221 The Nectar of Devotion

ers and garlands on different parts of His body. Krsna was dressed
like this not only in Vrndavana but also on the battlefield of Kuruk-
setra. Seeing such colorful dress and the garlands of different flowers,
some great sages prayed, “Lord Krsna was going to the battlefield of
Kuruksetra 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 great-
est sages, and Krsna was thus challenging Cupid by advertising His
transcendental glories all over the world.

There are three kinds of flutes used by Krsna. One is called venu,
one is called murali, and the third is called vamsi. Venu is very small,
not more than six inches long, with six holes for whistling. Murali 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 vamsi flute is about fifteen inches long, with nine holes
on its body. Krsna used to play on these three flutes occasionally
when they were needed. Krsna has a longer vamsi, which is called
mahdananda, or sanmohini. When it is still longer it is called akarsini.
When it is even longer it is called dnandini. The anandini flute is very
pleasing to the cowherd boys and is technically named vamsuli. 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 sanmohini. When made of gold, it is called
akarsini.

Krsna’s Buffalo Horn

Krsna 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 gopi named Taravali. It is said that
Taravali became bitten by the most venomous snake of Krsna’s flute.
