Yugal Kishore Aarti — “Aarti Yugal Kishore Ki Keejai” — is the aarti of Radha and Krishna, the “Yugal Kishore” or youthful divine couple. It is much loved in Vrindavan, Barsana and Pushtimarg temples. The last line carries the signature “Paramanand Swami” — Paramanand Das was a 16th-century Ashtachhap poet and a disciple of Vallabhacharya. Below are the full lyrics in Hindi and English, the meaning of each line and the method.
Yugal Kishore Aarti lyrics in English
Aarti Yugal Kishore Ki Keejai,
Tan Man Dhan Nyochhavar Keejai.
Gaurshyam Mukh Nirkhan Leejai,
Hari Ka Roop Nayan Bhari Peejai.
॥ Aarti Yugal Kishore Ki Keejai… ॥
Ravi Shashi Koti Badan Ki Shobha,
Tahi Nirakhi Mero Man Lobha.
॥ Aarti Yugal Kishore Ki Keejai… ॥
Odhe Neel Peet Pat Saari,
Kunjbihari Girivardhari.
॥ Aarti Yugal Kishore Ki Keejai… ॥
Phoolan Sej Phool Ki Mala,
Ratna Singhasan Baithe Nandlala.
॥ Aarti Yugal Kishore Ki Keejai… ॥
Kanchan Thaar Kapur Ki Baati,
Hari Aaye Nirmal Bhai Chhati.
॥ Aarti Yugal Kishore Ki Keejai… ॥
Shri Purushottam Girivardhari,
Aarti Karen Sakal Nar Nari.
॥ Aarti Yugal Kishore Ki Keejai… ॥
Nandnandan Brijbhan Kishori,
Paramanand Swami Avichal Jori.
॥ Aarti Yugal Kishore Ki Keejai… ॥
Yugal Kishore Aarti in Hindi
आरती युगलकिशोर की कीजै।
तन मन धन न्योछावर कीजै॥
गौरश्याम मुख निरखन लीजै।
हरि का रूप नयन भरि पीजै॥
॥ आरती युगलकिशोर की कीजै…॥
रवि शशि कोटि बदन की शोभा।
ताहि निरखि मेरो मन लोभा॥
॥ आरती युगलकिशोर की कीजै…॥
ओढ़े नील पीत पट सारी।
कुंजबिहारी गिरिवरधारी॥
॥ आरती युगलकिशोर की कीजै…॥
फूलन सेज फूल की माला।
रत्न सिंहासन बैठे नंदलाला॥
॥ आरती युगलकिशोर की कीजै…॥
कंचन थार कपूर की बाती।
हरि आए निर्मल भई छाती॥
॥ आरती युगलकिशोर की कीजै…॥
श्री पुरुषोत्तम गिरिवरधारी।
आरती करें सकल नर नारी॥
॥ आरती युगलकिशोर की कीजै…॥
नंदनंदन बृजभान किशोरी।
परमानंद स्वामी अविचल जोरी॥
॥ आरती युगलकिशोर की कीजै…॥
Meaning of Yugal Kishore Aarti
- Refrain: Do the aarti of the youthful couple — Radha and Krishna — and offer them body, mind and wealth.
- Darshan: behold the faces of fair Radha and dark Krishna; drink in Hari’s form with your eyes full.
- Radiance: their faces shine like a crore suns and moons; seeing them, my heart was captivated.
- Garments: Radha wears a blue sari and Krishna a yellow pitambar — he who plays in the groves and lifted Govardhan.
- Adornment: a bed of flowers and a garland of flowers; Nandlal sits on a jewelled throne.
- Aarti: a camphor wick burns in a golden plate; as Hari comes, the heart becomes pure.
- All together: all men and women together do the aarti of Shri Purushottam, the lifter of Govardhan.
- Phalashruti: the son of Nanda and the daughter of Vrishabhanu — says Paramanand Swami, this pair is eternal and unshakeable.
How to do the Yugal Kishore Aarti
- Adorn a picture of Radha-Krishna or the yugal deities with yellow clothes, tulsi, a flower garland and sandalwood.
- Offer makhan-mishri, panchamrit or kheer as bhog — always include a tulsi leaf.
- Light a camphor or ghee lamp and sing this aarti; you can follow it with Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki.
- It is sung on Janmashtami, Radhashtami, Ekadashi and in daily evening worship.
7 rules of Yugal Kishore Aarti
- Stand and do the aarti with a ghee or camphor lamp, moving it clockwise.
- Wave the lamp 4 times at the feet, 2 at the navel, 1 at the face and 7 times over the whole form.
- Offer bhog first, then do the aarti.
- Blow the conch, ring the bell or clap during the aarti — it keeps the mind focused.
- Do not get up or talk in the middle of the aarti.
- Afterwards take the aarti with both hands and share the prasad.
- Keep pronunciation clear; do not rush — sing with feeling.
Benefits of Yugal Kishore Aarti
- Believed to increase love and harmony in married life.
- Awakens devotion and peace in the mind.
- By the grace of Radha-Krishna the home stays happy.
- The family sings together, which deepens love.
Also read Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki and Om Jai Jagdish Hare. Read more on Wikipedia.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote Aarti Yugal Kishore Ki Keejai?
The last line “Paramanand Swami Avichal Jori” carries the signature of Paramanand Das — a 16th-century Ashtachhap poet and disciple of Vallabhacharya.
What does “Yugal Kishore” mean?
Yugal means pair and Kishore means youthful — the youthful pair of Radha and Krishna. The Yugal Kishore temple of Vrindavan is named after it.
When is this aarti sung?
On Janmashtami, Radhashtami, Ekadashi, in the month of Kartik and in daily evening aarti.
What does “Neel Peet Pat” mean?
Blue and yellow garments — Radha ji wears a blue sari and Shri Krishna a yellow pitambar.
