In the history of Hindustani music, there is no name so fascinating, and so haloed by the story of countless legends as Tansen's. Born in the early seventeeenth century to a brahmin poet, Makerand Pande and his wife with the blessings of a sufi fakir, Muhammed Ghaus, the child was known by various names, both hindu and muslim. It was Maharaja Ramniranjan of Gwalior who conferred on him the name of Miyan Tansen, a name, by which he is best known.

Tansen had his musical education from the great ascetic scholar, musician and composer, Swami Haridas of Brindaban. Soon after he became an accomplished musician, Tansen was made the Court-musician, by the Rewa-ruler, Ramsinghi. Before long, Tansen's fame spread far and wide and Emperor Akbar himself called him to his Court and made him one of the 'Nine Jewels' of the Imperial Court. The art of Hindustani music reached its highest watermark in Tansen's time.