Vaisnava Amrta chapter 1

[Paramananda das]

The glories of Sri Krsnas flutes ,this is from the book I am working on ,
In the Ujvala Nilamani it has been stated: Visakha devi describes Krsna's flute to Srimati Radharani: "As it touches His splendid teeth, Krsna's flute looks like a crystal wand. Where it touches Krsna's red lotus palm, it looks like a ruby stick, and where it touches Krsna's blue lotus cheek it looks like a sapphire. Look ! In this way Krsna's flute looks like these three different jewels."
Krsna uses the Venu flute to attract to Gopis, like described in Brahma Samhita
Venum kvanantam aravinda-dalayataksam
barhavatam samasitambuda-sundarangam
kandarpa-koti-kamaniya vishesha-shobham
govindam adi-purusham tam aham bhajami
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is adept in playing on His flute, with blooming eyes like
lotus petals with head decked with peacock's feather, with the figure of beauty tinged with the hue of
blue clouds, and His unique loveliness charming millions of Cupids.
Srila Prabhupada describes that the Venu flute has 6 holes. And it is 6 inches long. The Murali has a hole at the end and four holes on the body. And that flute is 18 inches long . The Vamsi flute is 15 inches long and nine holes.
I used to sleep on the roof at the Krsna Balarama Mandir when I was serving there one summer 1986, and at night sometimes you hear this beautiful flute playing coming from the Yamuna side, who it was I can't tell, but these flutes have an enchanting tune in themselves, what to speak if Krsna's plays these flutes. It is explained that Lord Siva and Brahma are so learned in all arts like music but even they become totally bewildered in the musical compositions of Krsna's flute. Sometimes the demigods wife's fall out off their airplanes while hearing Krsna playing the flute during the Rasa Lila.
CC madhya lila 21. 141-44 also tells more about the influence of Krsna's flute.
"The sound of Krsna's flute spreads in four directions. Even though Krsna vibrates His flute within this universe, its sound pierces the universal covering and goes to the spiritual sky. Thus the vibration enters the ears of all inhabitants . It especially enters Goloka Vrindavana Dhama and attracts the minds of the young damsels of Vrajabhumi, bringing them forcibly to where Krsna is present"
"The vibration of Krsna's flute is so aggressive, and it breaks the vows of all chaste women. Indeed, its vibration takes them forcibly from the laps of their husbands. The vibration of His flute attracts even the goddesses of fortune in the Vaikuntha planets, to say nothing of the poor damsels of Vraja".
"The vibration of His flute slackens the knots of their underwear even in front of their husbands. Thus the Gopis are forced to abandon their household duties and come before Lord Krsna. In this way all social etiquette, shame and fear are vanquished. The vibration of His flute causes all women to dance. " "The vibration of His flute is just like a bird that creates a nest within the ears of the Gopis and always remains prominent there, not allowing any other sound to enter their ears. Indeed, the gopis cannot hear anything else, not even to give a suitable reply. Such are the effect of the vibration of Lord Krsna's flute. "
Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada writes in his purport to this verse: "The vibration of Krsna's flute is always prominent in the ears of the Gopis. Naturally they cannot hear anything else.
Constant remembrance of the holy sound of Krsna's flute keeps the Gopis enlightened and enlivened, and they do not allow any other sound to enter their ears. Since their attention is fixed on Krsna's flute, they cannot divert their minds to any other subject. The vibration of Krsna's flute is represented by the Hare Krsna Maha mantra. A serious devotee of the Lord who chants and hears this transcendental vibration becomes so accustomed to it that he cannot divert his attention to any subject matter not related to Krsna". (CC Madhya lila 21. 141-44)
(These verses was spoken by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu to Sanatana Goswami)
Now the question may be raised where does Krsna play His flute? So many places, like at the Yamuna. Yamuna tira vanacari. Vamsivata is one of the places by the Yamuna.
The gopis has glorified the flute playing Krsna and His flute in the 10th Canto, chapter 21 , text 7 to 20.
The Gopis said:
"Oh friends those eyes that see the beautiful faces of the sons of Maharaja Nanda are certainly fortunate. As these two sons enter the forest, surrounded by Their friends, driving the cows before them, They hold Their flutes to Their mouths and glance lovingly upon the residents of Vrindavana. For those who have eyes, we think there is no greater object of vision. "
"Dressed in charming variety of garments, upon the which Their garlands rest, and decorating Themselves with Peacock feathers, lotuses, lilies, newly grown mango sprouts and clusters of flower buds, Krsna and Balarama shine forth magnificently among the assembly of cowherd boys. They look just like the best of dancers appearing on a dramatic stage, and sometimes They sing."
"My dear Gopis, what auspicious activities must the flute have performed to enjoy the nectar of Krsna's lips independently and leave only a taste for us Gopis, for whom that nectar is actually meant!The forefathers of the flute, the bamboo trees, shed tears of pleasure. His mother the river on whose bank the bamboo was born, feels jubilation , and therefore her blooming lotus flowers are standing like hair on her body. "
(Obviously the Gopis are a bit transcendentally jealous of the flute by stating that nectar of Krsna's lips belongs to them them , but the flute are more fortunate in the eyes of the Gopis as He the flute can enjoy kissing Krsna at every step, however no one is more blessed as the Gopis as their love for Krsna is the highest. Actually Krsna's flute is a person and appears in Lord Caitanya's pastimes as a devotee. )
"Of friend Vrindavana is spreading the glory of the earth, having obtained the treasure of the lotus feet of Krsna, the son of Devaki . The peacocks dance madly when they hear Govinda's flute, and when other creatures see them from the hilltop , they all become stunned. " "Blessed are all these foolish deer because they have approached Maharaja Nanda's son , who is gorgeously dressed and is playing on His flute. Indeed both the doe and the bucks worship the Lord with looks of love and affection".
"Krsna's beauty and character create a festival for all women. Indeed , when the demigods wives flying in airplanes with their husbands catch sight of Him and hear His resonant flute song their hearts are shaken by Cupid, and they become so bewildered that the flowers fall out of their hair and their belts loosen. "
"Using their upraised ears as vessels, the cows are drinking the nectar of the flute song flowing out of Krsna's mouth. The calves , their mouths full of milk from their mothers moist nipples stand still as they take Govinda within themselves through their tear-filled eyes and embrace Him within their hearts. "
(Such a wonderful thing is described by the Gopis, that the cows and the Calves become stunned by love, and tears are flowing from the eyes of the calves and cows, and MILK is flowing more due to love from the cows and meanwhile the calves are not drinking due to the love and ecstasy being felt and becoming like stunned, which is one of the symptoms of ecstasy , vyabhicari bhava. )
"Oh Mother, in this forest all the birds have risen onto the beautiful branches of the trees to see Krsna. With closed eyes they are simply listening in silence to the sweet vibrations of His flute, and they are not attracted by any other sound. Surely these birds are on the same level as great sages. " "When the rivers hear the flute song of Krsna, their minds begin to desire Him, and thus the flow of their currents is broken and their waters are agitated, moving around in whirlpools. Then with the arms of their wave the rivers embrace Murari's lotus feet and holding on to them, present offerings of lotus flowers".
(there are 4 more verses of this chapter)
Srimad Bhagavatam's most important part is the description about Krsna's pastimes and especially the Vrindavana pastimes. Why is this?
Because it relates to pastimes of Krsna in His primary form as Govinda, the Adi Purusha, svayam Bhagavan form. And in Vrindavan Krsna is most complete with all 64 qualities as described in" Nectar of devotion", there is 4 qualities that Krsna in Vrindavan manifest that even Dvarkadish Krsna does not manifest:
1) Krsna is the performer of wonderful activities
2) Krsna is surrounded by loving devotees
3) Krsna's attractive flute
4) Krsna's exquisite beauty
So this flute playing of Krsna is very special, it is explained that Krsna has different flutes and he also plays different melodies for different purposes. There is 3 kinds of flutes that Krsna uses.
1) Venu
2) Vamsi
3) Murali
There are 8 different tunes that Krsna plays
1) Demigods like Lord Brahma and Lord Siva's meditation is broken and they forget everything in astonishment and Lord Anantadeva sways His head like in hypnosis.
2) Second tune makes the Yamuna flow backwards
3) Third tune makes the moon stop moving
4) Fourth tune makes the cows run to Krsna and get stunned listening to the flute
5) The 5th note attracts the gopis and make them come running to him
6) 6th Tune makes the stones melt and creates autumn season
7) 7th note manifests all seasons
8) 8th Note is meant exclusively for Srimati Radharani, it takes Her name and calls for Her, and She comes running to Him putting Her cloth wrong and mascara also.
Srila Rupa Goswami has written some beautiful verses regarding Krsna's flute.
Sakhi mama niyati hatayas
tad dasana bhagyam astu va ma va
punar api sa venu nado
yadi karna pathe patet tad evalam
"O friend , I am very unfortunate. If the sound of Krsna's flute fell once again on the pathway of my ears, I would not care even wether or not I had the fortune to see Him" (This is from Padyavali, a book by Rupa Goswami)
Another vers from there is:
"When will Lord Madhuripu's(Krsna's) sweet flute music, which dances with a lotus foot on the unapproachabel braided hair of the goddesses who are the Upanisads suddenly enter my ear"?
Because Krsna's flute always attracts the Gopis away form their duties they want to steal that flute, these pastimes of the gopis stealing Krsna's flute is described in the books of the Goswamis, like in the 10 chapter of Govinda lilamrita. (written by Krsna das Kaviraja)
Especially Srimati Radharani is expert to steal Krsna's flute, and after doing so she passes it on to another Gopi and who passes it on to another Gopi and so on, so that finally Krsna have a hard time to locate His flute. He uses this as an excuse to embrace them and search them to see if they each indivdually have the flute.
Rupa Goswami describes on such transcendental theft in his Padyavali:
"Silencing Her anklets by placing them on Her arms as golden armlets, and carefully observing Krsna's eyes for any sign of His becoming startled, smiling Radha stole the flute from His lap. "
And so many pastimes take place due to the staling of Krsna's flute and thus Srimati Vrindadevi has glorified Krsna's flute:'O flute!Although you are from the smallest of all good families, your dynasty became glorious , since you caused all these wonderfull pastimes of Radha and Krsna!" (Govinda lilamrita vers 132 of 10th Chapter)
Srimati Radhika sometimes glorifies the flute as explained by Rupa Goswami: "O flute who is so dear to Krsna, when you grant Me your mercy I will also give you many benedictions in return. I will bless you , saying, "May you become faultless. May your heart become filled with the nectar from Krsna's lips. May you become very eloquent. may you become charmingly slender. May you become the object of Lord Krsna's worship. "
"Oh flute you have blessed Me by giving Me the emptiness in your heart, your lightness, the dryness of your body , and your eloquence in constantly chanting the holy name of Krsna, the king of Vraja.
WHY DO YOU NOT GIVE ME THE NECTAR OF KRSNA'S LIPS, which you drink, turn into song , and shamelessly use to enchant the entire world and bring it under your control. " Rupa Goswami quotes other great vaisnavas prayers and hankering in his Padyavali: "May Kesava who sweetly playing the flute, a peacock feather in His hair, blackened with dust, decorated with a wilted forest flower garland, tired , handsome, and a festival of happiness for the gopis eyes, returns with the surabhi cows at the days end, grand auspisciousness to you all".
"Here our Lord herded the calves , and here He played the flute". I pray that I may pass my days shedding tears as I speak these words on the Yamunas shore".
"The Supreme Personality of Godhead is decorated with yellow kadambha flowers. A yellow dhoti girds His waist, He enjoys playing sweet flute music in the forest garden. I pray that my heart may become fixed on Him. "