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{{Short description|Celestial musician in Hindu mythology}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| image = Tumbara.jpg
| caption = Painting of Tumburu
| name = Tumburu
| father = [[Kashyapa]]
| mother = Pradha
| affiliation = [[Gandharva]], [[Deva (Hinduism)|Deva]]
| other_names = Tumbaru, Tumbara, and Tumruka
| abode = Gandharvaloka
| children = Manovatī and Sukeśā
}}

'''Tumburu''' ({{lang-sa|तुम्बुरु|translit=Tuṃburu}}) is the foremost among the [[gandharvas]], the celestial musicians of [[Hindu mythology]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2012-06-24 |title=Tumburu, Tuṃburu: 24 definitions |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/tumburu#purana |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref> Accounts depict him performing in the courts of the deities [[Kubera]] and [[Indra]], and as singing the praises of [[Vishnu]]. He is said to lead the gandharvas in their singing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.wisdomlib.org |date=2019-01-28 |title=Story of Tumburu |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/compilation/puranic-encyclopaedia/d/doc242016.html |access-date=2022-10-27 |website=www.wisdomlib.org |language=en}}</ref>

==Legend==

=== Origin ===
Tumburu is described as the son of Sage [[Kashyapa]], and his wife, Pradha. Along with the other three gandharva sons of Kashayapa, Bahu, Haha, and Huhu, he is renowned for his sweet and pleasant speech.<ref name = "Mani"/>

Tumburu is often described as the best among the [[gandharvas]] in his musical talent.<ref name = "Mani">{{cite book|author = Mani, Vettam|title = Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary With Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature|url = https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft|publisher = Motilal Banarsidass|year = 1975|location = Delhi|isbn = 0-8426-0822-2|pages = [https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft/page/798 798]–9, 859}}</ref><ref name = "hopkins"/> A "mighty singer and musician", he sings in presence of the [[Deva (Hinduism)|devas]].<ref name = "Daniel"/> Besides [[Narada]] and Gopa, he is also regarded as the king of songs.<ref name = "hopkins"/>

=== Rivalry with Narada ===
The ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'' considers [[Narada]] to be the teacher of Tumburu.<ref name="dattilam" /> 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.<ref name="dattilam">{{cite book|last=Nijenhuis|first=Emmie te |author-link=Emmie te Nijenhuis |title=Dattilam: a compendium of ancient Indian music|year=1970|publisher=Brill Archive. |pages=67–8}}</ref><ref name="Purana">{{cite book|last=Dikshitar|first= V. R. Ramachandra |title=The Puraṇa index|volume=3|year=1995|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers|isbn=9788120812758 |page=29}}</ref>

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 [[Raga]]s and [[Raga#Rāga-Rāgini system|Ragini]]s, injured by his bad singing. Humiliated, Narada leaves, and finally learns to exceed the gandharva's talents by learning the seven [[Svara|svaras]] first from the deity [[Krishna]]'s secondary wives, [[Jambavati]] and [[Satyabhama]], and then his favourite wife, [[Rukmini]].<ref>{{cite book|editor= S. S. Shashi|title=Encyclopaedia Indica: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh|isbn=81-7041-859-3|year=1998|publisher=Anmol Publications PVT. LTD|pages=11–13|chapter=The Adbhuta Ramayana: sargas VI - VII|volume =21-35}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Books |first=Kausiki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SfZLEAAAQBAJ&dq=narada++tumburu&pg=PT12 |title=Linga Purana Part 2: English Translation only without Slokas |date=2021-10-24 |publisher=Kausiki Books |language=en}}</ref>

=== Status ===
[[File:Rameshvaram lingam.jpg|thumb|Tumburu (second from left, standing) with (from left) [[Lakshmana]], [[Narada]], [[Vibhishana]] watch as [[Rama]] and his wife [[Sita]] worship a [[lingam]] at [[Rameshvaram]].]]
Tumburu is mentioned as the courtier of [[Indra]] – the king of [[Svarga]] – as well as of [[Kubera]], the god of wealth. He is described as a follower of Kubera; his songs are said to be usually heard when passing [[Kubera]]'s abode on Gandhamandana mountain.<ref name="Mani" /> Tumburu is described as the special friend of Kubera, and leads the [[gandharva]]s in music and singing, which is performed by gandharvas and [[kinnaras]]. Tumburu is described as a "lord of gandharvas", along with other lords like Haha-Huhu, Parvata, Citraratha. Tumburu is sometimes mentioned as a [[Rishi|muni]] (sage), rather than a gandharva.<ref name="hopkins">Hopkins pp. 153–56</ref> Tumburu is also described to lead gandharvas to watch the battles of men, and goes to [[Mount Meru]] to worship with the divine sage [[Narada]].<ref name="hopkins" />

=== Relationships ===
Tumburu is also described as the preceptor of the [[apsara]] – celestial dancer – [[Rambha (apsara)|Rambha]]. He is sometimes described as wedded to her. He is thought to be as "the martial hero" of the gandharvas, "yet one of the few yielding to love".<ref name="Mani" /><ref name="hopkins" /> In another reference, he is described to have two daughters, Manovatī and Sukeśā, called Pancacudas collectively, and who ride the [[Surya|Sun's]] chariot in the months of [[Chaitra]] and Madhu ([[Vaisakha]]). Tumburu is said to preside over months Madhu and Madhava ([[Maagha|Magha]]).<ref name="Purana" />

=== 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.<ref name="Daniel">{{cite book|last=Jeyaraj|first=Daniel |title=Genealogy of the South Indian deities: An English Translation of [[Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg]]'s original German manuscript with a textual analysis and a glossary|year=2005|publisher=RoutledgeCurzon|isbn=0-415-34438-7|pages=162–3}}</ref>

==Literature==

=== Mahabharata ===
[[File:Saraswati south Indian.jpg|thumb|[[Narada]] (left) and Tumburu bow to the goddess [[Sarasvati]], the goddess of music and learning.]]

In the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', Tumburu appears in many instances related to the [[Pandava]] brothers – the primary protagonists of the epic. Tumburu gifts [[Yudhishthira]] a hundred horses, and also attends his [[ashvamedha]] [[yagna]] ("horse-sacrifice"). He also stays in Yudhishthira's court for some days.<ref name = "Mani"/><ref name = "hopkins"/>

Tumburu also attends the birth celebrations of the Pandava [[Arjuna]], and welcomes him in [[Svarga]] (heaven) when he visits his father, Indra. "A friend of Arjuna", Tumburu also keenly watches Arjuna's battle fought against the [[Kauravas]] – the primary antagonists of the epic, and cousins of the Pandavas – on the side of [[Virata]]. Tumburu also grants Arjuna his gandharva weapon.<ref name = "Mani"/><ref name = "hopkins"/>

Tumburu also grants [[Shikhandi]] - an ally of the Pandavas - his war-horses.<ref name = "hopkins"/>

=== 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 (apsara) |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.<ref name="Mani" />

=== 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.<ref name="Mani" />

== In popular culture ==
The musical instrument [[Tanpura|tambura]] is believed to either be a cognate, or named after Tumburu.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kasliwal |first=Suneera |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GVsUAQAAIAAJ&q=tumburu+tambura |title=Classical Musical Instruments |date=2001 |publisher=Rupa |isbn=978-81-291-0425-0 |pages=233 |language=en}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite book|last=Hopkins |first=Edward Washburn|authorlink=Edward Washburn Hopkins|title=Epic mythology |url=https://archive.org/stream/epicmythology00hopkuoft#page/n159/mode/2up/search/Tumburu|year=1915|publisher=Strassburg K.J. Trübner}}

{{HinduMythology}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Gandharvas]]
[[Category:Characters in the Mahabharata]]
[[Category:Characters in the Ramayana]]

Tumburu - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article