In Indian classical music, it is a well-known fact that if you place a sitar (musical instrument) in an empty room in the corner, and opposite a skilled sitar player starts playing, the other sitar will vibrate at the same frequency as the first, repeating the melody. But this only happens if the musician is a high-class one.
Akbar became very interested when he heard about this; in his retinue was a great musician named Tansen. He was one of the "Great Nine" that Akbar gathered in his palace. It was called "Nine Diamonds". These were nine great talents, one for each manifestation of life. Akbar asked Tansen:
-Can you play so that a silent instrument comes to life?
Tansen replied:
— I can do it, but the effect is small.
Akbar asked:
— Is there a musician in the world who can play like that?
Tansen replied:
- Yes, there is only one person, this is my teacher.
Akbar said:
“Why didn’t you tell me anything about him before?” I thought you were an unsurpassed musician, but it turns out there is a more skilled musician in the world. Why did you hide it? I want to see him. Invite him to the palace, we will show him great honors.
Tansen replied:
“I sing and play because I am full of desires and hopes. You have given me so much. But my desires don't end there. I am at court and at any time when it is needed, I am ready to play and sing - this is my job. My teacher is a natural phenomenon. He cannot be invited, he cannot be forced to sing. He is in the service of inspiration. When it comes, he plays and sings. This is an element, a source. You are a thirsty one. You must go to him. Here's my sitar. We'll take it and you'll hear it sound.
Tansen sent to find out where his teacher now lives. In the evening he was informed that he lived on the outskirts of a small village in a hut and began to sing and play at about three o'clock in the morning.
So Akbar and Tansen took the sitar and went to the indicated place, sat behind the hut and waited. At three o'clock in the morning, Tansen's teacher began to play and sing. His name was Haridas. There was probably no other musician like him in India. As soon as he started playing, the sitar behind the hut began to sing. Akbar saw with his own eyes how the strings of the sitar vibrated, responding to the sounds of the great musician’s instrument; he listened and tears flowed from his eyes. These were tears of joy. When Haridas finished, they quietly stood up and left. They were silent the whole way back. Akbar was shocked.
The next day Akbar said to Tansen:
“I used to think that you were an unsurpassed musician, but now I have to tell you: your teacher is perfection!” You are wasting your time at court, but he is old and may soon be gone. You should be near him. He is a great teacher! After all, even a dead musical instrument next to him begins to sound!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru