Tale of Tana-Riri

According to a popular tale, in the Durbar of Akbar, the detractors of Tansen once, conspired and forced Tansen to sing Rag Deepak. Tansen pleaded to Akbar but to no avail. Tansen’s recital of Deepak Rag resulted in the lamps in the Durbar to glow. However, as an after effect Tansen’s whole body suffered severe burning sensation which had no cure except the recital of Rag Malhar. It was during his suffering, that Tansen once visited Vadnagar, where, when out of thirst he asked two girls to serve him water. These two girls, named Tana and Riri, were grand daughters of a Nagar- Narsaiyon and were proficient in Rag Malhar. They recognized the cause of Tansen’s sufferings. On the request of Tansen, the two girls recited Rag Malhar which resulted in heavy rains and cured the sufferings of Tansen. Tansen went back and reported the proficiency of the two Nagar girls to Akbar. Akbar immediately ordered that the two girls be brought to his Durbar and be included in his Nav ratnas. Nagars, the proud brahmans that they were, however, refused to send their daughters to Akbar’s durbar. This enraged Akbar to the extent that he sent his army to Vadnagar resulting in a war. Vadnagar lost. Tana and Riri gave up lives in a local Vav. And Nagars left Vadnagar for ever.