved listener asked a performing artist, "Your music touches our hearts - but what touches yours?" The artist replied, "Money." If the heart is driven only by wealth or applause, the artist can neither soar high nor journey far. What truly matters is the intent behind the art. No matter how gifted an individual may be, their greatness is ultimately measured by the height of their altar of devotion and dedication. Attitude determines altitude. If the driving force is limited to wealth or recognition, true greatness remains out of reach. There is a well-known story about the legendary musician Tansen. He once told Emperor Akbar, "My Guru, Swami Haridas, is far greater than i am." Curious, Akbar visited the saint, for Swami Haridas would not enter the royal court. After listening to his music, Akbar admitted, "Your guru is indeed greater. But why?" Tansen replied, "Because he sings for God, while I sing for you!" Greatness lies in what resides in the heart - nothing can be greater than God. Why should our dedication be to Him? Because He is the very source of all creation, and creation cannot exist without knowledge. When our devotion is offered at this supreme altar, the art is transformed. An altar in life, alters life. The Valmiki Ramayan and Tulsi Ramayan are timeless masterpieces; composed and sung by great saints whose legacy continues to inspire generations. When graced by divinity, an art form transcends time and becomes immortal. Without this divine touch, all else is fleeting - here today, gone tomorrow. So, what truly lies in the heart of an artist ? The answer is hidden in the very spelling of the word 'heart'. If 'He' is in the 'art,' then everything is present. He - Paramatma - is the heart of all arts. When we admire a beautiful painting and merely note the clever blending of colours, joy remains on the surface. Similarly, when we focus only on notes, beats, or rhythm in music, pleasure stays at the sensory level. But the highest joy arises when the artist dissolves into the very source from which all creation flows. The truest art, the most elevated artist, and refined medium help transcend the form. As Swami Chinmayananda said, "Music is the ornamentation of silence - where words take us beyond sound." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 새로 나온 '실손보험' 최적가 가입추천! "월 보험료 줄이고, 보장은 더 든든하게"... 굿리치 (등록번호:제2006038313호) 가입하기 Undo True art takes us beyond the medium, words, and mind itself. It all comes down to who resides in the heart of the artist. Who shines through - the ego of the artist, or the presence of the Divine? A person reaches perfection - realisation - by worshipping the Lord through their art. The essence of devotional music lies in its ability to connect us to the one unchanging Reality. The focus must be on Divine consciousness from which all sound, rhythm, and artistic expression emerge, not merely on the techniques of raag and taal. Ultimately, the one who leads us beyond the medium, music, and mind is the guru. Authored by: Swami Tejomayananda Swamiji is from Chinmaya Mission Yoga Beyond Asanas: Ira Trivedi Mantena on the ancient practice, its hidden potential and the connection with mind & soul
Indian Express
7 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Bid to snatch control of Tansen's tomb: How a 16th century monument in Bhopal has been repeatedly pulled into litigation
Madhya Pradesh High Court last week rejected a plea by a private person to allow religious and cultural practices at the tomb of the Sufi saint Hazrat Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus in Gwalior, a protected monument of historical importance. The grave of Tansen, the legendary musician of Emperor Akbar's court, is located on the premises of the monument. Sufi tradition describes Tansen as a disciple of Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus. The monument 'deserves to be protected with utmost care and caution', and it would be a 'national loss' if it loses 'its originality, sanctity and vitality', a Bench of Justices Anand Pathak and Hirdesh said on June 16. The monument in Gwalior The tomb, built some time after the death of Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus in 1563, has significant architectural and historical value and is considered one of the most notable structures of Akbar's reign (1556-1605). The tomb is listed as a Centrally Protected Monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, and has been maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) since 1962. The stone building 'anticipates trends yet to become popular in Mughal architecture, especially in eastern India', art historian Catherine B Asher wrote in her book, The New Cambridge History of India: Architecture of Mughal India (1992). The square building is topped by a large, squat dome and is flanked by chhatris, giving it a multi-tiered appearance. Around the tomb's central chamber runs a veranda with intricate stone screens, a design influence traced to Gujarat, where the saint had spent considerable time. These elements prefigure later monuments, such as the tomb of Shaikh Salim Chishti at Fatehpur Sikri. Tansen is buried next to the tomb of the Sufi pir. His association with the site has deepened its cultural resonance, and for decades has attracted both pilgrims and music lovers. Petition and petitioner The petition was filed by Syed Sabla Hasan, who claimed to be the Sajjada Nashin, or spiritual caretaker of the tomb, as well as the saint's legal heir. He sought permission to perform religious and cultural practices at the tomb, including the annual Urs, a commemorative Sufi gathering. Hasan argued that these practices had been carried out for more than four centuries at the site, and that the restrictions on such events were arbitrary and unlawful. The ASI submitted that the petitioners were making false claims and were interfering with the upkeep and protection of the monument. It told the HC that unlawful activities were being carried out on the premises — including installation of electrical wiring, lights, tents, and even furnaces — nails were being hammered into walls, and a situation was being created that hampered tourism and undermined the structural integrity, and cultural and architectural dignity of the monument. The court agreed with the ASI that religious and cultural events could not be permitted at a Centrally Protected Monument. The court held that neither the petitioner nor his family had any legal right or title to the tomb, and that the matter had been litigated and settled multiple times over the past three decades. The ASI and the Union of India have consistently maintained that the matter had attained finality in law. * Back in 1995, one Peerzada Syed Ali Hasan filed a civil suit in the court of the Civil Judge Class-II, Gwalior, seeking ownership of the tomb. * After the court dismissed the 1995 suit, Ali Hasan's two sons and two daughters filed a First Appeal, which too, was dismissed in 2004 by a detailed judicial order. * In 1996, Ali Hasan's son Syed Muhammad Hasan filed a separate civil suit, which was dismissed in 1999. * A civil revision petition was filed against that ruling, which was rejected in 2002. * A second appeal was rejected in 2015. * A review petition filed before the Supreme Court was dismissed in 2016. Despite this long history of failures, Syed Sabla Hasan filed a case before the Madhya Pradesh Waqf Tribunal in 2019, seeking the ownership and religious control over the tomb. In 2022, this plea was dismissed, with the tribunal ruling in favour of the ASI.
Indian Express
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Tansen's grave ‘deserves to be protected': Madhya Pradesh HC denies nod for religious, cultural activities at Gwalior monument
Observing that the monument that houses the grave of Tansen, one of the 'nine jewels' in the court of Mughal emperor Akbar, deserves to be protected, the Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed an appeal seeking permission to perform religious and cultural activities at the tomb of Hazrat Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus in Gwalior. The tomb of Hazrat Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus was declared a protected monument of national importance in 1962 under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. A Bench of Justice Anand Pathak and Justice Hirdesh noted that the monument 'deserves to be protected with utmost care and caution' and no such activities, as sought by the appellant, can be permitted. '…Constitutional vision and constitutional morality ought to prevail over personal and vested interest. It (the monument) deserves to be protected with utmost care and caution, and no activity as sought by the petitioner can be permitted, lest the monument lose its originality, sanctity and vitality. It would be a national loss then,' the court said on June 16. According to court documents, the premises of the monument contain the graves of musical maestro Tansen and Sufi saint Hazrat Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus, both from the 16th century. The court documents said Tansen was remembered for his classical Dhrupad compositions. 'Dhrupad, an epic form of music, is considered to be invented by Raja Man Singh Tomar (ruler of Gwalior), in medieval times,' the court said, while reasoning that the monument where he is laid to rest deserves preservation and protection. The court was dealing with an appeal by one Syed Sabla Hasan, who claimed that he is the Sajjada Nashin (spiritual caretaker) and the legal heir of Hazrat Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus. It was argued on his behalf that various religious and cultural practices had been performed at the dargah premises for over 400 years and that their discontinuation by the Archaeological Survey of India, following the declaration of the site as a protected monument, was arbitrary and illegal. The court stressed that 'it is the duty of the ASI and the district administration to protect this monument of national importance with utmost care and strictness' so that the monument carrying history and culture can be preserved.
