Musicians at Mughal Court

All the great Mughal rulers, with the exception of Auragzeb, were patrons of music. Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan took keen interest in music. Abul Fazal, the court historian of Akbar mentions that thirty six singers enjoyed the patronage of Akbar’s court. Of them, Tansen was the most famous. According to Abul Fazal, the author of Akbarnama, ‘a singer like him has not been in India for the last thousand years.’ Tansen was earlier a court musician of Rama Chandra, a Raja of Bhatta (Rewa). The famous Sufi saint Shaikh Salim Chishti was great admirer of Tansen. Tansen was conferred the title of Kanthabharanvani Vilas by Akbar. Tansen’s son Tantarng also sang in the court of Akbar.

Among the thirty six names of musicians in the court of Akbar, most of the singers were Indian and hailed from either Gwalior or Dhar. Ramdas who had been formerly in the court of Islam Shah was second only to Tansen. His son Surdas was also a musician.

The musicians enjoying the patronage of the fourth Mughal emperor Jahangir were Chatr Khan, Khurramdad and Hamza. Shahjahan was fond of Dhrupad. His musicians were Lal Khan, son-in-law of Tansen. He was given the title of Gunsamundar. Pandit Jagannath received the title of Maha kaviraj. Surasen was a famous instrumentalist.