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Mantra · The Nath yogis' forty to Gorakh: ash, nada horn and an offering of rot

Gorakhnath Chalisa

गणपति गिरिजा पुत्र को सिमरूँ बारम्बार । हाथ जोड़ विनती करूँ शारद नाम अधार ॥

Also known as Shri Goraksh Chalisa

In Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English — with the meaning of every word, and the one syllable most people pronounce wrongly.

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What the Gorakhnath Chalisa is

The Gorakhnath Chalisa, also printed as the Shri Goraksh Chalisa, is a Hindi devotional poem of forty chaupais addressed to Guru Gorakhnath (Gorakshanath), the yogi whom the Nath tradition reveres as its founder after his own guru, Matsyendranath. No poet signs it; it is handed down as an anonymous Nath hymn, in the wording kept at the Gorakhnath temple in Gorakhpur. A single doha to Ganapati and Sharada opens it. Chaupais 1 to 19 praise Gorakh as Alakh Niranjan, the formless Brahman known only through yoga, and draw the Nath yogi's figure: ash on the limbs, the nada horn at the throat, matted hair, earrings and the damaru. Chaupais 20 to 31 ask for protection from enemies and from Yama, and name him the Shankara incarnation who carried Gopichand and Bhartrihari across. Chaupais 32 to 40 are a personal petition and the reported fruit of reading, ending with an offering of rot. Three dohas close it, the last asking for teaching, with 'Adesh' morning and evening.

The boy Matsyendranath called from the ash

According to a legend told in Punjab and in Nepal, with differences of detail, Gorakhnath was not born in the ordinary way. Matsyendranath, wandering as a yogi, gave a pinch of sacred ash to a childless woman with the promise of a son. Doubting him, she threw it onto a heap of cow dung. Twelve years later he passed the house again and asked after the boy. When she confessed, he called out at the heap, and a twelve-year-old boy stepped out, whom he named Gorakh and took as his disciple. Some tellings make the ash a gift from Shiva himself; one Nepali account says Matsyendranath had first overheard Shiva teaching yoga to Parvati on a sea shore. The chalisa never retells the birth, but it keeps its marks: ash on the limbs in Chaupai 9 and Doha 3, the name Alakh Niranjan in Chaupais 3 and 35, and a yogi who takes form at will in Chaupai 2. Historians place the man himself anywhere between the eleventh and the fourteenth century, and Hatha yoga works such as the Goraksha Shataka carry his name. At his temple in Gorakhpur, which keeps a flame said to have burned since his time, devotees offer khichdi on Makar Sankranti, and on Guru Purnima rot is offered to him as mahaprasad, the same offering Chaupai 40 names.

The mantra, in six scripts

DevanagariSanskrit & Hindiगणपति गिरिजा पुत्र को सिमरूँ बारम्बार । हाथ जोड़ विनती करूँ शारद नाम अधार ॥

Tamilகணபதி கிரிஜா புத்ர கோ ஸிமரூம் பாரம்பார । ஹாத ஜோட விநதீ கரூம் ஶாரத நாம அதார ॥

Teluguగణపతి గిరిజా పుత్ర కో సిమరూఁ బారమ్బార । హాథ జోడ వినతీ కరూఁ శారద నామ అధార ॥

Kannadaಗಣಪತಿ ಗಿರಿಜಾ ಪುತ್ರ ಕೋ ಸಿಮರೂಁ ಬಾರಮ್ಬಾರ । ಹಾಥ ಜೋಡ ವಿನತೀ ಕರೂಁ ಶಾರದ ನಾಮ ಅಧಾರ ॥

Malayalamഗണപതി ഗിരിജാ പുത്ര കോ സിമരൂഁ ബാരമ്ബാര । ഹാഥ ജോഡ വിനതീ കരൂഁ ശാരദ നാമ അധാര ॥

EnglishRoman transliterationgaṇapati girijā putra ko simarūṃ bārambāra | hātha joṛa vinatī karūṃ śārada nāma adhāra ||

“Again and again I remember Ganapati, the son of Girija (Parvati). With folded hands I make my prayer, taking the name of Sharada (Saraswati) as my support.”

गणपति: gaṇapati — Ganapati
गिरिजा: girijā — Girija (Parvati)
पुत्र: putra — son
को: ko — to
सिमरूँ: simarūṃ — I remember
बारम्बार: bārambāra — again and again
हाथ: hātha — hands
जोड़: joṛa — joining
विनती: vinatī — prayer
करूँ: karūṃ — I make
शारद: śārada — Sharada (Saraswati)
नाम: nāma — name
अधार: adhāra — support

Gorakhnath Chalisa lyrics in full

One opening doha, forty chaupais and three closing dohas, in the wording sung at the Gorakhnath temple in Gorakhpur. Some printings write Gorakh in every line where this text writes Goraksha.

All 44 verses, in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English, each with its meaning. Choose a script:

Download the Gorakhnath Chalisa PDFAll 44 verses with their meanings, in Hindi. Free to print and keep.

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Doha 1

गणपति गिरिजा पुत्र को सिमरूँ बारम्बार ।
हाथ जोड़ विनती करूँ शारद नाम अधार ॥

Again and again I remember Ganapati, the son of Girija (Parvati). With folded hands I make my prayer, taking the name of Sharada (Saraswati) as my support.

Chaupai 1

जय जय जय गोरख अविनाशी ।
कृपा करो गुरुदेव प्रकाशी ॥

Victory, victory, victory to Gorakh, the imperishable one. Show grace, O radiant Gurudev.

Chaupai 2

जय जय जय गोरख गुणज्ञानी ।
इच्छा रूप योगी वरदानी ॥

Victory, victory, victory to Gorakh, knower of all virtues, the yogi who takes form at will and grants boons.

Chaupai 3

अलख निरंजन तुम्हरो नामा ।
सदा करो भक्तन हित कामा ॥

Alakh Niranjan, the unseen and stainless, is your name. You always work for the good of your devotees.

Chaupai 4

नाम तुम्हारा जो कोई गावे ।
जन्म जन्म के दुःख नशावे ॥

Whoever sings your name, the verse says, has the sorrows of birth after birth destroyed.

Chaupai 5

जो कोई गोरक्ष नाम सुनावे ।
भूत पिशाच निकट नहीं आवे ॥

Whoever recites the name of Goraksha, the verse says, no ghost or demon comes near.

Chaupai 6

ज्ञान तुम्हारा योग से पावे ।
रूप तुम्हार लख्या ना जावे ॥

Knowledge of you is gained through yoga; your form cannot be seen with the eyes.

Chaupai 7

निराकार तुम हो निर्वाणी ।
महिमा तुम्हरी वेद बखानी ॥

You are formless and beyond, abiding in nirvana. The Vedas proclaim your glory.

Chaupai 8

घट घट के तुम अन्तर्यामी ।
सिद्ध चौरासी करें प्रणामी ॥

You dwell within every heart and know it from inside. The eighty-four Siddhas bow before you.

Chaupai 9

भस्म अङ्ग गले नाद विराजे ।
जटा सीस अति सुन्दर साजे ॥

Sacred ash covers your limbs and the nada horn hangs at your throat. The matted locks on your head look exceedingly beautiful.

Chaupai 10

तुम बिन देव और नहीं दूजा ।
देव मुनी जन करते पूजा ॥

Apart from you there is no second god. Gods, sages and ordinary people all worship you.

Chaupai 11

चिदानन्द सन्तन हितकारी ।
मङ्गल करे अमङ्गल हारी ॥

You are consciousness and bliss, the well-wisher of saints. You bring what is auspicious and take away what is inauspicious.

Chaupai 12

पूरण ब्रह्म सकल घट वासी ।
गोरक्षनाथ सकल प्रकासी ॥

You are the complete Brahman dwelling in every being. Gorakshanath shines forth in all.

Chaupai 13

गोरक्ष गोरक्ष जो कोई ध्यावे ।
ब्रह्म रूप के दर्शन पावे ॥

Whoever meditates on 'Goraksha, Goraksha', the verse says, receives the vision of the form of Brahman.

Chaupai 14

शङ्कर रूप धर डमरू बाजे ।
कानन कुण्डल सुन्दर साजे ॥

Taking the form of Shankara (Shiva), you sound the damaru drum, and beautiful earrings adorn your ears.

Chaupai 15

नित्यानन्द है नाम तुम्हारा ।
असुर मार भक्तन रखवारा ॥

Nityananda, eternal bliss, is your name. Slaying demons, you are the protector of devotees.

Chaupai 16

अति विशाल है रूप तुम्हारा ।
सुर नर मुनि जन पावं न पारा ॥

Vast beyond measure is your form; gods, men and sages cannot reach its end.

Chaupai 17

दीन बन्धु दीनन हितकारी ।
हरो पाप हम शरण तुम्हारी ॥

Friend of the lowly, kind to the poor, take away our sins; we have come to your refuge.

Chaupai 18

योग युक्ति में हो प्रकाशा ।
सदा करो सन्तन तन वासा ॥

You shine forth in the discipline of yoga. Always dwell in the bodies of the saints.

Chaupai 19

प्रातःकाल ले नाम तुम्हारा ।
सिद्धि बढ़े अरु योग प्रचारा ॥

When your name is taken at daybreak, the verse says, spiritual attainment grows and yoga spreads.

Chaupai 20

हठ हठ हठ गोरक्ष हठीले ।
मार मार वैरी के कीले ॥

O Goraksha, firm and resolute in Hatha, strike down and pin fast the enemy.

Chaupai 21

चल चल चल गोरक्ष विकराला ।
दुश्मन मान करो बेहाला ॥

Move, move, move, O fearsome Goraksha; humble the pride of the foe and leave him powerless.

Chaupai 22

जय जय जय गोरक्ष अविनासी ।
अपने जन की हरो चौरासी ॥

Victory, victory, victory to the imperishable Goraksha. Free your own people from the round of the eighty-four lakh births.

Chaupai 23

अचल अगम हैं गोरक्ष योगी ।
सिद्धि देवो हरो रस भोगी ॥

Goraksha the yogi is unmoving and beyond reach. Grant spiritual attainment and take away the craving for sense pleasure.

Chaupai 24

काटो मार्ग यम की तुम आई ।
तुम बिन मेरा कौन सहाई ॥

Cut off the path of Yama when it comes for me. Without you, who is my helper?

Chaupai 25

अजर अमर है तुम्हरो देहा ।
सनकादिक सब जोहहिं नेहा ॥

Your body is ageless and deathless. Sanaka and the other sages all look upon you with love.

Chaupai 26

कोटि न रवि सम तेज तुम्हारा ।
है प्रसिद्ध जगत उजियारा ॥

Not even countless suns match your radiance; your light is famed for brightening the world.

Chaupai 27

योगी लखें तुम्हारी माया ।
पार ब्रह्म से ध्यान लगाया ॥

Yogis perceive your wondrous power and fix their meditation on the supreme Brahman.

Chaupai 28

ध्यान तुम्हारा जो कोई लावे ।
अष्ट सिद्धि नव निधि घर पावे ॥

Whoever brings you into meditation, the verse says, receives the eight siddhis and the nine treasures at home.

Chaupai 29

शिव गोरक्ष है नाम तुम्हारा ।
पापी दुष्ट अधम को तारा ॥

Shiva Goraksha is your name. You carried across the sinful, the wicked and the fallen.

Chaupai 30

अगम अगोचर निर्भय नाथा ।
सदा रहो सन्तन के साथा ॥

Unreachable, beyond the senses, fearless Lord, remain always with the saints.

Chaupai 31

शङ्कर रूप अवतार तुम्हारा ।
गोपीचन्द भर्तृहरि को तारा ॥

Your incarnation is the form of Shankara (Shiva). You carried Gopichand and Bhartrihari across.

Chaupai 32

सुन लीजो गुरु अरज हमारी ।
कृपा सिन्धु योगी ब्रह्मचारी ॥

O Guru, hear my petition, ocean of compassion, yogi and lifelong celibate.

Chaupai 33

पूर्ण आस दास की कीजे ।
सेवक जान ज्ञान को दीजे ॥

Fulfil the hope of your servant. Knowing me as your servant, grant me knowledge.

Chaupai 34

पतित पावन अधम अधारा ।
तिनके हेतु तुम लेत अवतारा ॥

You purify the fallen and support the lowly; for their sake you take incarnation.

Chaupai 35

अलख निरंजन नाम तुम्हारा ।
अगम पंथ जिन योग प्रचारा ॥

Alakh Niranjan is your name, you who spread yoga through the hard and hidden path.

Chaupai 36

जय जय जय गोरक्ष भगवाना ।
सदा करो भक्तन कल्याना ॥

Victory, victory, victory to Lord Goraksha. Always bring well-being to your devotees.

Chaupai 37

जय जय जय गोरक्ष अविनाशी ।
सेवा करें सिद्ध चौरासी ॥

Victory, victory, victory to the imperishable Goraksha, whom the eighty-four Siddhas serve.

Chaupai 38

जो पढ़ही गोरक्ष चालीसा ।
होय सिद्ध साक्षी जगदीशा ॥

Whoever reads this Goraksha Chalisa, the verse says, becomes accomplished, with the Lord of the world as witness.

Chaupai 39

बारह पाठ पढ़े नित्य जोई ।
मनोकामना पूरण होई ॥

Whoever reads it twelve times daily, the verse says, has the wishes of the heart fulfilled.

Chaupai 40

और श्रद्धा से रोट चढ़ावे ।
हाथ जोड़कर ध्यान लगावे ॥

And let him offer rot (sweet flatbread) with faith, and with folded hands fix his mind in meditation.

Doha 2

सुने सुनावे प्रेमवश पूजे अपने हाथ ।
मन इच्छा सब कामना पूरे गोरक्षनाथ ॥

Whoever hears it, recites it with love and worships with his own hands, the verse says, has every wish of the mind fulfilled by Gorakshanath.

Doha 3

अगम अगोचर नाथ तुम पारब्रह्म अवतार ।
कानन कुण्डल सिर जटा अंग विभूति अपार ॥

You are the Lord beyond reach and beyond the senses, an incarnation of the supreme Brahman, with earrings in your ears, matted locks on your head and sacred ash in abundance on your limbs.

Doha 4

सिद्ध पुरुष योगेश्वरों दो मुझको उपदेश ।
हर समय सेवा करूँ सुबह शाम आदेश ॥

O perfected one, lord of yogis, give me your teaching. May I serve you at every moment, with 'Adesh' morning and evening.

The syllable people get wrong

Goraksha (गोरक्ष, gorakṣa) is said go-RUK-sha, with a short a after the r and kṣ as the single cluster 'ksh', never 'go-rak-sa'. In Chaupais 1 and 2 the text uses the spoken Hindi form Gorakh (गोरख, gorakha), where kṣ has softened to kh; both are the same name.

When the Gorakhnath Chalisa is chanted

Weekday. Monday

Festival. Makar Sankranti (the khichdi offering at Gorakhpur)

Questions

Rot is a thick, disc-shaped sweet flatbread that the Nath tradition regards as Gorakhnath's favourite food. At his cave temple in Gorkha, Nepal, it is made from rice flour with coconut, clove, cardamom and sugar, pressed with two fingers at the centre, then baked over fire or fried in ghee. At the Gorakhpur temple, rot is offered to him as mahaprasad on Guru Purnima. Chaupai 40 asks the reader to offer it with faith and folded hands.

No one is named. The Shiv Chalisa carries the signature of Ayodhyadas, but no poet's name appears anywhere in the Gorakhnath Chalisa, and its date of composition is unknown. It is an anonymous devotional hymn of the Nath tradition, sung in the wording kept at the Gorakhnath temple in Gorakhpur. Gorakhnath himself is credited with Hatha yoga works in Sanskrit, but the chalisa is a later Hindi hymn about him, not a work by him.

Alakh (alakha) means the one who cannot be seen, and Niranjan (niranjana) the one without stain; together they name the formless Absolute, and Chaupais 3 and 35 give it as Gorakh's own name. Adesh, in Doha 4, is the word with which Nath yogis greet one another, and the closing doha asks to serve the guru with that greeting morning and evening. Both words mark the chalisa as a hymn of the Nath order.

Chaupai 31 says Gorakh, as an incarnation of Shankara, carried both across. In Nath tradition Bhartrihari was a king of Ujjain who gave up the throne to become a yogi, and Gopichand a prince who renounced his kingdom; both are counted among the order's revered gurus. Naming them shows the guru's grace through two famous royal renunciations, as the eighty-four Siddhas of Chaupais 8 and 37 show his rank among the perfected yogis.

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Gorakhnath Chalisa

What the Gorakhnath Chalisa is

The boy Matsyendranath called from the ash

The mantra, in six scripts

Gorakhnath Chalisa lyrics in full

The syllable people get wrong

When the Gorakhnath Chalisa is chanted

Questions

Have your chart read before you decide

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