He had many pupils, Tansen being one of them and one of Akbar’s nine gems.He is credited with a large body of devotional compositions, especially in the Dhrupad style he is also the founder of the Haridasi school of mysticism, still found today in North India.

He was a spiritual poet and classical musician.

He signed his compositions with the ankitanama (pen name) “Purandara Vittala”įigure: A government stamp released in the honor of Swami Haridas.

His practice was emulated by his younger contemporary, Kanakadasa, Purandara Dasa’s Carnatic music compositions are mostly in Kannada, though some are in Sanskrit.

He is noted for composing Dasa Sahithya, as a Bhakti movementvocalist, and a music scholar.

Since the 17th century, hundreds of rāga-s (melody types) has been distributed among the 72 melakarta rāgas (scales).

He was a prolific poet-composer and mystic of Vijayanagar, introduced a music course that is followed to the present day.

The Tansen Music Festival is organised every year by Madhya Pradesh culture department in the memory of Tansen.

Tansen is remembered for his epic Dhrupad compositions, creating several new ragas, as well as for writing two classic books on music Sri Ganesh Stotra and Sangita Sara.

Akbar considered him as a Navaratnas (nine jewels), and gave him the title Mian, an honorific, meaning learned man.

This reputation brought him to the attention of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, who sent messengers to Raja Ramchandra Singh, requesting Tansen to join the musicians at the Mughal court.

He began his career and spent most of his adult life in the court and patronage of the Hindu king of Rewa, Raja Ramchandra Singh (1555–1592), where Tansen’s musical abilities and studies gained widespread fame.

He was a prominent figure of Hindustani classical music.

He is believed to have given rise to the musical forms of Khayal and Tarana.

He composed in various languages- Persian, Turkish, Arabic, Braj basha, Hindavi.

He was a devout follower of Nizamuddin Auliya.

He was a poet as well as a prolific musician.

Figure: A miniature painting of Amir Khusro with Nizamuddin Auliya

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