Sunday, January 31, 2016

The Gopis’ Vraja Kirtana Mandali


by Mahanidhi Swami

In Kṛṣṇa-līlā the gopīs play a drum similar to the mṛdaṅga but it is called a mṛdaṅgum. This drum is the same shape as a mṛdaṅga, but it is made of wood, and the small head is      slightly larger in diameter. The mṛdaṅgum is a very popular drum in temples throughout South India such as Tirūpati Balaji.

Dukhini Dāsa, a disciple of Śrīnivāsa Ācārya, wrote a wonderful bhajana wherein he mentions the instruments played by Śrīmatī Rādhikā’s aṣṭa-sakhīs:
Sri Radha—vina
Viśākhā plays the mṛdaṅgum
Lalitā- vīṇā
Tungavidya- vīṇā/ pinak/ saptasara
Indulekha- esarāj/ maṅjīrā [finger cymbals]
Citrā- sitār-like vīṇā /Kasa gong
Campakalatā- sāraṅgi/ taṁboura
Rāṅgadevī- bell/ ghaṇṭā
Sudevī- karatāls
(An excerpt from Appreciating Navadvipa Dhama by Mahanidhi Swami)

Sri Harinama Sankirtana ki jai!
Nitai Gaura Premanande ki jai! 

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