Nepalese also use the word murali (मुरली), but that word can mean not only flute or fife, but also a reed instrument.Īncient regional innovations, such as those in the Himalayan foothills of India, developed more complex designs, such as the algoza which is a 'twin bansuri' in different keys constructed as a single instrument, allowing the musician to play more complex music. The instrument is also used in Nepal, under the name Bām̐surī (बाँसुरी). Other regional names of bansuri-style, six to eight play holes, bamboo flutes in India include bansi, eloo, kulal, kulalu, kukhl, lingbufeniam, murali, murli, nadi, nar, pawa, pullankuzhal, pillana grovi, pulangoil, vansi, vasdanda, sipung, and venuvu. A flute player in these medieval texts is called vamsika. Ī phonetically similar name for the same instrument, in early medieval texts, is the Sanskrit word vaṃśi which is derived from root vaṃśa (Sanskrit: वंश ) meaning bamboo. The word bansuri originates in the bans (बाँस) + sur (सुर). The early medieval Indian texts also refer to it as vaṃśi, while in medieval Indonesian Hindu and Buddhist arts, as well as temple carvings in Java and Bali dated to be from pre-10th century period, this transverse flute has been called wangsi or bangsi. However, the instrument is also common among other traditions such as Shaivism. These legends sometimes use alternate names for this wind instrument, such as the murali. The bansuri is revered as Lord Krishna's divine instrument and is often associated with Krishna's Rasa lila dance. it is intimately linked to the love story of Krishna and Radha. The bansuri-like flute is depicted in ancient Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temple paintings and reliefs, and is common in the iconography of the Hindu god Krishna. The traditional design features no mechanical keys, and the musician creates the notes they want by tapping the various finger holes. Longer bansuris feature deeper tones and lower pitches. One end is closed, and few centimeters from the closed end is its blow hole. The bansuri is typically between 30 centimetres (12 in) and 75 centimetres (30 in) in length, and the thickness of a human thumb. The six hole instrument covers two and a half octaves of music. Some modern designs come in ivory, fiberglass and various metals. Ī bansuri is traditionally made from a single hollow shaft of bamboo with six or seven finger holes. Its importance and operation is discussed in the Sanskrit text Natya Shastra.

It is referred to as nadi and tunava in the Rigveda and other Vedic texts of Hinduism. It is an aerophone produced from bamboo, used in Hindustani classical music. A bansuri is a side blown flute originating from the Indian subcontinent.

Flute music indian