Tumburu
Tumburu | |
---|---|
Other names | Tumbaru, Tumbara, and Tumruka |
Affiliation | Gandharva, Deva |
Abode | Gandharvaloka |
Personal information | |
Parents |
|
Children | Manovatī and Sukeśā |
Tumburu (
Legend
Origin
Tumburu is described as the son of Sage Kashyapa, and his wife, Pradha. Along with the other three gandharva sons of Kashyapa, Bahu, Haha, and Huhu, he is renowned for his sweet and pleasant speech.[3]
Tumburu is often described as the best among the
Rivalry with Narada
The Bhagavata Purana considers Narada to be the teacher of Tumburu.[6] The scripture mentions that Tumburu accompanied him on a visit to the court of Yudhishthira. Narada and Tumburu are said to sing the glories of Vishnu.[6][7]
The Adbhuta Ramayana mentions that Tumburu was the best of all singers, and is rewarded by Vishnu. Narada, a devotee of Vishnu, became jealous of Tumburu. Vishnu tells Narada that Tumburu was dearer to him as he loved songs of praise, rather than austerities that were performed by Narada. He sent Narada to an owl named Ganabandhu, to learn music. After learning from the owl, Narada sets to conquer Tumburu. When he reaches Tumburus's house, he sees Tumburu surrounded by wounded men and women, who he discovers are the musical Ragas and Raginis, injured by his bad singing. Humiliated, Narada leaves, and finally learns to exceed the gandharva's talents by learning the seven svaras first from the deity Krishna's secondary wives, Jambavati and Satyabhama, and then his favourite wife, Rukmini.[8][9]
Status
Tumburu is mentioned as the courtier of
Relationships
Tumburu is also described as the preceptor of the
South Indian tradition
In South India, Tumburu is often portrayed horse-faced. He holds the instrument veena that he plays as he sings. In another hand, he holds wooden cymbals, that he beats to maintain the rhythm. A South Indian legend records that Tumburu once performed severe austerities and pleased Shiva. Tumburu asked Shiva to grant him a horse-face, immortality, liberty to travel the universe, skill in music and singing, and the ability to reside with and serve Shiva. Shiva blessed him and granted the boons that he sought.[5]
Literature
Mahabharata
In the
Tumburu also attends the birth celebrations of the Pandava
Tumburu also grants Shikhandi - an ally of the Pandavas - his war-horses.[4]
Ramayana
The Ramayana mentions that Rama – the avatar of Vishnu, and his brother Lakshmana, encounter a rakshasa called Viradha, while in exile in the forest. This rakshasa was the cursed Tumburu. Tumburu once offended Kubera by not bringing Rambha before Kubera at the stipulated time. Enraged, Kubera cursed him to be born as a rakshasa. Kubera also decreed that Tumburu would be freed from the curse when Rama would slay him. Accordingly, Tumburu was born as Viradha, the son of giant Jaya and his wife, Shatahrada. Viradha had two long arms and a fierce appearance. He rushed at Sita, Rama's wife, and caught hold of her, and starting running again. Rama and Lakshamana followed him, compelling him to set Sita down. Then, they sat on the rakshasa's shoulders and chopped off his arms. As Viradha was still alive, the brothers decided to bury him alive. Viradha then told his story to Rama and acquired the form of Tumburu, liberated from the curse and returned to the home of the gandharvas.[3]
Kathasaritsagara
The Kathasaritsagara mentions that Tumburu's curse was responsible for the separation of the couple – King Pururavas and the apsara Urvashi. Pururavas was once visiting heaven, when Rambha was performing before her preceptor, Tumburu. Pururavas insulted her by finding a fault in her dance. When Tumburu questioned Pururavas's knowledge of the divine dances of heaven, the king responded that his wife Uravashi had taught him more than what Tumburu knew about the subject. Agitated, Tumburu cursed the king that he would be separated from Urvashi, till he performs a penance to Vishnu. The gandharvas then kidnapped Urvashi, resulting in the fruition of the curse.[3]
In popular culture
The musical instrument tambura is believed to either be a cognate, or named after Tumburu.[10]
Notes
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2012-06-24). "Tumburu, Tuṃburu: 24 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
- ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2019-01-28). "Story of Tumburu". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
- ^ ISBN 0-8426-0822-2.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hopkins pp. 153–56
- ^ ISBN 0-415-34438-7.
- ^ a b Nijenhuis, Emmie te (1970). Dattilam: a compendium of ancient Indian music. Brill Archive. pp. 67–8.
- ^ ISBN 9788120812758.
- ISBN 81-7041-859-3.
- ^ Books, Kausiki (2021-10-24). Linga Purana Part 2: English Translation only without Slokas. Kausiki Books.
- ISBN 978-81-291-0425-0.
References
- Hopkins, Edward Washburn (1915). Epic mythology. Strassburg K.J. Trübner.