Tansen was a wonderful musician in the eyes of Akbar. Tansen told Akbar that he had not mastered even a fraction of his master, Swami Hari Das technique. At this Akbar became curious to hear Hari Das. But Hari Das could not come to his court. So he and Tansen went to the Himalayas where Swami Hari Das lived in an ashrama. Tansen had warned Akbar that Swamiji would sing only if he wanted to. Akbar stayed at the ashrama for several days but Swami Hari Das did not sing. In the end, Tansen had to play a trick to make Hari Das sing. Thus Akbar’* wish was fulfilled.
