Tana and Riri
Encyclopedia
Tana and Riri is an India
n story about two girls born around 1564, who were asked to sing in the court of Akbar. When Akbar's court singer, maestro Tansen
's preceptor died, he sang the raag
"Deepak". The effect of singing this raag is said to be that the singer starts feeling an incurable heat in his/her body. When Tansen was affected by the burns of the Deepak raag, he roamed around the whole of India. Finally the commander in chief of their army, Amjadkhan, came to Vadnagar
and found out about the two sisters Tana and Riri who were proficient singers and could cure Tansen by singing raga Malhar
. When they were asked to sing at Akbar's court, they refused to come since it was their vow as Nagars
only to sing in front of the village deity's idol. Instead they committed suicide
by drowning in a well. They chose to do this rather than to refuse, which would have caused a war-like situation in their town. Later when Akbar came to know of it he apologised to their father and called for Tansen to fabricate a new Raag which would be called "Tana-Riri".
The twins were from a northern town known as Vadnagar
near Visnagar
in the state of Gujarat. It is believed that the late sarod
master Pandit Vasant Rai
was a great great grand nephew of the legendary sisters. Through family history it is not confirmed that if Tana and Riri were twins.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n story about two girls born around 1564, who were asked to sing in the court of Akbar. When Akbar's court singer, maestro Tansen
Tansen
Mia Tansen is considered among the greatest composer-musicians in Hindustani classical music. He was an extraordinarily gifted vocalist, known for a large number of compositions, and also an instrumentalist who popularized and improved the rabab .He was among the Navaratnas at the court of the...
's preceptor died, he sang the raag
Raga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
"Deepak". The effect of singing this raag is said to be that the singer starts feeling an incurable heat in his/her body. When Tansen was affected by the burns of the Deepak raag, he roamed around the whole of India. Finally the commander in chief of their army, Amjadkhan, came to Vadnagar
Vadnagar
Vadnagar is a city and a municipality in Mehsana district in the Indian state of Gujarat.-Geography:Vadnagar is located at . It has an average elevation of 143 metres .-Demographics:...
and found out about the two sisters Tana and Riri who were proficient singers and could cure Tansen by singing raga Malhar
Malhar
Malhar is an old raga in Indian classical music. Malhar is associated with the atmosphere of torrential rains.- Legend :According to the legend, Malhar is so powerful that when sung, rain falls from the sky....
. When they were asked to sing at Akbar's court, they refused to come since it was their vow as Nagars
Nagar Brahmins
Nagar Gujarati Brahmins are believed to be one of the oldest of the Brahmin groups.-Overview:Historians suggest that the origin of the Nagars to be Aryan, having immigrated to the Indian plains from Balkh in Central Asia...
only to sing in front of the village deity's idol. Instead they committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
by drowning in a well. They chose to do this rather than to refuse, which would have caused a war-like situation in their town. Later when Akbar came to know of it he apologised to their father and called for Tansen to fabricate a new Raag which would be called "Tana-Riri".
The twins were from a northern town known as Vadnagar
Vadnagar
Vadnagar is a city and a municipality in Mehsana district in the Indian state of Gujarat.-Geography:Vadnagar is located at . It has an average elevation of 143 metres .-Demographics:...
near Visnagar
Visnagar
Visnagar is a city and a municipality in Mehsana district in the Indian state of Gujarat."VISNAGAR" named after its founder king VISHALDEO from Ajmer Dynasty was founded in 953 on the auspicious day of 'Akhatrij'....
in the state of Gujarat. It is believed that the late sarod
Sarod
The sarod is a stringed musical instrument, used mainly in Indian classical music. Along with the sitar, it is the most popular and prominent instrument in the classical music of Hindustan...
master Pandit Vasant Rai
Vasant Rai
Vasant Rai was one of world's most acclaimed performers of Indian music and virtuoso of the Indo/Persian/Afghan instrument Sarod.-Personal life and education:Rai was born in Unjha, Kutch, Gujarat and studied music in India...
was a great great grand nephew of the legendary sisters. Through family history it is not confirmed that if Tana and Riri were twins.