Krishna Aarti

🪔AartiLord Krishna

Krishna Aarti is the traditional lamp-offering aarti sung at the close of every Krishna puja. Devotees light a ghee diya, circle it clockwise before the deity while singing the verses together, and conclude by waving the flame in front of Krishna's image or murti. The aarti completes the ritual cycle of welcoming, honouring, and bidding farewell to the deity, and is the moment families across India gather around the home mandir at the close of morning (6-8 AM) or evening (6-8 PM) puja. Krishna's aarti is most auspiciously sung on Thursday. Read the full lyrics below in Devanagari (with optional transliteration) and watch the embedded recording to learn the traditional melody before chanting along.

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आरती कुंजबिहारी की, श्री गिरिधर कृष्णमुरारी की 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 कृष्णमुरारी की॥ 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 कृष्णमुरारी की॥ जहां ते प्रकट भई गंगा, कलुष कलि हारिणि श्रीगंगा। स्मरन ते होत मोह भंगा; बसी सिव सीस, जटा के बीच, हरै अघ कीच; चरन छवि श्रीबनवारी की॥ श्री गिरिधर कृष्णमुरारी की॥ चमकती उज्ज्वल तट रेनू, बज रही वृंदावन बेनू। चहुं दिसि गोपि ग्वाल धेनू; हंसत मृदु मंद, चांदनी चंद, कटत भव फंद; टेर सुन दीन भिखारी की॥ श्री गिरिधर कृष्णमुरारी की॥

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I sing Krishna Aarti?+

Krishna Aarti is traditionally sung at the close of any Krishna puja - in the morning around 6-8 AM and again in the evening around 6-8 PM. Thursday is the most auspicious day of the week for this aarti.

How long does the full aarti take?+

Most aartis run 3-5 minutes when sung at the traditional pace. The embedded video above is a complete sung version - you can chant along from start to finish.

Can I sing this aarti at home without a priest?+

Yes - aartis are designed for personal and family devotion. Light a ghee or oil diya, place it on the aarti thali (plate), and circle the flame clockwise in front of the deity's image while singing. No priest required.