Original text
श्री बांके बिहारी तेरी आरती गाऊं, हे गिरिधर तेरी आरती गाऊं । आरती गाऊं प्यारे आपको रिझाऊं, श्याम सुन्दर तेरी आरती गाऊं । ॥ श्री बांके बिहारी तेरी आरती गाऊं.. ॥ मोर मुकुट प्यारे शीश पे सोहे, प्यारी बंसी मेरो मन मोहे । देख छवि बलिहारी मैं जाऊं । ॥ श्री बांके बिहारी तेरी आरती गाऊं.. ॥ चरणों से निकली गंगा प्यारी, जिसने सारी दुनिया तारी । मैं उन चरणों के दर्शन पाऊं । ॥ श्री बांके बिहारी तेरी आरती गाऊं.. ॥ दास अनाथ के नाथ आप हो, दुःख सुख जीवन प्यारे साथ आप हो । हरी चरणों में शीश झुकाऊं । ॥ श्री बांके बिहारी तेरी आरती गाऊं.. ॥ श्री हरीदास के प्यारे तुम हो । मेरे मोहन जीवन धन हो। देख युगल छवि बलि बलि जाऊं । ॥ श्री बांके बिहारी तेरी आरती गाऊं.. ॥ श्री बांके बिहारी तेरी आरती गाऊं, हे गिरिधर तेरी आरती गाऊं । आरती गाऊं प्यारे आपको रिझाऊं, श्याम सुन्दर तेरी आरती गाऊं ।
Transliteration
Shri Banke Bihari Teri Arati Gaun He Giridhar Teri Arati Gaun Arati Gaun Pyare Apako Rijhaun Shyam Sundar Teri Arati Gaun Shri Banke Bihari Teri Arati Gaun.. Mor Mukut Pyare Shish Pe Sohe Pyari Bansi Mero Man Mohe Dekh Chhavi Balihari Main Jaun Shri Banke Bihari Teri Arati Gaun.. Charanon Se Nikali Ganga Pyari Jisane Sari Duniya Tari Main Un Charanon Ke Darshan Paun Shri Banke Bihari Teri Arati Gaun.. Das Anath Ke Nath Ap Ho Duhkh Sukh Jivan Pyare Sath Ap Ho Hari Charanon Men Shish Jhukaun Shri Banke Bihari Teri Arati Gaun.. Shri Haridas Ke Pyare Tum Ho Mere Mohan Jivan Dhan Ho Dekh Yugal Chhavi Bali Bali Jaun Shri Banke Bihari Teri Arati Gaun.. Shri Banke Bihari Teri Arati Gaun He Giridhar Teri Arati Gaun Arati Gaun Pyare Apako Rijhaun Shyam Sundar Teri Arati Gaun
Banke Bihari of Vrindavan
Banke Bihari, "the one bent in three places who plays", is the presiding Krishna of the Banke Bihari temple in Vrindavan. Tradition says the image appeared to the musician-saint Swami Haridas at Nidhivan in the sixteenth century, in answer to his singing, as a single form of Radha and Krishna together. The temple's worship is famously informal and affectionate: a curtain is drawn and opened again and again so that devotees are not overwhelmed by his gaze, and mangala aarti is held only once a year, on Janmashtami.
What the aarti says
- Refrain: "Shri Banke Bihari, I sing your aarti; O Giridhar, Shyam Sundar, I sing it to please you." The tone is of a devotee wanting to delight the Lord, not ask for anything.
- His form: the peacock crown on his head and the flute that steals the heart; "seeing your image, I am sacrificed to you."
- His feet: "from your feet came the lovely Ganga, which saved the whole world; may I have darshan of those feet", recalling that the Ganga flows from Vishnu's foot.
- His care: "you are the master of the masterless, my companion in sorrow and joy."
- Haridas's beloved: the last stanza calls him the beloved of Shri Haridas and "the wealth of my life", and ends at the sight of the yugal chhavi, the image of the divine couple, which is exactly how Banke Bihari is understood.
When to sing it
- At the evening aarti at home, before an image of Krishna or Banke Bihari.
- On Janmashtami, and on Bihari Panchami (Margashirsha shukla panchami), the day the image is said to have appeared.
- On Ekadashi, and as a lullaby-like evening song for children.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Shri Haridas in the aarti?
Swami Haridas, the sixteenth-century saint and musician of Vrindavan to whom Banke Bihari is said to have appeared at Nidhivan. Tradition also calls him the teacher of Tansen.
Why is the curtain drawn repeatedly at Banke Bihari temple?
It is believed that a devotee who gazes too long at Bihariji may be drawn away with him, so the curtain is closed and opened every few moments.
When is Bihari Panchami?
On Margashirsha shukla panchami, celebrated as the day of Banke Bihari's appearance.
What does "yugal chhavi" mean?
The image of the divine couple, Radha and Krishna together. Banke Bihari is understood as their united form.
Is this aarti sung at the temple?
It is a popular devotional aarti for home and bhajan gatherings; the temple has its own service order.
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