Krishna Aarti (Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki)
आरती कुंजबिहारी की
The signature aarti of Banke Bihari Krishna of Vrindavan, composed by saint Hariram Vyas in the 16th century. Sung at every Krishna temple in Braj at sandhya time. Describes the divine beauty of the cowherd boy adorned with peacock-feather crown and yellow pitambar.
Lyrics (Devanagari)
आरती कुंजबिहारी की, श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की।
गले में बैजन्ती 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।
English Transliteration
Aarti Kunj Bihari ki, Shri Giridhar Krishna Murari ki
Gale mein baijanti mala, bajaave murali madhur baala
Shravan mein kundal jhalkaala, Nand ke aanand Nandlaala
Gagan sam ang kanti kaali, Radhika chamak rahi aali
Latan mein thaadhe banamali, bhramar si alak, kasturi tilak
Chandra si jhalak, lalit chhavi Shyama Pyaari ki
Meaning
Aarti of the Lord of the bowers, Krishna who lifted Govardhan and slew Mura. He wears a vaijayanti garland and plays the sweet flute. Earrings sway in his ears — Nanda’s beloved boy. His form is dark as the rain-cloud; Radha shines beside him. He stands among creepers as the garlanded forester. Curls like black bees, kasturi tilak, glow like the moon — the lovely form of the beloved of Shyama.
Book a related puja
Pujas where this aarti is traditionally sung.