Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki — Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari Ki: Lyrics in English and Hindi

Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki — “Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari Ki” — is the best-loved aarti of Lord Krishna. It is sung on Janmashtami, Govardhan Puja, Ekadashi and in daily Krishna worship across Braj and the world. Below are the full lyrics in English and Hindi, the meaning and when to sing it.

Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki lyrics in English

The aarti in English (Roman) letters, line by line from the Hindi text below.

Aarti kunjabihari ki,
Shri giridhar krishn murari ki
Aarti kunjabihari ki,
Shri giridhar krishn murari ki

Gale mein baijanti mala,
Bajavai murli madhur bala,
Shravan mein kundal jhalkala,
Nand ke aanand nandalala,
Gagan sam ang kanti kali,
Radhika chamak rahi aali,
Latan mein thaढ़े banmali
Bhramar si alak,
Kasturi tilak,
Chandra si jhalak,
Lalit chhavi shyama pyari ki,
Shri giridhar krishn murari ki

Aarti kunjabihari ki,
Shri giridhar krishn murari ki

Kankamay mor mukut bilsai,
Devta darsan ko tarsain,
Gagan son suman rasi barsai,
Baje murchang,
Madhur mirdang,
Gwalin sang,
Atul rati gop kumari ki,
Shri giridhar krishnamurari ki

Aarti kunjabihari ki,
Shri giridhar krishn murari ki

Jahan te prakat bhai ganga,
Sakal man harini shri ganga,
Smaran te hot moh bhanga
Basi shiv sis,
Jata ke bich,
Harai agh kich,
Charan chhavi shribnavari ki,
Shri giridhar krishnamurari ki

Aarti kunjabihari ki,
Shri giridhar krishn murari ki

Chamkati ujjwal tat renu,
Baj rahi vrindavan benu,
Chahun disi gopi gwal dhenu
Hansat mridu mand,
Chandani chand,
Katat bhav phand,
Ter sun din dukhari ki,
Shri giridhar krishnamurari ki

Aarti kunjabihari ki,
Shri giridhar krishn murari ki

Aarti kunjabihari ki,
Shri giridhar krishn murari ki
Aarti kunjabihari ki,
Shri giridhar krishn murari ki

Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki in Hindi

आरती कुंजबिहारी की,
श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की ॥
आरती कुंजबिहारी की,
श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की ॥

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,
श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की ॥

आरती कुंजबिहारी की,
श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की ॥

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

आरती कुंजबिहारी की,
श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की ॥

जहां ते प्रकट भई गंगा,
सकल मन हारिणि श्री गंगा ।
स्मरन ते होत मोह भंगा
बसी शिव सीस,
जटा के बीच,
हरै अघ कीच,
चरन छवि श्रीबनवारी की,
श्री गिरिधर कृष्णमुरारी की ॥

आरती कुंजबिहारी की,
श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की ॥

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

आरती कुंजबिहारी की,
श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की ॥

आरती कुंजबिहारी की,
श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की ॥
आरती कुंजबिहारी की,
श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की ॥

Meaning of Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki

Let us perform the aarti of Kunj Bihari — Krishna who roams the groves of Vrindavan — Shri Giridhar, Krishna Murari. A Vaijayanti garland hangs at his neck and he plays the sweet flute; earrings shine in his ears; he is Nandalal, the joy of Nanda. His body is dark like the sky and Radhika shines beside him. Standing among the creepers, wearing a garland of forest flowers, with curls like black bees, a musk tilak and a glow like the moon — such is the lovely form of the beloved of Shyama.

He wears a golden peacock crown, and the gods long for a glimpse of him; flowers rain from the sky. The murchang and the sweet mridang play as he dances with the gopis.

From his feet flows the Ganga that washes away all impurity, which Shiva holds in his matted hair. The sands of the Yamuna bank shine, the flute sounds in Vrindavan, the cows and cowherds are with him. Smiling gently in the moonlight, he cuts the bonds of the world and hears the call of the poor and suffering.

When and how to sing it

• On Janmashtami, at midnight after Krishna’s birth.
• On Govardhan Puja after the annakut.
• On Ekadashi and in daily morning and evening Krishna worship.

Frequently asked questions