Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki
आरती कुंज बिहारी की, श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की
What is Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki?
Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki is a traditional Hindi aarti to Lord Krishna as Kunj Bihari, the flute-playing cowherd of Vrindavan, whose verses picture his adornments, his enchanting form, and the gopis' devotion while lamps are waved before him during evening worship and Janmashtami.
If you have stood before a Krishna shrine at dusk while the pujari circles a lamp and the congregation sings, there is a good chance the words you heard were these. “Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki” is one of the most sung Krishna aartis in North India, cherished at the Kunj Bihari temples of Vrindavan and repeated in countless homes on Janmashtami night. The name Kunj Bihari means “the one who wanders and plays in the flowering groves” — the Krishna of Vrindavan who tends cows, teases the gopis, and lifts Govardhan on a fingertip. Rather than tell a story, the aarti simply looks at him: the garland at his chest, the earrings swinging as he plays, the peacock crown, the wide lotus eyes. Each couplet is a glance, and the returning refrain — Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki, Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari Ki — brings the singer back to the act of offering light.
Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki Lyrics
Roman transliteration for easy chanting. Tap “Meaning” under any verse for the English translation.
Refrain
Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki, Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari Ki
Gale mein baijanti mala, bajave murali madhur baala
Shravan mein kundal jhalakala, Nand ke aanand Nandlala
Meaning
A wild-flower Vaijayanti garland hangs at his throat while the young Lord draws sweet notes from his flute; earrings flash at his ears — this is Nandlala, the very joy of Nanda's house.
Gagan sam ang kanti kaali, radhika chamak rahi aali
Latan mein thadhe Banamali, bhramar si alak, kasturi tilak, chandra si jhalak
Meaning
His body glows dark like the open sky, and beside him Radha shines like a companion of light. The forest-garlanded one stands among the creepers — curls like hovering bees, a musk mark on his brow, a radiance about him like the moon.
Kanakmay mor mukut bilse, devta darshan ko tarse
Gagan so suman rasi barse, baje murchang, madhur mridang, gwalin sang
Meaning
A golden peacock crown gleams on his head, and even the gods long for a glimpse of him; from the sky flowers rain down in showers while the jew's-harp sounds and the sweet drum keeps time as he plays among the cowherd girls.
Vishwambhar bhavan bhandari, viprarupa dharo Banwari
Zhulat Naval Kishori, murali madhur bajaye, ur ki painjaniya baje
Meaning
He is the sustainer of the worlds, keeper of every house's store; the forest-Lord who once took a brahmin's form. The ever-youthful girl sways beside him as he plays the sweet flute and the anklets at his feet ring out.
Shri Radha vallabh giridhari, Kunj Bihari Girdhari
Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki, Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari Ki
Meaning
Beloved of Shri Radha, holder of the mountain — Kunj Bihari, the Govardhan-lifter. Once more we lift the lamp of aarti before him: Kunj Bihari, Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari.
Meaning & Significance
The aarti works less like a poem with an argument and more like a slow visual sweep across Krishna’s form, the way a devotee’s eyes move during darshan. It opens by naming who is being worshipped — not an abstract god but Kunj Bihari, the Krishna who plays in Vrindavan’s groves, and Girdhar, the boy who held up Mount Govardhan to shelter his village.
From there each couplet adds a detail: the Vaijayanti garland of five-coloured wild flowers, the flute at his lips, earrings catching the light, a body dark and luminous as the monsoon sky. Radha appears at his side as brightness answering brightness. The third verse widens the frame — gods themselves crave his sight, and flowers fall from the heavens while music plays and the gopis dance. By naming him Vishwambhar, the sustainer of all worlds, the fourth verse quietly reminds the singer that this playful cowherd is also the source of everything.
The closing couplet ties Radha and Govardhan together — Radha Vallabh Giridhari — and folds back into the opening line, so the aarti ends exactly where it began: with a lamp being circled and a name being sung.
How Do You Perform the Aarti?
- Choose the time — Sing it at the evening lamp-offering (sandhya aarti) before a Krishna image or picture, or as part of Janmashtami midnight worship.
- Prepare the lamp — Light a ghee or oil lamp (deepak) with an odd number of wicks on a small plate, and keep incense, a bell, and a few flowers ready.
- Begin with the refrain — Start by singing the opening line — Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki, Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari Ki — while slowly circling the lit lamp clockwise before the deity.
- Sing the antaras in order — Move through the numbered verses, returning to the refrain between them as the group joins in; ring the bell to keep the rhythm.
- Close and share the flame — End on the final refrain, set the lamp down, and offer the aarti flame to those present by passing your palms over it and touching them to your eyes, followed by a short prayer and prasad.
What Are the Benefits of Singing This Aarti?
Devotees sing this aarti for the calm and closeness it brings to daily and festival worship of Krishna:
- Anchors evening worship: Its familiar tune gives households a shared, repeatable way to close the day with Krishna's name.
- Central to Janmashtami: It is one of the standard aartis sung at Krishna's midnight birth celebration in temples and homes.
- Fixes the mind on Krishna's form: The verse-by-verse description of his garland, flute, crown, and eyes aids visualisation during darshan.
- Easy for all ages to join: A short refrain that repeats between verses lets children and newcomers sing along quickly.
- Deepens Radha-Krishna devotion: By naming Radha beside him, it carries the Vrindavan mood of love and companionship, not distant awe.
Who Wrote This Aarti?
“Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki” is a traditional devotional composition of the Braj–Vrindavan tradition, commonly attributed to the poet-saint Dhruvdas, a devotee associated with the Radha-Krishna bhakti lineages of the region. Like most aartis of this age, it has been carried for centuries through oral singing rather than a single printed manuscript, so small variations in wording appear across communities and temples.
What is consistent is its home: the Kunj Bihari temples of Vrindavan, where Krishna is worshipped specifically as the playful wanderer of the groves. The text belongs to the shared public-domain devotional heritage of North India, sung freely in homes, temples, and satsangs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki?
Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki is a traditional Hindi aarti to Lord Krishna as Kunj Bihari, the flute-playing cowherd of Vrindavan, whose verses picture his adornments, his enchanting form, and the gopis' devotion while lamps are waved before him during evening worship and Janmashtami.
What does 'Kunj Bihari' mean?
Kunj Bihari means 'the one who wanders and plays in the kunjas' — the flowering bowers and groves of Vrindavan. It is a name for the young Krishna in his most beloved, playful form as the cowherd of Braj.
Who wrote Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki?
It is a traditional composition of the Braj devotional tradition, commonly attributed to the poet-saint Dhruvdas. As an old aarti passed down orally, it has no single fixed authorship, and minor wording differences exist between versions.
When is this aarti sung?
It is most often sung during the evening lamp-offering (sandhya aarti) before Krishna and is a standard part of Janmashtami worship, including the midnight celebration of Krishna's birth.
What does the refrain mean?
The refrain — Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki, Shri Girdhar Krishna Murari Ki — means 'We offer aarti to Kunj Bihari, to Shri Girdhar (the lifter of Govardhan), Krishna, the slayer of Mura.' It names the three aspects being worshipped and returns between verses.
Who is Girdhar in the aarti?
Girdhar, or Giridhari, means 'the one who holds the mountain' and refers to the episode where Krishna lifted Mount Govardhan on his little finger to shelter the people of Vrindavan from a storm sent by Indra.
॥ जय श्री कृष्ण ॥ बोलो कुंज बिहारी लाल की जय ॥