The beloved aarti of Krishna as Kunj Bihari — the one who wanders the groves of Vrindavan — sung at Krishna temples daily and everywhere on Janmashtami.
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Refrain
आरती कुंजबिहारी की,
श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की ॥
arati kunja-bihari ki,
shri giridhara krishna murari ki
The aarti of Kunj Bihari — of Shri Giridhar, Krishna, Murari.
Stanza 1
गले में बैजंती 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,
श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की ॥
gale mem baijanti mala,
bajavai murali madhura bala
shravana mem kundala jhalakala,
nanda ke ananda nandalala
gagana sama anga kanti kali,
radhika camaka rahi ali
latana mem thadhe banamali
bhramara si alaka, kasturi tilaka,
candra si jhalaka,
lalita chavi shyama pyari ki,
shri giridhara krishna murari ki
The vaijayanti garland at his throat, the young one plays the sweet flute; earrings flash at his ears — Nandalala, the joy of Nanda. His body glows dusk-dark as the sky, and beside him Radhika shines, O friend; the garlanded one stands among the creepers — curls like black bees, musk tilak on his brow, a gleam like the moon: such is the lovely image of the dark beloved.
Stanza 2
कनकमय मोर मुकुट बिलसै,
देवता दरसन को तरसैं ।
गगन सों सुमन रासि बरसै ।
बजे मुरचंग, मधुर मिरदंग,
ग्वालिन संग,
अतुल रति गोप कुमारी की,
श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की ॥
kanakamaya mora mukuta bilasai,
devata darasana ko tarasaim
gagana som sumana rasi barasai
baje muracanga, madhura miradanga,
gvalina sanga,
atula rati gopa kumari ki,
shri giridhara krishna murari ki
The golden peacock crown gleams; even the gods long for his darshan. Heaps of flowers rain from the sky; the murchang sounds, the sweet mridang plays, and with the cowherd women the gopis' love knows no measure.
Stanza 3
जहां 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 ॥
jaham te prakata bhai ganga,
sakala mana harini shri ganga
smarana te hota moha bhanga
basi shiva sisa, jata ke bica,
harai agha kica,
carana chavi shri-banavari ki,
shri giridhara krishna murari ki
jahāṃ te prakaṭa bhaī gaṅgā,
sakala mana hāriṇi śrī gaṅgā
smarana te hota moha bhaṅgā
basī śiva sīsa, jaṭā ke bīca,
harai agha kīca,
carana chavi śrī-banavārī kī,
śrī giridhara kṛṣṇa murārī kī
From those feet the Ganga sprang — Shri Ganga who captivates every heart; remembering her, delusion breaks. She dwells on Shiva's head amid his matted locks, washing away the mire of sin — such is the glory of Banwari's feet.
Stanza 4
चमकती उज्ज्वल तट रेनू,
बज रही वृंदावन बेनू ।
चहुं दिसि गोपि ग्वाल धेनू ।
हंसत मृदु मंद, चांदनी चंद,
कटत भव फंद,
टेर सुन दीन दुखारी की,
श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की ॥
The bright sands of the Yamuna's bank glitter; the flute of Vrindavan is sounding; on every side are gopis, cowherds and cows. His soft gentle smile, moonlight of the moon itself, cuts the snare of worldly existence — he hears the cry of the poor and the sorrowful.
Closing
आरती कुंजबिहारी की,
श्री गिरिधर कृष्ण मुरारी की ॥
arati kunja-bihari ki,
shri giridhara krishna murari ki
The aarti of Kunj Bihari — of Shri Giridhar, Krishna, Murari.
When it is recited: Daily at Krishna temples, and in homes on Janmashtami, during Kartik month worship and at the close of Krishna bhajan gatherings.
Traditional significance: Each stanza paints a scene of Vrindavan — the peacock crown, the flute at the lips, gopis and cows in every direction — so that singing the aarti becomes a darshan of Krishna's lila. The refrain honours him as Giridhar, lifter of Govardhan, and Murari, destroyer of the demon Mura.
Questions
What does “Kunj Bihari” mean?
“He who wanders (bihari) in the kunj” — the flowering groves and bowers along the Yamuna in Vrindavan where Krishna's lila unfolds.
Source: Traditional — as sung in North Indian community worship. Regional versions may vary — this text follows the version most widely used in community worship.