According to 'Sangeet-Darpan', music originated from:

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:

The treatise 'Sangeet-Darpan', authored by Pandit Damodar, is a significant text in the history of Indian Classical Music, and in it, the origin of music (*Sangeeta*) is canonically attributed to Lord **Brahma**. This perspective aligns with the traditional Hindu cosmological framework, where Brahma is revered as the first god of the Trimurti (the Holy Trinity), responsible for the creation of the entire universe, including all forms of knowledge (*Vedas*) and the divine arts (*Kalas*). Music is considered a sublime knowledge directly stemming from the divine source, and as the ultimate creator, Brahma is credited as the progenitor from whom the art descended to the world of sages and then to humanity.

The incorrect option is 2:

Vishnu is known as the Preserver and Sustainer of the cosmos, a role distinct from that of the Creator. While Vishnu's avatars, such as Krishna, are deeply associated with musical instruments like the *bansuri* (flute), and he restores *dharma* through his actions, he is not the one traditionally cited as the ultimate source who first manifested the art form itself, according to texts like *Sangeet-Darpan*. His prominence is in maintaining cosmic harmony, which includes protecting the arts, but not their original creation.

The incorrect option is 3:

Shiv is the Destroyer and Transformer in the Trimurti, famed as *Nataraja*, the Lord of Dance, and is the source of the cosmic rhythm and the *Damaru* drum. His association is predominantly with *laya* (rhythm) and *nritya* (dance), the physical components of Sangeeta. Although a great master of the musical arts, in most classical treatises that discuss creation, including *Sangeet-Darpan*, the honor of being the *Adi-Karta* (first creator) of the art of music is accorded to Brahma.

The incorrect option is 4:

Narad Muni is a revered sage who is famously depicted as the divine messenger and musician carrying a *Vina*. He is a critical figure in Indian music history, often credited with spreading musical knowledge and bridging the divine and human realms. However, Narad is considered a great *propagator* or a divine student of music who received the knowledge, not the supreme god from whom the art originated. His role is in the transmission of the knowledge created by the primary deities.