Story of Tumburu (Viradha)

Story of Tumburu

Many of us may have heard the name Tumburu. Those of you who have learnt classical music may have heard the name Tumburu in many famous songs. The two famous ones are Entharo Mahanubhavulu by Thyagaraja Swami (https://bharatiyastories.blogspot.com/2024/04/saint-thyagaraja.html) and Soundararajam Ashraye by Muthuswamy Dikshitar. Who or what is this Tumburu? Has it anything to do with the Tampura? Why is this name having a pride of place in compositions by the Trinity of Carnatic music. Let us see.

Tumburu was the son of Sage Kashyapa and his wife Prada. Along with the other sons of Sage Kashyapa - Bahu, Haha and Huhu (funny names indeed), Tumburu had a pleasant disposition and was well versed in singing. He sings for the Devas and is considered one of the kings of music in the court of Indra. As a Gandharva it is also said that he is in the court of Kubera and it is said on full moon days the songs of Tumburu can be heard from the Gandhamadhana mountain

 https://bharatiyastories.blogspot.com/2024/04/gunanidhi-becomes-kubera.html).

One version of the story of Tumburu states that Narada was the Guru of Tumburu. Another version states that Narada was jealous of his prowess in singing and went to learn music from the owls. When he came back and sang, the various Ragas and Raginis were wounded. Ashamed, Narada learnt music rendition properly from Krishna’s wivews, Jambavati, Sathyabhama and Rukmini and became as good as Tumburu. Whatever version we like, it is evident that Tumburu was a great exponent of music.

Tumburu is very prominent in both the epics – Mahabharata and the Ramayana. In the Mahabharatha he supplies the horses for Yudhistira’s ashwamedha yagna (horse sacrifice) and also gives Arjuna and Shikandi weapons and horses.

Let us see an interesting tale of Tumburu in the Ramayana. Once Tumburu was in the court of King Kubera. As a musician his job was to co-ordinate with the dancers like Rambha and Urvashi and perform at a time when specified by the king.

Tumburu had a soft corner for the apsara Rambha (there are certain versions in which it is said that Tumburu was married to Rambha). He was enjoying his time with her in the garden and forgot about the instructions of the King Kubera. When the allotted time came and the dancers and the musicians did not appear to entertain the king and his guests Kubera got angry. He cursed Tumburu to become an asura.

When a repentant Tumburu asked for forgiveness, Kubera told him that Tumburu will get deliverance when Lord Vishnu takes the Rama Avatar and gives him moksha. Tumburu was born as the rakshasa son of Rakshasa Jaya and his wife Shatahrada. He was called Viradha. The demon Viradha was a menace in the forest and was troubling the sages and the other forest dwellers.

The encounter between Rama and Viradha occurs in the Sargas 2-4 of the Aranya Kanda of the Ramayana as recounted below.

Rama, Lakshmana and Sita entered the Dandakaranya forest and the demon Viradha accosts them. They were taken aback and before they could react, he snatched Sita from them and started running. Rama and Lakshmana chase him. This is first time since his exile when Rama sees Sita in distress in the arms of the demon Viradha. The frustration of the situation makes Rama actually utter a word against his mother Kaikeyi. He tells Lakshmana, “This must have been the desire of Kaikeyi. She must have realised that for me another man touching Sita is more grievous than snatching my kingdom away and my father dying in sorrow.”

Viradha told Rama that though he and his brother were dressed like hermits, they carried weapons. They also had a beautiful woman who was should not have been brought into a dangerous forest. He told them that he would make Sita his wife.

Anyway, Lakshmana and Rama chase him and manage to wound him. But Viradha was still powerful and vigorous. Although he put down Sita, he picked up his sword and fought against the brothers with lot of anger and power. Rama and Lakshmana dodged the sword and continue to let go a barrage of arrows at Viradha.

Viradha then realised that the people fighting him were not ordinary humans, though they appeared human. He enquired who they were and where they were from. Rama told him about his lineage and the reason why he was in the forest. Viradha, realised that he was not dealing with the ordinary. But his demonic instinct got the better of him. He picked up Rama and Lakshmana on his shoulders and started walking into the forest.

Rama did not prevent this from happening as he wanted to know what the demon was capable of. When the demon carried him into the dense part of the Dandaka, they could hear Sita crying for help in fear and anguish. They did not want to distress her any further.

So both the brothers cut off the arms of Viradha while sitting on his shoulders. The giant toppled like an uprooted tree with Rama and Lakshmana leaping to safety.

Wounded and powerless, Viradha still did not die as per the boons that he had got. He then told Rama to bury him alive as that is procedure of getting rid of demons who are immune to weapons.

Rama did not want to take a chance. So while holding Viradha immobile by putting a foot on his neck, he asked Lakshmana to build a deep pit wherein they could bury the monster alive. Lakshmana then created the pit and they flung the incapacitated monster Viradha into the pit screaming in pain. They then closed the pit even though he was still shouting and alive.

The moment they closed the pit, there was a flash of light and Tumburu emerged from the pit and asked for forgiveness from Rama. Rama blessed him and Tumburu returned to the heavenly above of the Gandharvas.

The instrument Tampura perhaps got its name from Tumburu? Tumburu is well depicted in many panels across the country. A few are given below:

                      

In the panel above, the first picture is from Lepakshi. The second one is Tumburu and Narada from the Subramanya temple, Thrissur. The third panel is from the Mahadeva temple in Kannur.

Next time you see a horse faced figure holding a musical instrument, do remember Tumburu and the Viradha story from the Ramayana