Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki
आरती कुंजबिहारी की
Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki is one of the best-loved aartis of Lord Krishna, sung in homes and temples across North India and the diaspora. In a refrain and four stanzas of Braj-flavoured Hindi, it pictures Krishna of Vrindavan beside Radha, with his flute, peacock crown and Vaijayanti garland. Families sing it daily, and above all at midnight on Janmashtami.
- 5 verses
- 4 min
- Traditional (author unknown)
- Best on Wednesday
Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki,आरती कुंजबिहारी की,
Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari Kiश्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥
This aarti is for Kunj Bihari, who roams the groves of Vrindavan: Shri Krishna Murari, the lifter of Mount Govardhan.
Gale Mein Baijanti Mala, Bajave Murli Madhur Balaगले में बैजंती माला, बजावै मुरली मधुर बाला।
Shravan Mein Kundal Jhalkala, Nand Ke Anand Nandlalaश्रवण में कुण्डल झलकाला, नंद के आनंद नंदलाला।
Gagan Sam Ang Kanti Kali, Radhika Chamak Rahi Aaliगगन सम अंग कांति काली, राधिका चमक रही आली।
Latan Mein Thade Banmaliलतन में ठाढ़े बनमाली,
Bhramar Si Alak, Kasturi Tilak, Chandra Si Jhalakभ्रमर सी अलक, कस्तूरी तिलक, चंद्र सी झलक,
Lalit Chhavi Shyama Pyari Kiललित छवि श्यामा प्यारी की॥
Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari Kiश्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥
A Vaijayanti garland hangs at his neck, and the young Lord plays sweet music on his flute. Earrings gleam in his ears. He is Nanda's joy, Nanda's darling son. His body has the dark glow of a rain-filled sky, and beside him Radhika shines, dear friend. The Lord of the forest garland stands among the vines, his curls dark as bees, a musk tilak on his brow, his face aglow like the moon. This aarti is for the lovely form of Radha's beloved, Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari.
Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki,आरती कुंजबिहारी की,
Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari Kiश्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥
Kanakmay Mor Mukut Bilse, Devta Darsan Ko Tarseकनकमय मोर मुकुट बिलसै, देवता दरसन को तरसैं।
Gagan Son Suman Raasi Barseगगन सों सुमन रासि बरसै,
Baje Murchang, Madhur Mirdang, Gwalin Sangबजे मुरचंग, मधुर मिरदंग, ग्वालिन संग,
Atul Rati Gop Kumari Kiअतुल रति गोप कुमारी की॥
Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari Kiश्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥
A golden crown of peacock feathers gleams on his head, and even the gods long for a glimpse of him. Heaps of flowers rain down from the sky. The murchang and the sweet mridanga play as he moves among the cowherd girls. This aarti is for the one who holds the matchless love of the gopis, Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari.
The murchang is a small metal jaw harp still played in Braj and Rajasthan.
Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki,आरती कुंजबिहारी की,
Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari Kiश्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥
Jahan Te Prakat Bhai Ganga, Sakal Man Harini Shri Gangaजहां ते प्रकट भई गंगा, सकल मन हारिणि श्री गंगा।
Smaran Te Hot Moh Bhangaस्मरन ते होत मोह भंगा,
Basi Shiv Sees, Jata Ke Beech, Hare Agh Keechबसी शिव सीस, जटा के बीच, हरै अघ कीच,
Charan Chhavi Shri Banwari Kiचरन छवि श्रीबनवारी की॥
Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari Kiश्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥
From his feet the holy Ganga came forth, Shri Ganga, who captivates every heart. Remembering her shatters delusion. She came to rest in Shiva's matted locks and washes away the mire of sin. This aarti is for the beauty of the feet of Shri Banwari, Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari.
Tradition holds that the Ganga flowed from the foot of the Lord in his Vamana (Trivikrama) form and was caught in Shiva's hair as she descended to earth.
Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki,आरती कुंजबिहारी की,
Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari Kiश्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥
Chamakti Ujjwal Tat Renu, Baj Rahi Vrindavan Benuचमकती उज्ज्वल तट रेनू, बज रही वृंदावन बेनू।
Chahun Disi Gopi Gwal Dhenuचहुं दिसि गोपि ग्वाल धेनू,
Hansat Mridu Mand, Chandni Chand, Katat Bhav Phandहंसत मृदु मंद, चांदनी चंद, कटत भव फंद,
Ter Sun Deen Dukhari Kiटेर सुन दीन दुखारी की॥
Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari Kiश्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥
The bright sand of the Yamuna's banks glitters, and the flute of Vrindavan is playing. On every side are gopis, cowherd boys and cows. He smiles a soft, gentle smile beneath the moonlit sky, and the snares of worldly life are cut. This aarti is for the one who hears the cry of the humble and the suffering, Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari.
Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki,आरती कुंजबिहारी की,
Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari Kiश्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥
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Questions
What does 'Kunj Bihari' mean?
Krishna who roams the groves of Vrindavan with Radha and the gopis. Kunj is a bower of flowering vines, and bihari is one who wanders or plays. The Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan uses a closely related name.
When is Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki sung?
At the daily morning and evening aarti of Krishna, and above all at midnight on Janmashtami, after the abhishek of Laddu Gopal at the moment of his birth. Many families also sing it on Wednesdays and Ekadashi. People usually sing it while waving the ghee diya, with bells, conch and clapping.
Who wrote Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki?
Nobody knows. It is in Braj, the language of Mathura and Vrindavan, which suggests it grew out of the Braj devotional tradition. Because it spread through temples and aarti booklets, a few words differ between sources. Our source note lists the main ones.
Why does a Krishna aarti describe the Ganga?
Because tradition says the Ganga flowed from the Lord's feet. When he took the Vamana form and measured the universe in three strides, the Ganga came from his foot, and Shiva caught her in his matted hair as she fell to earth. So the aarti honours Krishna's feet as the source of the Ganga.
Source and review
Source: Traditional Braj/Hindi aarti as printed in popular aarti-sangrah booklets; text cross-checked against BhaktiBharat.com, Drik Panchang (Hindi) and two further lyric collections (chantchalisa.com, hindibhajanlyrics.co.in)
Two lines differ between sources. Stanza 3: most sources and common singing read 'सकल मन हारिणि श्री गंगा'; Drik Panchang reads 'कलुष कलि हारिणि श्रीगंगा' (remover of the sins of Kali Yuga), and some singers say 'सकल मल हारिणि'. Stanza 4: most read 'टेर सुन दीन दुखारी की'; Drik Panchang reads 'दीन भिखारी की'. We follow the majority. Line breaks within stanzas follow the sung phrasing; the refrain is repeated after each stanza.
We checked the text line by line against the sources named here. The meanings are an AI-assisted draft. A scholar has not reviewed them yet.
The meanings are our own first draft. A scholar has not reviewed them yet. If you spot a mistake, please tell us.