The Music and Musical Instruments of Southern India and the Deccan c5.38

c5.38

The râga Gúndakrýa is so called from its having been first performed by the god Hanumân, who was called upon to decide a dispute between the celestial musicians Nârada and Tumburu. Each was jealous of the other's powers, and claimed to be most skilled. They appealed to Hanumân to settle their differences and award the palm to the best performer. He heard them both and was unable to decide, so taking the vina himself, he sat down, and resting the instrument against the rock, began to play. So ravishing was the strain that the very rock melted into tears, and the vina, dropping from the hands of the god, sank into the lake thus formed. The music ceasing, the rock once more assumed its natural form. Then the god, turning to the two who stood by amazed, said: “The palm is his who plays this strain.” Each essayed the feat, but failed. Hanumân then decided that the skill of both was equal, and thus settled their differences amicably. This râga, then played for the first time, was called “Gúndakrýa,” or “that which melts rocks.”