What does 'Mere Man Mandir Mein' mean?

It means 'Within the temple of my heart' — a heartfelt Hindi bhajan inviting Lord Krishna to come and reside within the devotee's heart-temple, decorated with love.

Is this bhajan suitable for new devotees?

Yes — its Hindi lyrics and simple, melodic tune make it deeply accessible. Many devotees in India connect to Krishna for the first time through this bhajan.

When can I sing this bhajan?

During personal sadhana, family kirtans, satsangs, evening bhajan sessions, and any time you wish to invite Krishna into your heart.

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Mere Man Mandir Men Ek Bar

A heartfelt prayer to Lord Giridhari requesting Him to enter the temple of one's mind

Sanskrit/Hindi Verses

Verse 1

mere man mandir meń ek bār tum ā jāo giridhāri giridhāri banavāri mana-mohan kuñjavihāri pyāre ā jāo giridhāri

Verse 2

bahut bār he ter lagāī karuṇā nainana meń gir āī ye roya ek duhkhiyāri pyāre ā jāo giridhāri

Verse 3

māg johat ańkhiyāń pathrāī dar dar par māyā ṭakarāī ye dekho daśā hamāri pyāre ā jāo giridhāri

Verse 4

thoḍi kṛpā idhar barsāo prem būnd pyāse ko pāo meń āyā ek bhīkhāri pyāre ā jāo giridhāri

Verse 5

bhaińṭ nahiń meń kuch bhī lāyā khāli nath tere dar āyā meń terā prem pujāri pyāre ā jāo giridhāri

Verse 6

pyār karo chāhe ṭhukarā do pās bulāo dūr bhagā do meń sab vidhī śarana tihari pyāre ā jāo giridhāri

Translation

O Giridhari! I am begging You to enter, just once, into the temple of my mind. O Giridhari, O Banavari, You who reside in the groves of Vrindavan and attract our minds towards You. O beloved Giridhari, please come to me.

So many times have I called out to You with eyes over-flowing with tears. This most unhappy person is pleading before You. So please, O beloved Giridhari, please come to me.

Simply waiting for You my eyes have become weary. Maya is attacking me at every step. Just see my pitiable condition, O beloved Giridhari, and please come to me.

Please shower some of Your mercy here also. Being extremely thirsty, let me drink just a drop of your love. I am nothing but a beggar, begging from you. O beloved Giridhari, please come to me.

I have brought You no gifts, my Lord, and have come empty-handed at Your doorstep. I worship You with my love, so O beloved Giridhari, please come to me.

You are free to love me or reject me. You may call me near or You may send me away. In any condition of life, I am a soul surrendered unto You, please, O beloved Giridhari, please come to me.

Spiritual Significance

This bhajan is a personal invitation: the devotee prepares the heart-temple with love, lamps and flowers and pleads with Krishna to come and stay forever. It captures the essence of bhakti as relationship — not ritual but loving welcome.

Scriptural Source & Tradition

Part of the rich tradition of North Indian Krishna bhakti devotional music, in the lineage of Surdas, Mirabai and the saints of Braj. Sung widely in ISKCON Hindi-speaking congregations.

Commentary from the Acharyas

Srila Prabhupada emphasized that real worship is when the heart itself becomes the temple. Bhajans like this one help the devotee internalize that the body is the temple, the heart the altar, and the deity is Sri Krishna — present whenever invited with love.

When to Sing / Chant

Daily personal sadhana, evening family bhajans, Janmashtami, Radhashtami, Kartik, and during home satsang programs.

Benefits for the Devotee

Awakens personal intimacy with Krishna, transforms daily life into worship, comforts the heart in distress, and builds a strong inner devotional life that supports outer sadhana.

Gratitude to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

We offer our humble obeisances at the lotus feet of our founder-acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, without whose causeless mercy the priceless prayers, bhajans and sacred literature of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition would have remained inaccessible to most of the world. By his herculean preaching efforts, his unparalleled translations and his founding of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), the holy names, pastimes and instructions of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are today chanted in every town and village.

nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracharine
nirvishesha-shunyavadi-pashchatya-desha-tarine

All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to the Vaishnava acharyas in the disciplic succession.