Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki - the radiant aarti to Shri Krishna (Kunj Bihari, Giridhar), composed in praise of the flute-playing Lord of Vrindavan.
आरती कुंजबिहारी की, श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥
गले में बैजन्ती माला, बजावै मुरली मधुर बाला। श्रवण में कुण्डल झलकाला, नन्द के आनन्द नन्दलाला। गगन सम अंग कान्ति काली, राधिका चमक रही आली। लता में ठाढ़े बनमाली, भ्रमर सी अलक, कस्तूरी तिलक, चन्द्र सी झलक। ललित छवि श्यामा प्यारी की, श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥ आरती कुंजबिहारी की॥
कनकमय मोर मुकुट बिलसै, देवता दरसन को तरसैं। गगन सों सुमन रासि बरसै, बजै मुरचंग, मधुर मिरदंग, ग्वालिन संग। अतुल रति गोप कुमारी की, श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥ आरती कुंजबिहारी की॥
जहाँ 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 कृष्ण मुरारी की॥ आरती कुंजबिहारी की॥
चमकती उज्ज्वल तट रेनू, बज रही वृन्दावन बेनू। चहुँ दिसि गोपि ग्वाल धेनु, हंसत मृदु मंद, चाँदनी चंद, कटत भव फंद। टेर सुन दीन दुखारी की, श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की॥ आरती कुंजबिहारी की॥
Aarti Kunjbihari ki, Shri Giridhar Krishn Murari ki॥
Gale mein baijanti mala, bajave murli madhur bala. Shravan mein kundal jhalkala, Nand ke anand Nandlala. Gagan sam ang kanti kali, Radhika chamak rahi aali. Lata mein thaadhe banmali, bhramar si alak, kasturi tilak, chandra si jhalak. Lalit chhavi Shyama pyari ki, Shri Giridhar Krishn Murari ki॥ Aarti Kunjbihari ki॥
Kanakmay mor mukut bilsai, devta darsan ko tarsain. Gagan son suman raasi barsai, bajai murchang, madhur mirdang, gwalin sang. Atul rati gop kumari ki, Shri Giridhar Krishn Murari ki॥ Aarti Kunjbihari ki॥
Jahan te prakat bhai Ganga, sakal man harini Shri Ganga. Smaran te hot moh bhanga, basi Shiv sees, jata ke beech, harai agh keech. Charan chhavi Shribanwari ki, Shri Giridhar Krishn Murari ki॥ Aarti Kunjbihari ki॥
Chamakti ujjwal tat renu, baj rahi Vrindavan benu. Chahun disi gopi gwal dhenu, hansat mridu mand, chaandani chand, katat bhav phand. Ter sun deen dukhari ki, Shri Giridhar Krishn Murari ki॥ Aarti Kunjbihari ki॥
Frequently asked questions about Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki
Who is Kunj Bihari?
Shri Krishna as the one who wanders in the kunj, the flowering groves of Vrindavan. The name carries the whole mood of this aarti - not the Krishna of the battlefield counsel but the flute-playing boy of the forest bowers, with Radha beside him.
What makes this aarti unusual?
It is a picture rather than a petition. Verse after verse simply describes him - the baijanti garland, the flute at his lips, the earrings against his cheek, the peacock crown, the moonlike glow of his form. It asks for nothing, which devotees consider its beauty.
When is it sung?
At the evening seva of Krishna and Radha, at Janmashtami, and daily in Vaishnava homes that keep a Krishna altar. In the temples of Braj it is among the most sung of all the aartis.
What is offered to Krishna along with it?
Makhan-mishri, dhaniya panjiri and kheer, and always tulsi - no bhog is considered complete for Vishnu or Krishna without a tulsi leaf on it. The full arrangement is in the Krishna puja vidhi.
Is it the same as Aarti Kunj Bihari sung in temples of Vrindavan?
Yes, this is that text. Temples add their own refrains and repeat lines to the local tune, so what you hear at a particular mandir may run longer than the written version - the verses themselves are the same.
About the Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki
Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki - the radiant aarti to Shri Krishna (Kunj Bihari, Giridhar), composed in praise of the flute-playing Lord of Vrindavan.
An aarti is a devotional song sung while waving a lit lamp (diya) before the deity, usually at the close of worship. The Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki above is given in both Hindi (Devanagari) and English (Hinglish, Roman script) so you can sing along in whichever script you are most comfortable with - switch between the two using the buttons above.
An aarti is the lamp-song at the close of puja. It is not a forty-verse chalisa and not a stotram. Browse every lamp-song on the Aarti index, or open a mantra for the same deity. Where the lamp sits in the sequence of worship is shown in Puja Vidhi.
