While translating Sri Krishna-Karnamritam, the Mahajan-songs, and the lecture series on Leela-smaran, i came across the names of numerous musical instruments – that remained ……just names ! 🙁 Yes my sweet friends, often we read so many things about Sri Priya-Pritamju that remain just words. We do not relate to them, the reason why we cannot delve into the innermost quarters of the secluded love-grove. Forget the nikunja, we reach nowhere close to the transcendental  Braj-dham.  Of course, it all depends on the level of the purification of the sub-conscious (chitta); however i felt it would do some good if i could even see a faint shadow of a few of the trees, flowers, fruits, ornaments and musical instruments mentioned in these exotic texts. As a result, now  when i visited Udaipur, the city founded by the supreme premi devotee Raja Udai Singhji, i headed straight for the collection of musical instruments played in ancient India. And oh yes !! It was a thrilling experience. i actually got a sphuran of all the sakhis holding ALL of these instruments (they were now very new, colorful and lustrous ) – and ALLof them playing together in unison. You have got to visualize Sri Kishori-jiu dancing with Navakishor in the centre. Add a few peacock-feather outfits, and your picture would be quite great. 😀 Just think of the effect !!  Naturally i couldn’t wait to share with you all.

ektara

Ektara is the favorite instrument of the saints.  Mirabai and Tukaram are always seen with this single-stringed instrument. . Most probably is a hot favorite due to its simplicity and low-cost. Ektara is made from louki or bottle gourd.

cow-horn and different types of flutes

Nagfani or the Snake-trumpet

trumpet used to announce the various pastimes of Nandalala

Siddha Srila Krishnadas babaji tells us that  Nanda Bhavan is a multi-storeyed building. On on of the floors Maharaj Nanda  has arranged for a permanent orchestra. The musicians sit there and in every “yaam” they announce the leela that Nandalala is playing at present. They do so with a lot of musical lyrics and fanfare. You want a live demonstration ?  Go to Nathdwara – they are still continuing that tradition.The devotees in Nathdwara are experts at recreating the Braj-ambience  😎

Duff

In Krishna-Krnaamritam there is this lovely Mahajn song  where a sakhi is playing the duff while Govinda is dancing to its rhythm. The picture of “duff”  provided in Sri Krishna-Karnamritam wasn’t  clear, so i wasn’t happy. The above picture is nice. Our Bollywood heroes, and sometimes even heroines show a penchant for this instrument  . Every good thing comes from Radha-Krishna , don’t they  ?

Many types of perrcussion instruments

Every night during the raas dance, the sakhis play all these instruments and more – esraaj, santoor, and there were so many musical names i have never heard. i felt very lucky indeed to get darshan of these instruments in their true forms. Radhe Radhe !!

stringed instruments