Aarti · Krishna

Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki आरती कुंजबिहारी की

Traditional (Braj) Hindi 5 verses 5 min

Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki lyrics in Hindi & English, with meaning

  1. Chorus#

    आरती कुंजबिहारी की, श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की ॥

    Ārtī Kuñjabihārī kī, Śrī Giridhar Kṛṣṇa Murārī kī.

    कुंजों में विहार करने वाले, गिरिधारी श्रीकृष्ण मुरारी की आरती।

    The aarti of Kunj Bihari, who roams the groves — of Shri Giridhar, Krishna, Murari.

  2. Verse 1#

    गले में बैजंती माला, बजावै मुरली मधुर बाला ।
    श्रवण में कुण्डल झलकाला, नंद के आनंद नंदलाला ।
    गगन सम अंग कांति काली, राधिका चमक रही आली ।
    लतन में ठाढ़े बनमाली, भ्रमर सी अलक, कस्तूरी तिलक,
    चंद्र सी झलक, ललित छवि श्यामा प्यारी की ॥

    Gale meṁ baijantī mālā, bajāvai muralī madhur bālā.
    Śravaṇ meṁ kuṇḍal jhalkālā, Nand ke ānand Nandalālā.
    Gagan sam aṅg kānti kālī, Rādhikā camak rahī ālī.
    Latan meṁ ṭhāṛhe Banamālī, bhramar sī alak, kastūrī tilak,
    candra sī jhalak, lalit chavi Śyāmā pyārī kī.

    गले में वैजयन्ती माला है, बालक कृष्ण मधुर मुरली बजा रहे हैं; कानों में कुण्डल झलक रहे हैं — नन्द के आनन्द नन्दलाल। उनका अंग आकाश के समान श्याम कान्ति वाला है और सखी, राधिका उनके साथ चमक रही हैं। वनमाली लताओं में खड़े हैं — भौंरे जैसी अलकें, कस्तूरी का तिलक, चन्द्रमा जैसी आभा — प्यारी श्यामा-श्याम की ललित छवि।

    The Vaijayanti garland on his neck, the young one plays his sweet flute; earrings sparkle in his ears — Nandalala, the joy of Nanda. His body is dark like the sky, and Radhika shines beside him, dear friend. Banamali stands among the creepers — curls like bees, a tilak of musk, a glow like the moon — the lovely form of beloved Shyama (Radha) and Shyam.

  3. Verse 2#

    कनकमय मोर मुकुट बिलसै, देवता दरसन को तरसैं ।
    गगन सों सुमन रासि बरसै, बजे मुरचंग, मधुर मिरदंग,
    ग्वालिन संग, अतुल रति गोप कुमारी की ॥

    Kanakamay mor mukuṭ bilasai, devatā darasan ko tarasaiṁ.
    Gagan soṁ suman rāsi barasai, baje muracaṅg, madhur miradaṅg,
    gvālin saṅg, atul rati gop kumārī kī.

    उनका सोने का मोरमुकुट चमक रहा है, देवता उनके दर्शन को तरसते हैं। आकाश से फूलों की वर्षा हो रही है, मुरचंग और मधुर मृदंग बज रहे हैं, ग्वालिनें साथ हैं — गोपकुमारियों का अतुलनीय प्रेम।

    His golden peacock crown gleams; the gods long for his darshan. Heaps of flowers rain from the sky; the jaw harp sounds, the mridanga plays sweetly; he is with the cowherd girls — the boundless love of the gopis.

  4. Verse 3#

    जहां ते प्रकट भई गंगा, कलुष कलि हारिणि श्रीगंगा ।
    स्मरन ते होत मोह भंगा, बसी सिव सीस, जटा के बीच,
    हरै अघ कीच, चरन छवि श्रीबनवारी की ॥

    Jahāṁ te prakaṭ bhaī Gaṅgā, kaluṣ kali hāriṇi Śrīgaṅgā.
    Smaran te hot moh bhaṅgā, basī Siv sīs, jaṭā ke bīc,
    harai agh kīc, caran chavi Śrī Banavārī kī.

    जिन चरणों से गंगा प्रकट हुईं — कलियुग के पापों को हरने वाली श्रीगंगा; जिनके स्मरण से मोह टूट जाता है; जो शिव के सिर पर जटाओं में बसती हैं और पाप के कीचड़ को धो देती हैं — ऐसी श्री बनवारी के चरणों की छवि है।

    From his feet the Ganga appeared — holy Ganga, who removes the stains of the Kali age; remembering her breaks delusion; she dwells on Shiva's head, within his locks, and washes away the mud of sin — such is the beauty of the feet of Shri Banwari.

  5. Verse 4#

    चमकती उज्ज्वल तट रेनू, बज रही वृंदावन बेनू ।
    चहुं दिसि गोपि ग्वाल धेनू, हंसत मृदु मंद, चांदनी चंद,
    कटत भव फंद, टेर सुन दीन भिखारी की ॥

    Camaktī ujjval taṭ renū, baj rahī Vṛndāvan benū.
    Cahuṁ disi gopi gvāl dhenū, haṁsat mṛdu mand, cāṁdnī cand,
    kaṭat bhav phand, ṭer sun dīn bhikhārī kī.

    यमुना तट की उजली रेत चमक रही है, वृन्दावन में बाँसुरी बज रही है; चारों ओर गोपियाँ, ग्वाले और गायें हैं। वे धीमे-धीमे मधुर मुस्कुरा रहे हैं — चाँदनी और चन्द्रमा — और संसार के बन्धन कट जाते हैं। इस दीन भिखारी की पुकार सुनिए।

    The sand of the riverbank sparkles bright; the flute is playing in Vrindavan; all around are gopis, cowherds and cows. He smiles softly — moonlight and the moon — and the noose of worldly life is cut. Hear the call of this poor beggar!

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What Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki means

"Kunj Bihari" means the one who sports in the kunjas — the flowering groves of Vrindavan. The aarti does not tell a story so much as paint a picture: Krishna with the Vaijayanti garland and flute, earrings glinting, dark as the sky, with Radha shining beside him; the golden peacock crown, flowers raining from heaven and the music of the gopis.

The third verse turns to his feet, from which — in the Puranic image of Vamana-Trivikrama — the Ganga flows, to settle on Shiva's head and wash away the sins of the age. The last verse brings us back to Vrindavan by moonlight, and ends with the singer calling himself "a poor beggar" asking to be heard.

How to chant Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki

  • WhenEvery evening in Krishna temples, on Janmashtami at midnight after the janma, on Ekadashi and during Kartik month
  • LampA ghee diya or camphor (kapur) on a plate, waved clockwise before the deity
  • WithBell, conch or clapping; everyone sings the chorus together
  • AfterTake the aarti — pass your palms over the flame and touch them to your eyes and head
  1. Prepare the thali. Place a lit diya or camphor, a few flowers, roli, akshat and a little prasad on a plate.
  2. Begin with the chorus. Stand before the deity and sing the opening line together; it is repeated after every verse.
  3. Wave the lamp. Move the thali in slow clockwise circles before the deity — traditionally four times at the feet, twice at the navel, once at the face and seven times over the whole form.
  4. Sing every verse. One person may lead each verse while the others answer with the chorus.
  5. Close. Offer tulsi and makhan-mishri, take the aarti, and call "Bolo Shri Banke Bihari Lal ki jai!"

Words of popular aartis vary a little from family to family and from one printed sangrah to another; sing the version you know.

Where Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki comes from

Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki is a traditional aarti from the Braj region, sung in the temples of Vrindavan and Mathura and in homes across North India. Its author is not recorded. Its long, rippling lines in Brajbhasha reflect the style of the Braj bhakti poets.

Some printed versions differ in small words ("bajāvai muralī madhur bālā" / "bajāve murlī madhur bālā"); the verses given here are the most widely sung.

About Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki

The Krishna aarti of Braj — "Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari ki" — sung on Janmashtami and every evening in Vrindavan, painting Krishna in the groves with Radha, the flute and the peacock crown. It comes from the Traditional (Braj), Traditional devotional song. The text is in Hindi.

Frequently asked questions

Who wrote Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki?

Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki comes from the Traditional (Braj) (Traditional devotional song).

Where can I read Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki lyrics in English?

This page has the full Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki in Hindi (Devanagari) with the English transliteration under every verse, and the meaning of each verse in Hindi and English. Use the Chant and Meaning buttons above the verses to show only what you need.

आरती कुंजबिहारी की का अर्थ क्या है?

इस पेज पर आरती कुंजबिहारी की के हर पद के नीचे उसका सरल हिंदी अर्थ और अंग्रेज़ी अर्थ दिया गया है।

Is there a Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki PDF?

Yes — the printable booklet on this page has Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki as a free A5 PDF to download, print and share.

How many verses are there in Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki?

Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki has 5 verses as given on this page.

In which language is Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki?

Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki is in Hindi. This page gives the original text in Devanagari with Roman transliteration and meaning in Hindi and English.

How long does it take to recite Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki?

A full recitation takes about 5 min.

To whom is Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki dedicated?

Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki is dedicated to Krishna. The Krishna aarti of Braj — "Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari ki" — sung on Janmashtami and every evening in Vrindavan, painting Krishna in the groves with Radha, the flute and the peacock crown.

What does Kunj Bihari mean?

"The one who sports in the groves" — Krishna playing in the flowering kunjas of Vrindavan with Radha and the gopis.

When is Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki sung?

Daily in Krishna temples, and especially at midnight on Janmashtami after the birth celebration.

What is the Vaijayanti mala?

The garland of forest flowers that Krishna wears, traditionally of five kinds of flowers reaching to his knees.

Why does a Krishna aarti mention the Ganga?

In Puranic tradition the Ganga flows from the feet of Vishnu; the aarti praises Krishna's feet as the source of the purifying river.

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