Venkateswara Balaji Aarti (Govinda Govinda)
गोविन्द गोविन्द
The eternal naam-aarti of Lord Balaji at Tirumala — the world’s richest and most-visited Hindu temple (60,000-100,000 pilgrims per day, peaking at 500,000 during Brahmotsavam). Composed within the Annamacharya sankeertana tradition (15th c. saint-poet who sang 32,000 keertanas exclusively for Balaji). The call "Govinda Govinda" is uttered by every pilgrim shaving their head as tonsure offering, by every devotee depositing hundi donations exceeding ₹1,500 crore annually, and at every step of the Tirumala climb.
Lyrics (Devanagari)
गोविन्द गोविन्द गोविन्द गोविन्दा। श्री श्रीनिवास गोविन्दा श्री वेङ्कटेश गोविन्दा॥
भक्त वत्सल गोविन्दा भागवत प्रिय गोविन्दा। नित्य निर्मल गोविन्दा नीला मेघश्याम गोविन्दा॥
पुरन्दर विट्ठल गोविन्दा पुराण पुरुष गोविन्दा। पद्म पाणी गोविन्दा पन्नग शायी गोविन्दा॥
श्रीनिवास तिरुमल वासा। शेषाद्रि शिखर वासा॥ आनन्द निलय निवासा। तिरुमल तिरुपति बालाजी॥
English Transliteration
Govinda Govinda Govinda Govindaa | Shri Shrinivaasa Govindaa Shri Venkatesha Govindaa
Bhakta vatsala Govindaa Bhaagavata priya Govindaa | Nitya nirmala Govindaa Neela meghashyaama Govindaa
Purandara Vitthala Govindaa Puraana Purusha Govindaa | Padma paani Govindaa Pannaga shaayi Govindaa
Shrinivaasa Tirumala vaasa | Sheshaadri shikhara vaasa | Aananda nilaya nivaasa | Tirumala Tirupati Balaji
Meaning
Govinda Govinda Govinda Govinda — Shri Shrinivasa Govinda, Shri Venkatesha Govinda. Loving towards devotees, dear to the Bhagavatas, eternally pure, dark-blue cloud-coloured Govinda. Pranav-vithoba, ancient Purusha, lotus-handed, reclining upon Adishesha — Govinda. Shrinivasa, dweller at Tirumala, residing atop the Sheshachalam peaks, in the abode of bliss — O Lord Balaji of Tirumala-Tirupati.
Book a related puja
Pujas where this aarti is traditionally sung.