Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki
A Hymn to Krishna of the Groves
A traditional Hindu aarti praising Krishna as Kunj Bihari, describing his beauty, flute-play, and presence in Vrindavan.
Verses
Aarti to the Lord of the groves, to Shri Giridhar Krishna Murari.
Verse 1
Aarti to the Lord of the groves, to Shri Giridhar Krishna Murari.
Verse 2
Around His neck is a garland of wildflowers, and He plays a sweet melody on His flute.
Earrings shimmer at His ears—He is Nanda’s joy, the darling son of Nanda.
His dark complexion shines like a rain cloud, and Radhika, adorned with a radiant glow, stands beside Him, a beloved companion.
The forest-dweller (Govardhan-dhari) stands gracefully among the vines.
His curling lock resembles a bee, and a musk tilak marks His forehead; His face glows like the moon.
Such is the lovely, enchanting form of the beloved Shyama (Krishna)—of Shri Giridhar Krishna Murari.
Verse 3
Aarti to the Lord of the groves, to Shri Giridhar Krishna Murari.
Verse 4
A crown of resplendent peacock feathers adorns Him, so divine that even the gods yearn for a glimpse.
Showers of blossoms rain down from the heavens.
The murchang (a folk instrument) sounds, the sweet mridangam resounds, and the cowherd maidens surround Him.
Incomparable is the love of the Gopa maidens—for Shri Giridhar Krishna Murari.
Verse 5
Aarti to the Lord of the groves, to Shri Giridhar Krishna Murari.
Verse 6
From where the sacred Ganga first appeared—the all-enchanting, holy Ganga—remembrance of Her dispels delusion.
She rests upon Lord Shiva’s head, nestled in His matted locks, washing away the filth of sin.
Such is the beauty of the feet of the Forest-Dweller (Shri Banke Bihari)—of Shri Giridhar Krishna Murari.
Verse 7
Aarti to the Lord of the groves, to Shri Giridhar Krishna Murari.
Verse 8
The bright sandy riverbanks sparkle, and the flute of Vrindavan resounds.
In all directions are Gopis, cowherds, and cows.
Krishna smiles gently, softly, and the moonlight glows, cutting through the snares of worldly existence.
He hears the cries of the distressed and sorrowful—such is Shri Giridhar Krishna Murari.
Verse 9
Aarti to the Lord of the groves, to Shri Giridhar Krishna Murari.
Verse 10
Aarti to the Lord of the groves, to Shri Giridhar Krishna Murari.
Verse 11
Aarti to the Lord of the groves, to Shri Giridhar Krishna Murari.
Verse 12
Worship Guidelines & Chanting Benefits (Phalashruti)
Wednesday (Budhwar), Thursday (Guruwar) & Ekadashi
Early Morning (Brahma Muhurta) or Sandhya (Twilight)
Tulsi leaves, Butter (Makhan), Mishri, Yellow flowers & Chandan
- Awakening of pure divine love (Prema Bhakti), mental joy, and freedom from anxiety
Background
This is a well-known Hindu devotional hymn (aarti) in praise of Krishna, specifically in his form as Kunj Bihari, the one who enjoys pastimes in the groves of Vrindavan. It is closely associated with the historic Kunj Bihari temple in Vrindavan, founded in the Haridasi (Sakhi sampradaya) devotional tradition descending from the 16th-century saint-musician Swami Haridas. Its exact author is not definitively established — some devotional collections attribute it to the broader Pushti Marg stream of Krishna bhakti instead — so it is best described as an anonymous composition of the Braj devotional tradition rather than the work of a single named poet. The aarti is commonly sung during evening worship in temples dedicated to Krishna, especially in the Braj region of North India, and is a beloved part of daily devotional practice for many Hindus.
Did You Know?
What is an aarti?
An aarti is a Hindu ritual of worship in which a lamp (often with camphor or ghee) is waved in circles before a deity while hymns are sung. This piece is a beloved aarti for Krishna, meant to be sung in a group, with the refrain 'Aarti Kunj Bihari Ki' repeated as a chorus between verses.
Who is Kunj Bihari?
'Kunj Bihari' means 'one who enjoys pastimes in the groves (kunj) of Vrindavan.' This name celebrates Krishna's youthful days as a cowherd, playing his flute and dancing with the gopis (milkmaids) in the forest — a central theme of this hymn.
Three names, one Lord
The refrain calls Krishna 'Giridhar' (the lifter of Govardhan Hill), 'Krishna' (the dark one), and 'Murari' (the enemy of the demon Mura). Giridhar recalls Krishna sheltering the people of Vraja beneath Govardhan Hill, told in the Bhagavata Purana (10.25), and Murari recalls his victory over the demon Mura, told in Bhagavata Purana 10.59.
A visual portrait in verse
The second verse paints Krishna's appearance in vivid detail — a garland of wildflowers (baijanti mala) around his neck, a sweet-sounding flute, earrings that flash, a peacock feather crown, and a tilak mark on his forehead. The poet compares his dark complexion to the sky and says Radha shines beside him, making this a favorite for visual meditation.
The Ganga connection
Verse six shifts focus to the river Ganga, saying she appeared from Krishna's feet (in Hindu tradition, the Ganga flows from the toe of Vishnu, of whom Krishna is an avatar). It promises that remembering the Ganga breaks worldly attachments and washes away sins, and notes she rests in Shiva's matted hair — a famous image from mythology.
A scene of Vrindavan at night
The final verse describes the moonlit banks of the Yamuna river in Vrindavan, where Krishna's flute sounds, cowherds and cows gather, and the moonlight 'cuts the noose of worldly existence.' The hymn ends by calling Krishna the refuge of the poor and distressed, inviting all to hear his call.
Who wrote it?
Authorship is genuinely disputed: the aarti is closely tied to the Haridasi tradition at Vrindavan's Kunj Bihari temple, but some sources instead credit the Pushti Marg stream founded by Vallabhacharya. No single named author is firmly established, so it is best treated as an anonymous composition of the Braj bhakti tradition. It is widely sung in temples and homes across North India.
Krishna
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