In Kerala, there was a king, who loved music. He used to invite eminent musicians to his palace and arranged concerts for every confirmed music-lover who flocked to the palace in large numbers. One day he arranged a grand program and invited eminent musicians to it. But he laid down one stipulation. Before the concert, he announced: “I find that many music lovers appreciate music by antics, gesticulations, contortions of the face, shaking their heads and beating with their hands and feet. These distract others; so if anyone indulges in such antics his head would be cut off.”

A great musician began to sing. It was really a feast for die the ears, but none dared to move their hands or feet. There was pin-drop silence among the audience. But one of them, a great expert himself, was so charmed by the melodious music of the master musician, that he could not contain himself. He began to shake his head and beat on his thighs in appreciation of the music. Someone sitting near him pointed out the impropriety, and the threat to his life. But he exclaimed loudly; “I do not care if I lose my head,” and continued his antics. The king heard what he said.

Instead of getting angry, he proclaimed, “Here is a true lover of music. For the sake of music, he is prepared to sacrifice his life. After the end of the concert I am going to present him a ‘Veerasringhala’, a beautiful golden chain of honour, awarded to eminent persons.”

A folktale sourced from Folktales of Kerala by I.K.K. MENON.

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