221
The Nectar of Devotion
ers and garlands on different parts of His body. Krṣṇa was dressed like this not only in Vṛndāvana but also on the battlefield of Kurukṣetra. Seeing such colorful dress and the garlands of different flowers, some great sages prayed, “Lord Krṣṇa was going to the battlefield of Kurukṣetra not to fight, but to grace all of the devotees with His presence.”
Krsna’s Flute
As far as His flute is concerned, it is said that the vibration of this wonderful instrument was able to break the meditation of the greatest sages, and Kṛṣṇa was thus challenging Cupid by advertising His transcendental glories all over the world.
There are three kinds of flutes used by Krṣṇa. One is called  veṇu , one is called  muralī , and the third is called  vaṁśī .  Veṇu  is very small, not more than six inches long, with six holes for whistling.  Muralī  is about eighteen inches long with a hole at the end and four holes on the body of the flute. This kind of flute produces a very enchanting sound. The  vaṁśī  flute is about fifteen inches long, with nine holes on its body. Krṣṇa used to play on these three flutes occasionally when they were needed. Krṣṇa has a longer  vaṁśī , which is called  mahānanda , or  sanmohinī . When it is still longer it is called  ākarṣinī . When it is even longer it is called  ānandinī . The  ānandinī  flute is very pleasing to the cowherd boys and is technically named  vaṁsulī . These flutes were sometimes bedecked with jewels. Sometimes they were made of marble and sometimes of hollow bamboo. When the flute is made of jewels it is called  sanmohinī . When made of gold, it is called  ākarṣinī .
Krṣṇa's Buffalo Horn
Krṣṇa used a buffalo horn as a bugling instrument. This instrument was always highly polished and circled with gold bands, and on the middle there was a hole. Regarding these instruments, there is a metaphorical statement about a  gopī  named Tārāvalī. It is said that Tārāvalī became bitten by the most venomous snake of Krṣṇa’s flute.