The Music and Musical Instruments of Southern India and the Deccan c5.36

c5.36

Another favourite story is that the Emperor Akbar ordered Nayuk Gopâl, a celebrated musician, to sing this râga. “He endeavoured to excuse himself, but in vain—the Emperor insisted on obedience. He therefore requested permission to go home and bid farewell to his family and friends. It was winter when he returned, after an absence of six months. Before he began to sing he placed himself in the waters of the Jumna till they reached his neck. As soon as he had performed a strain or two the river gradually became hot—at length began to boil—and the agonies of the unhappy musician were nearly insupportable. Suspending for a moment the melody thus cruelly extorted, he sued for mercy from the monarch, but sued in vain—Akbar wished to prove more strongly the power of the râga. Nayuk Gopâl renewed the fatal song. Flames burst with violence from his body, and though immersed in the waters of the Jumna he was consumed to ashes.”¹⁰