Tansen, the legendary singer, was one of the nine jewels in Emperor Akbar’s court. It is said that when he sang Raag Malhaar, it would begin to rain, and when he sang Raag Deepak, lamps would light up.
One day, after a mesmerizing performance of Raag Darbari, Emperor Akbar was spellbound. Praising Tansen, he said, “There has been no greater musician than you, and there never will be.”
Tansen bowed humbly but replied, “Thank you, Your Majesty. However, it is not true that I am the greatest singer. In fact, even now, there is someone whose music far surpasses mine.”
Akbar was astonished. Someone better than Tansen? “Who is this singer? Bring him to my court—I want to hear him. I cannot believe anyone could be greater than you.”
Tansen smiled and replied, “He cannot be brought here. He is my teacher, Swami Haridas, who lives as a hermit in Vrindavan.”
Intrigued and determined, Akbar insisted, “If he cannot come here, then take me to him.”
A glimpse of the master
Tansen agreed. The two traveled to the forest, where Haridas lived a life of quiet simplicity, far removed from the world. Akbar hid behind the bushes, as Haridas would never sing to please any earthly king.
As night fell, Swami Haridas began to sing. His music was an offering, an act of pure devotion to Krishna, the Divine Beloved. It wasn’t just a performance—it was a bhajan, a heartfelt prayer that dissolved all barriers between the singer and the Divine.
The sound of his music was unlike anything Akbar had ever experienced. It seemed to arise from a place of complete surrender, where ego and self-consciousness had no place. Akbar felt his mind still, his heart overflow with peace, and time itself fade into eternity.
On the way back, still spellbound, Akbar turned to Tansen and asked, “I have heard you sing countless times, and your music always moves me deeply. But tonight, your teacher’s music was different—it was divine. Why can’t you sing like him?”
Tansen replied with a serene smile, “Your Majesty, I sing in the court of a king. I sing with the desire to please you. My mind is on the applause and rewards I may receive. My teacher sings only to please the King of all worlds.”
I sing with the desire to please you…My teacher sings only to please the King of all worlds.
Acting in the world, not of this world
Swami Haridas was a mystic and musician. He made important contributions to the bhakti movement. His name, Hari-Das, literally means “slave of God”. He composed songs celebrating the love of Radha and Krishna – symbolizing the longing the soul has for the Divine. He didn’t sing for any acclaim or reward. He sang to offer his life to the Divine.
Spiritual masters teach us that this is the ultimate purpose of life – to discover the Divine within. We are not material beings on a spiritual journey; we are spiritual beings navigating the material world. Forgetting this truth creates a sense of separation from who we truly are. All sacred traditions aim to help us remember this eternal truth.
To live for this Truth is to engage with the world while holding the Divine firmly within our hearts. It is to act in the world without being of the world.
Source: Discourse by Giani Pinderpal Singh
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Reflection question
What expectations can you let go of in order to move closer to the ideal of life embodied by Swami Haridas?”
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