The Music and Musical Instruments of Southern India and the Deccan c5.39

c5.39

Hanumân after this became exceedingly proud of his musical abilities, and used to boast of his skill continually. The demigod Râma, hearing of this, devised a plan to humble the god, and accomplished it in the following manner:—There lived in a forest near Ayódhya (Râma’s capital) a certain Rishi or bard, who had devoted himself to music all his life with such success that he had caused the Septasvâras, or seven notes, to become embodied in the form of seven daughters. To this forest Râma took Hanumân as if upon a hunting excursion, and halting within hearing of the Rishi’s dwelling, whose existence was unknown to the other, asked for some music. Hanumân accordingly took up his vina and began to accompany himself. Constant practice and self-confidence had made him careless, and it chanced that as the seven nymphs passed on their way to draw water for their father’s house he sang a note falsely. No sooner had the nymph to whom this note belonged heard it than she swooned and died. Her sisters made piteous lamentations, and ran to tell their father. The Rishi came, and seeing Hanumân engrossed in his art and still singing, at once guessed the cause of his daughter’s death. After listening for a while he heard the same note sung constantly out of tune. Then going up to the god he upbraided his want of care, and taking the vina from him played the râga truly, when the dead nymph revived and merrily joined her sisters.