Tansen's court

A huge courtyard adjoining the harem of Akbar's palace in Fatehpur Sikri was where the Emperor entertained and was entertained by musical performances. The legendary Tansen performed for the Emperor here, while the queens watched from their specially designed windows in their part of the harem. The platform where Tansen performed is surrounded by water, and was said to have been filled with jasmine and surrounded by lighted lamps during his performance.

Akbar was very fond of music and while having given patronage to musicians, Tansen was the only one considered to be one of the nine jewels of his court. The legend has it that fellow musicians jealous of his skill and favour that he had found in Emperor Akbar's court tried to oust him by asking the Emperor to make him sing the Deepak Raga, which if properly sung was thought to cause all things to burn, including the singer. Tansen is said to have sung it and while some stories say he died in the effort, others say that he survived the trial by asking a fellow singer to sing the raga that evoked rains simultaneously.