krishnakunj-bihariaartigiridhar

Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki

आरती कुंजबिहारी की in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 During the morning and evening aarti, especially on Janmashtami and Ekadashi, in any Krishna or Radha-Krishna temple·📜 Traditional Braj devotional aarti, attributed to Surdas (Sur Sagar tradition)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

'Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki' is among the most beloved and widely sung aartis of Lord Krishna, traditionally attributed to the blind saint-poet Surdas. With exquisite imagery it describes the dark, radiant beauty of Krishna playing his flute in the groves of Vrindavan — his vaijayanti garland, peacock crown, musk tilak, and Radha shining beside him. Devotees sing it to immerse in the sweetness of Braj, knowing that remembrance of Kunj Bihari shatters delusion and cuts the bonds of worldly existence.

Origin & Story

Traditional Braj devotional aarti, attributed to Surdas (Sur Sagar tradition) · Attributed to Surdas (16th century) · 16th century (Bhakti movement) to present

Surdas, the blind poet-saint of Braj and a disciple within the Pushtimarg tradition, poured his vision of Krishna into thousands of verses. This aarti, beloved across North India, captures the darshan of Krishna as Kunj Bihari amid the groves of Vrindavan, surrounded by gopis and cowherds, with Radha shining at his side. It is sung at the close of worship in countless Krishna temples and homes.

✦ As told in scripture

It is lovingly told that though Surdas was blind from birth, his inner vision of Krishna was so complete that he described the Lord's form, ornaments and pastimes in flawless detail — a grace believed to be Krishna's own gift, so that through his aarti even those who cannot see may behold the beauty of Kunj Bihari.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

Aarti Kunjabihaari ki, shri Giridhara Krishna Muraari ki Aarti Kunjabihaari ki, shri Giridhara Krishna Muraari ki

Meaning:This is the aarti of Kunj Bihari — of Shri Giridhar, Krishna, the slayer of Mura.

Verse 2

Gale mein baijanti maala, bajaavai murali madhura baala Shravana mein kundala jhalakaala, Nanda ke aananda Nandalaala Gagana sama anga kaanti kaali, Raadhika chamaka rahi aali Latana mein thaadhe banamaali, bhramara si alaka, kastoori tilaka, chandra si jhalaka Lalita chhabi Shyaama pyaari ki, shri Giridhara Krishna Muraari ki

Meaning:Around his neck hangs the vaijayanti garland, and the youthful Lord plays a sweet melody on his flute; earrings shimmer in his ears — he is Nandalala, the joy of Nanda. His form glows dark and radiant like the sky, and beside him Radhika herself shines forth; the garland-wearer stands amid the creepers, with curls like black bees, a tilak of musk and a glow like the moon — such is the lovely beauty of Krishna, the beloved of Shyama (Radha).

Verse 3

Kanakamaya mora mukuta bilasai, devata darasana ko tarasain Gagana son sumana raasi barasai, baje murachanga, madhura mridanga, gvaalina sanga Atula rati gopa kumaari ki, shri Giridhara Krishna Muraari ki

Meaning:A golden peacock-feather crown adorns him, and the very gods yearn for his darshan; flowers rain in showers from the sky, the murchang and the sweet mridanga play, and amid the cowherd maidens shines the matchless love of the gopis.

Verse 4

Jahaan te prakata bhai Ganga, sakala mana haarini shri Ganga Smarana te hota moha bhanga, basi Shiva seesa, jata ke beecha, harai agha keecha Charana chhabi shri Banavaari ki, shri Giridhara Krishna Muraari ki

Meaning:From his feet sprang forth the holy Ganga, the river that captivates every heart; by his remembrance delusion is shattered — she who dwells in Shiva's matted locks washes away the mire of sin; such is the beauty of the feet of Banwari.

Verse 5

Chamakati ujjvala tata renu, baja rahi Vrindavana venu Chahun disi gopi gvaala dhenu, hansata mridu manda, chaandani chanda, katata bhava phanda Tera suna deena dukhaari ki, shri Giridhara Krishna Muraari ki

Meaning:The bright sands of the riverbank gleam, the flute of Vrindavan sounds, and on every side are gopis, cowherds and cows; he smiles softly and gently, like the moon amid moonlight, and the noose of worldly existence is cut — for he hears the cry of the humble and the distressed.

Verse 6

Aarti Kunjabihaari ki, shri Giridhara Krishna Muraari ki

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

aarti Kunjabihaari ki🔊The aarti of Kunj Bihari (Krishna, who sports in the groves of Vrindavan)

shri Giridhara Krishna Muraari ki🔊Of Shri Giridhar (lifter of Govardhan), Krishna, slayer of the demon Mura

gale mein baijanti maala🔊Around his neck hangs a garland of vaijayanti flowers

bajaavai murali madhura baala🔊The youthful Lord plays sweetly upon his flute

shravana mein kundala jhalakaala🔊Earrings glitter and shimmer in his ears

Nanda ke aananda Nandalaala🔊The darling son of Nanda, the joy of Nanda

gagana sama anga kaanti kaali🔊His limbs glow with a dark radiance like the sky

kastoori tilaka🔊A tilak of musk (upon his forehead)

kanakamaya mora mukuta🔊A golden crown adorned with peacock feathers

devata darasana ko tarasain🔊Even the gods long for his darshan

gagana son sumana raasi barasai🔊Showers of flowers rain down from the heavens

madhura mridanga🔊The sweet sound of the mridanga drum

jahaan te prakata bhai Ganga🔊From whose (feet) the holy Ganga sprang forth

smarana te hota moha bhanga🔊By whose remembrance delusion is shattered

harai agha keecha🔊Washes away the mire of sins

baja rahi Vrindavana venu🔊The flute resounds throughout Vrindavan

katata bhava phanda🔊The noose of worldly bondage is cut away

tera suna deena dukhaari ki🔊Hearing the call of the humble and the suffering

Benefits of Chanting आरती कुंजबिहारी की

✦

Invokes the loving presence of Lord Krishna as Kunj Bihari of Vrindavan

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Believed that his remembrance (smaran) shatters delusion (moha) and ego

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Cuts the bonds of worldly existence (bhava-phanda) and brings inner freedom

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Fills the heart with the sweetness, peace and love (madhurya) of Braj-bhakti

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Deepens devotion and draws the mind to Krishna's beautiful form (roopa-dhyana)

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Especially uplifting when sung on Janmashtami and during evening aarti in Krishna temples

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Soothes sorrow, for the Lord 'hears the cry of the humble and the distressed'

How to Chant आरती कुंजबिहारी की

Repetitions1times

Best TimeDuring the morning and evening aarti, especially on Janmashtami and Ekadashi, in any Krishna or Radha-Krishna temple

Offer this aarti before an image or idol of Lord Krishna (Kunj Bihari) with a lit ghee or camphor lamp. Sing it with devotion while circling the lamp clockwise, accompanied by bell, conch, mridanga or cymbals as available. Offer tulsi, flowers, butter and sweets as bhog. Visualise the beautiful form of Krishna described in each verse, and conclude by taking the aarti flame's blessing while chanting 'Radhe Radhe' or 'Jai Shri Krishna'.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete आरती कुंजबिहारी की written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

'Kunj Bihari' means 'the one who roams and sports in the kunj' — the flowering groves and bowers of Vrindavan. It is a loving name for Lord Krishna, who enjoyed his pastimes (leela) with Radha and the gopis amid these groves on the banks of the Yamuna.

This aarti is traditionally attributed to Surdas, the great blind devotional poet of the 16th century and a luminary of the Bhakti movement, renowned for his Krishna-centred verses in the Sur Sagar. It remains one of the most popular Krishna aartis sung across India.

It is sung daily at morning and evening aarti in Krishna temples, and with special joy on Janmashtami (Krishna's birthday), Ekadashi, and during festivals celebrating Krishna's Vrindavan pastimes.

Each verse paints a vivid picture of Krishna's beauty — his peacock crown, vaijayanti garland, musk tilak, flute, and Radha shining beside him. This devotional visualisation (roopa-dhyana) helps the singer absorb the mind in Krishna's sweet form and experience the bliss of Vrindavan.