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Home › Mantras › Shani Chalisa
Sani (Shani) Shani Chalisa: Lord Shani on his crow under a peepal tree as a devotee offers a mustard-oil lamp
Shani on his crow, and a lamp of mustard oil under the peepal tree
Mantra · Ram Sundar's forty couplets on Shani, from Rama's exile to Vikrama

Shani Chalisa

जय गणेश गिरिजा सुवन, मंगल करण कृपाल । दीनन के दुःख दूर करि, कीजै नाथ निहाल ॥

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

What the Shani Chalisa is

The Shani Chalisa printed here is a Hindi devotional poem of forty chaupai couplets addressed to Shani Dev, son of the Sun and of Chhaya. Two dohas open it: the first greets Ganesha as the son of Girija, the second asks 'Ravi tanaya', the Sun's son, to guard the honour of the devotee. Chaupais 1 to 5 describe his form: four arms, a dark body, a jewelled crown, and a mace, trident and axe in his hands. Chaupais 6 and 7 give ten names, among them Pingala, Konastha, Sauri and Manda. Chaupais 10 to 26 read episodes of the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the tale of King Vikrama as the working of Shani's period. Chaupais 27 to 35 list seven mounts and four metal 'feet' and the result the text assigns to each. Chaupai 40 names the poet as Ram Sundar, 'servant of the Lord', and the closing doha says the recitation text was prepared by Vimal. Nothing more is documented about either, and no date of composition is known.

King Vikrama, a painted bird and Raga Deepak

Chaupais 15 to 18 compress a tale told at length in the Shani Mahatmya, the devotional narrative of Shani and King Vikramaditya of Ujjain. In the usual retelling, the king's court debates which planet is the greatest, and Vikramaditya speaks lightly of Shani, who then announces that his period will rest on the king. A horse bought from a stranger carries Vikramaditya to a distant city and vanishes. Lodging in a merchant's house, he sees a bird in a wall painting come to life at midnight and swallow the pearl necklace of the merchant's daughter, Alolika. Accused of the theft, he loses his hands and feet by order of the local king and later earns his keep turning an oil-seller's press. The chalisa calls the painted bird a peacock; prose versions usually make it a swan. Release comes through music. One night he sings Raga Deepak, the raga said to light lamps by itself, and the lamps of the city begin to burn. The princess Padmasena asks to hear the singer, Shani appears and restores his limbs, the bird gives back the necklace, and the king marries the princess. According to tradition, Vikramaditya asked only that Shani spare others what he had been through, and the tale is still read on Saturdays.

The mantra, in six scripts

DevanagariSanskrit & Hindiजय गणेश गिरिजा सुवन, मंगल करण कृपाल । दीनन के दुःख दूर करि, कीजै नाथ निहाल ॥
Tamilஜய கணேஶ கிரிஜா ஸுவந, மம்கல கரண க்ருபால । தீநந கே துஃக தூர கரி, கீஜை நாத நிஹால ॥
Teluguజయ గణేశ గిరిజా సువన, మంగల కరణ కృపాల । దీనన కే దుఃఖ దూర కరి, కీజై నాథ నిహాల ॥
Kannadaಜಯ ಗಣೇಶ ಗಿರಿಜಾ ಸುವನ, ಮಂಗಲ ಕರಣ ಕೃಪಾಲ । ದೀನನ ಕೇ ದುಃಖ ದೂರ ಕರಿ, ಕೀಜೈ ನಾಥ ನಿಹಾಲ ॥
Malayalamജയ ഗണേശ ഗിരിജാ സുവന, മംഗല കരണ കൃപാല । ദീനന കേ ദുഃഖ ദൂര കരി, കീജൈ നാഥ നിഹാല ॥
EnglishRoman transliterationjaya gaṇeśa girijā suvana, maṃgala karaṇa kṛpāla | dīnana ke duḥkha dūra kari, kījai nātha nihāla ||
“Victory to Ganesha, son of Girija (Parvati), the kind one who brings auspiciousness. O Lord, remove the sorrows of the humble and make them content.”
जय
jaya — victory
गणेश
gaṇeśa — Ganesha
गिरिजा
girijā — of Girija (Parvati)
सुवन
suvana — son
मंगल
maṃgala — auspiciousness
करण
karaṇa — bringer of
कृपाल
kṛpāla — merciful one
दीनन
dīnana — the humble
के
ke — of
दुःख
duḥkha — sorrows
दूर
dūra — away
करि
kari — having removed
कीजै
kījai — please make
नाथ
nātha — O Lord
निहाल
nihāla — content, fulfilled

Shani Chalisa lyrics in full

All 43 verses, in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English, each with its meaning. Choose a script:

Download the Shani Chalisa PDFAll 43 verses with their meanings, in Hindi. Free to print and keep.

Doha 1

जय गणेश गिरिजा सुवन, मंगल करण कृपाल ।
दीनन के दुःख दूर करि, कीजै नाथ निहाल ॥

Victory to Ganesha, son of Girija (Parvati), the kind one who brings auspiciousness. O Lord, remove the sorrows of the humble and make them content.

Doha 2

जय जय श्री शनिदेव प्रभु, सुनहु विनय महाराज ।
करहु कृपा हे रवि तनय, राखहु जन की लाज ॥

Glory, glory to Lord Shani Dev; great king, hear my plea. Show mercy, O son of the Sun, and protect the honour of your devotee.

Chaupai 1

जयति जयति शनिदेव दयाला ।
करत सदा भक्तन प्रतिपाला ॥

Victory, victory to compassionate Shanideva, who always cares for and protects his devotees.

Chaupai 2

चारि भुजा, तनु श्याम विराजै ।
माथे रतन मुकुट छवि छाजै ॥

He has four arms and a dark body that shines; a jewelled crown on his head gives him splendour.

Chaupai 3

परम विशाल मनोहर भाला ।
टेढ़ी दृष्टि भृकुटि विकराला ॥

His broad forehead is very beautiful; his sidelong gaze and arched brows look fierce.

Chaupai 4

कुण्डल श्रवण चमाचम चमके ।
हिये माल मुक्तन मणि दमके ॥

Earrings glitter brightly in his ears, and a necklace of pearls and gems gleams on his chest.

Chaupai 5

कर में गदा त्रिशूल कुठारा ।
पल बिच करैं अरिहिं संहारा ॥

In his hands he holds a mace, a trident and an axe, and in a moment he destroys enemies.

Chaupai 6

पिंगल, कृष्णों, छाया नन्दन ।
यम, कोणस्थ, रौद्र, दुःख भंजन ॥

Pingala, Krishna, son of Chhaya, Yama, Konastha, Raudra, remover of sorrow -

Chaupai 7

सौरी, मन्द, शनि, दशनामा ।
भानु पुत्र पूजहिं सब कामा ॥

Sauri, Manda and Shani: these are his ten names. The verse says that all wishes are fulfilled for those who worship the son of the Sun.

Chaupai 8

जा पर प्रभु प्रसन्न है जाहीं ।
रंकहुं राव करैं क्षण माहीं ॥

Those with whom the Lord is pleased are raised from pauper to king in an instant.

Chaupai 9

पर्वतहू तृण होई निहारत ।
तृणहू को पर्वत करि डारत ॥

A mountain becomes a blade of grass under his gaze, and he can turn a blade of grass into a mountain.

Chaupai 10

राज मिलत वन रामहिं दीन्हो ।
कैकेइहुं की मति हरि लीन्हो ॥

Rama was about to receive the kingdom but was given the forest instead; it was Shani, the verse says, who turned Kaikeyi's mind.

Chaupai 11

बनहूं में मृग कपट दिखाई ।
मातु जानकी गयी चुराई ॥

Even in the forest a deceptive deer was shown, and mother Janaki (Sita) was carried off.

Chaupai 12

लखनहिं शक्ति विकल करिडारा ।
मचिगा दल में हाहाकारा ॥

He left Lakshmana stricken by the spear-weapon, and an uproar broke out in Rama's camp.

Chaupai 13

रावण की गति मति बौराई ।
रामचन्द्र सों बैर बढ़ाई ॥

Ravana's judgement and conduct were thrown into confusion, and he made enmity with Ramachandra.

Chaupai 14

दियो कीट करि कंचन लंका ।
बजि बजरंग बीर की डंका ॥

Golden Lanka was reduced to ruin, and the drum of the heroic Hanuman (Bajrang) resounded.

Chaupai 15

नृप विक्रम पर तुहि पगु धारा ।
चित्र मयूर निगलि गै हारा ॥

When you set foot upon King Vikrama, a painted peacock swallowed a necklace.

Chaupai 16

हार नौलाखा लाग्यो चोरी ।
हाथ पैर डरवायो तोरी ॥

He was accused of stealing the necklace worth nine lakh, and had his hands and feet cut off.

Chaupai 17

भारी दशा निकृष्ट दिखायो ।
तेलिहिं घर कोल्हू चलवायो ॥

You showed him a hard and lowly period, making him turn an oil-press in an oil-seller's house.

Chaupai 18

विनय राग दीपक महँ कीन्हों ।
तब प्रसन्न प्रभु है सुख दीन्हों ॥

When he sang a humble plea in Raga Deepak, the Lord was pleased and gave him happiness.

Chaupai 19

हरिश्चन्द्र नृप नारि बिकानी ।
आपहुँ भरे डोम घर पानी ॥

King Harishchandra's wife was sold, and he himself carried water in the house of a cremation-ground keeper.

Chaupai 20

तैसे नल पर दशा सिरानी ।
भूँजी-मीन कूद गयी पानी ॥

In the same way a hard period fell on King Nala, and even a roasted fish jumped back into the water.

Chaupai 21

श्री शंकरहि गहयो जब जाई ।
पार्वती को सती कराई ॥

When this influence came to Lord Shankara (Shiva), it brought about Parvati's self-immolation as Sati.

Chaupai 22

तनिक विलोकत ही करि रीसा ।
नभ उड़ि गयो गौरिसुत सीसा ॥

With only a slight glance in anger, the head of Gauri's son (Ganesha) flew off into the sky.

Chaupai 23

पाण्डव पर भै दशा तुम्हारी ।
बची द्रोपदी होति उघारी ॥

Your period fell on the Pandavas, and Draupadi was nearly disrobed but was saved.

Chaupai 24

कौरव के भी गति मति मारयो ।
युद्ध महाभारत करि डारयो ॥

It struck down the reasoning of the Kauravas too, and brought about the great war of the Mahabharata.

Chaupai 25

रवि कहं मुख महं धरि तत्काला ।
लेकर कूदि परयो पाताला ॥

At once you seized the Sun in your mouth and leapt down into the underworld.

Chaupai 26

शेष देव-लखि विनती लाई ।
रवि को मुख ते दियो छुड़ाई ॥

Seeing this, the gods led by Shesha made their plea, and the Sun was released from your mouth.

Chaupai 27

वाहन प्रभु के सात सुजाना ।
जग दिग्गज गर्दभ मृग स्वाना ॥

The Lord has seven fine mounts: the elephant (the 'world-elephant'), the donkey, the deer and the dog,

Chaupai 28

जम्बुक सिंह आदि नख धारी ।
सो फल ज्योतिष कहत पुकारी ॥

the jackal, the lion and other clawed beasts; astrology declares the results of each.

Chaupai 29

गज वाहन लक्ष्मी गृह आवैं ।
हय ते सुख सम्पत्ति उपजावै ॥

When he comes on the elephant, Lakshmi enters the home; on the horse he brings comfort and wealth.

Chaupai 30

गर्दभ हानि करै बहु काजा ।
सिंह सिद्धकर राज समाजा ॥

On the donkey he spoils many undertakings; on the lion he brings success and standing in royal society.

Chaupai 31

जम्बुक बुद्धि नष्ट कर डारै ।
मृग दे कष्ट प्राण संहारै ॥

On the jackal he destroys good sense; on the deer he gives suffering that threatens life.

Chaupai 32

जब आवहिं प्रभु स्वान सवारी ।
चोरी आदि होय डर भारी ॥

When the Lord rides the dog, theft and similar troubles bring great fear.

Chaupai 33

तैसहि चारि चरण यह नामा ।
स्वर्ण लौह चाँदी अरु तामा ॥

Likewise there are four 'feet' (charanas) by name: gold, iron, silver and copper.

Chaupai 34

लौह चरण पर जब प्रभु आवैं ।
धन जन सम्पत्ति नष्ट करावै ॥

When the Lord comes on the iron foot, he causes loss of wealth, people and property.

Chaupai 35

समता ताम्र रजत शुभकारी ।
स्वर्ण सर्वसुख मंगल कारी ॥

Copper brings an even balance and silver is auspicious; gold brings every happiness and good fortune.

Chaupai 36

जो यह शनि चरित्र नित गावै ।
कबहुं न दशा निकृष्ट सतावै ॥

The verse says that one who sings this account of Shani every day is never troubled by a bad period.

Chaupai 37

अदभुत नाथ दिखावैं लीला ।
करैं शत्रु के नशि बलि ढीला ॥

The Lord shows wondrous play, weakening the strength of one's enemies.

Chaupai 38

जो पण्डित सुयोग्य बुलवाई ।
विधिवत शनि ग्रह शान्ति कराई ॥

One who calls a qualified pandit and has the rite for pacifying the planet Shani done in the proper way,

Chaupai 39

पीपल जल शनि दिवस चढ़ावत ।
दीप दान दै बहु सुख पावत ॥

and who offers water to the pipal tree on Saturday and gives lamps in charity, gains much happiness, the verse says.

Chaupai 40

कहत राम सुन्दर प्रभु दासा ।
शनि सुमिरत सुख होत प्रकाशा ॥

Says Ramsundar, servant of the Lord: by remembering Shani, happiness shines forth.

Doha 3

पाठ शनिश्चर देव को, कीन्हों विमल तैयार ।
करत पाठ चालीस दिन, हो भवसागर पार ॥

This recitation of Lord Shanishchara was prepared by Vimal. The verse says that one who recites it for forty days crosses the ocean of worldly existence.

The syllable people get wrong

In chaupai 3, bhṛkuṭi (the brows) is often said 'bhru-ku-tee' with a soft English t. The ṛ is the vowel 'ri', so it is bhri-ku-ti, and the ṭ is retroflex, made with the tongue curled back against the roof of the mouth.

When the Shani Chalisa is chanted

Festival. Shani Jayanti, the Amavasya of Jyeshtha

Questions

The text names two people. Chaupai 40 begins 'kahata rama sundara prabhu dasa', so the poet signs as Ram Sundar, servant of the Lord. The closing doha says the recitation was prepared by Vimal. Some editions, such as Webdunia's, print 'bhakta' (devotee) where most read 'vimala', which drops that second name. No biography or date has been found for either, and the poem circulates as a traditional text in pocket-book editions.
Yes. The one on this page opens with 'jaya ganesha girija suvana' and its chaupais begin 'jayati jayati shanideva dayala'. A different hymn, also called Shani Chalisa, opens 'shri shanishchara devaji, sunahu shravana mama tera' and has different verses throughout. Even the text given here survives in two wording families; this page follows the one found in several popular print booklets, and notes the other readings where they differ.
Chaupais 27 to 32 name the mounts: elephant, horse, donkey, lion, jackal, deer and dog, each tied to a different kind of outcome. Chaupais 33 to 35 name four 'feet' or paya: gold, iron, silver and copper. Astrologers use paya to grade a Saturn transit, but manuals differ on how it is worked out and which metal is better. One ranks copper highest, while the chalisa itself calls gold the bringer of every happiness.
Chaupai 20 says that when Shani's period fell on King Nala, even a roasted fish jumped back into the water. In the Mahabharata it is the being Kali, not Shani, who possesses Nala. The fish episode, where cooked fish revive and leap into a lake, is told in Premanand Bhatt's Gujarati Nalakhyan of 1685. The chalisa follows popular Shani lore in reading such reversals as his work.
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