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Home › Mantras › Shiv Chalisa
Rudra (Shiva) Shiv Chalisa: Lord Shiva with Parvati, Ganesha, Kartikeya and Nandi on Mount Kailash
Shiva with Parvati, Ganesha, Kartikeya and Nandi on Kailash
Mantra · Ayodhyadas's Hindi forty: Shiva's deeds, then a plea for rescue

Shiv Chalisa

जय गणेश गिरिजा सुवन मंगल मूल सुजान । कहत अयोध्यादास तुम देहु अभय वरदान ॥

Also known as Shiva Chalisa

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

What the Shiv Chalisa is

The Shiv Chalisa is a Hindi devotional poem to Shiva in the chalisa form: rhyming chaupai couplets framed by dohas, named after the forty (chalis) chaupais at its core. Its poet signs as Ayodhyadas twice, in the opening doha and in the last chaupai. Unusually, that opening doha is addressed to Ganesha, son of Girija, asking him for the boon of fearlessness before the poem turns to his father. Chaupais 1 to 8 paint Shiva with his household: the moon on the forehead, Ganga flowing from the head, Parvati at his left, Nandi, Ganesha and Kartikeya around him. Chaupais 9 to 22 recount his deeds, from sending six-faced Kartikeya against Taraka to drinking the poison of the churned ocean. Chaupais 23 to 33 become a personal cry against enemies and abandonment. Chaupais 34 to 40 state what recitation brings, and two closing dohas follow, the last a dating colophon.

A poet's signature and a date without a century

Almost nothing is known of Ayodhyadas beyond what the poem says about itself. The poet's name appears in the first doha and again in the forty-first chaupai, and the final doha records when the work was finished: the sixth day of Magasir (Margashirsha), in the Hemanta season, in Samvat chausath, 'year sixty-four'. No century is given. Some devotional sources read this as Vikram Samvat 1664, around 1607 CE, and others as 1964, around 1907 CE, but no published study of the poet or the text supports either reading. The earliest printed copies on record are recent: a 2004 anthology of fifty-one chalisas from Randhir Prakashan in Haridwar, and a 2007 booklet issued by the Shri Sangameshwar Mahadev temple at Pehowa near Kurukshetra, which prints the chalisa with a list of Shiva's names and an aarti under Ayodhyadas's name. The poem is usually described as drawn from the Shiva Purana, and its episodes, Jalandhara, Tripura, Taraka and the blue throat, do come from that body of story. The text circulates in two families of wording that differ in a dozen small readings; this page follows one family throughout and does not mix the two.

The mantra, in six scripts

DevanagariSanskrit & Hindiजय गणेश गिरिजा सुवन मंगल मूल सुजान । कहत अयोध्यादास तुम देहु अभय वरदान ॥
Tamilஜய கணேஶ கிரிஜா ஸுவந மம்கல மூல ஸுஜாந । கஹத அயோத்யாதாஸ தும தேஹு அபய வரதாந ॥
Teluguజయ గణేశ గిరిజా సువన మంగల మూల సుజాన । కహత అయోధ్యాదాస తుమ దేహు అభయ వరదాన ॥
Kannadaಜಯ ಗಣೇಶ ಗಿರಿಜಾ ಸುವನ ಮಂಗಲ ಮೂಲ ಸುಜಾನ । ಕಹತ ಅಯೋಧ್ಯಾದಾಸ ತುಮ ದೇಹು ಅಭಯ ವರದಾನ ॥
Malayalamജയ ഗണേശ ഗിരിജാ സുവന മംഗല മൂല സുജാന । കഹത അയോധ്യാദാസ തുമ ദേഹു അഭയ വരദാന ॥
EnglishRoman transliterationjaya gaṇeśa girijā suvana maṃgala mūla sujāna | kahata ayodhyādāsa tuma dehu abhaya varadāna ||
“Victory to Ganesha, son of Girija, the root of all auspiciousness and the all-wise. Ayodhyadas says: grant me the boon of fearlessness.”
जय
jaya — victory
गणेश
gaṇeśa — to Ganesha
गिरिजा
girijā — of Girija (Parvati)
सुवन
suvana — son
मंगल
maṃgala — of auspiciousness
मूल
mūla — root
सुजान
sujāna — all-wise
कहत
kahata — says
अयोध्यादास
ayodhyādāsa — Ayodhyadas
तुम
tuma — you
देहु
dehu — grant
अभय
abhaya — fearlessness
वरदान
varadāna — the boon

Shiv Chalisa lyrics in full

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

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

Doha 1

जय गणेश गिरिजा सुवन मंगल मूल सुजान ।
कहत अयोध्यादास तुम देहु अभय वरदान ॥

Victory to Ganesha, son of Girija, the root of all auspiciousness and the all-wise. Ayodhyadas says: grant me the boon of fearlessness.

Chaupai 1

जय गिरिजा पति दीन दयाला ।
सदा करत सन्तन प्रतिपाला ॥

Victory to the lord of Girija, kind to the humble, who always protects the saints.

Chaupai 2

भाल चन्द्रमा सोहत नीके ।
कानन कुण्डल नागफनी के ॥

The moon shines beautifully on his forehead, and cobra hoods are the rings in his ears.

Chaupai 3

अंग गौर शिर गंग बहाये ।
मुण्डमाल तन क्षार लगाए ॥

His body is fair, the Ganga flows from his head, he wears a garland of skulls and his body is smeared with ash.

Chaupai 4

वस्त्र खाल बाघम्बर सोहे ।
छवि को देखि नाग मन मोहे ॥

A tiger skin is his garment; seeing his form, even the serpents are enchanted.

Chaupai 5

मैना मातु की हवे दुलारी ।
बाम अंग सोहत छवि न्यारी ॥

The beloved daughter of mother Maina (Parvati) shines at his left side, a matchless sight.

Chaupai 6

कर त्रिशूल सोहत छवि भारी ।
करत सदा शत्रुन क्षयकारी ॥

The trident shines in his hand, a mighty sight, always destroying enemies.

Chaupai 7

नन्दि गणेश सोहै तहँ कैसे ।
सागर मध्य कमल हैं जैसे ॥

Nandi and Ganesha look beside him like lotuses in the middle of the ocean.

Chaupai 8

कार्तिक श्याम और गणराऊ ।
या छवि को कहि जात न काऊ ॥

With Kartikeya, the dark-hued attendants and the lord of the ganas, this sight cannot be described by anyone.

Chaupai 9

देवन जबहीं जाय पुकारा ।
तब ही दुख प्रभु आप निवारा ॥

Whenever the gods came and called to you, Lord, you yourself removed their sorrow at once.

Chaupai 10

किया उपद्रव तारक भारी ।
देवन सब मिलि तुमहिं जुहारी ॥

When the demon Taraka caused great havoc, all the gods together bowed to you for help.

Chaupai 11

तुरत षडानन आप पठायउ ।
लवनिमेष महँ मारि गिरायउ ॥

At once you sent the six-faced Kartikeya, who struck him down in the blink of an eye.

Chaupai 12

आप जलंधर असुर संहारा ।
सुयश तुम्हार विदित संसारा ॥

You yourself slew the demon Jalandhara; your fame is known throughout the world.

Chaupai 13

त्रिपुरासुर सन युद्ध मचाई ।
सबहिं कृपा कर लीन बचाई ॥

You waged war against the demon Tripura and in your grace saved everyone.

Chaupai 14

किया तपहिं भागीरथ भारी ।
पुरब प्रतिज्ञा तासु पुरारी ॥

Bhagiratha performed great austerity, and you, slayer of Tripura, fulfilled his vow.

Chaupai 15

दानिन महँ तुम सम कोउ नाहीं ।
सेवक स्तुति करत सदाहीं ॥

Among givers there is none equal to you; your servants always sing your praise.

Chaupai 16

वेद माहि महिमा तुम गाई ।
अकथ अनादि भेद नहिं पाई ॥

The Vedas have sung your glory, yet could not find the secret of you, the indescribable and beginningless.

Chaupai 17

प्रकटी उदधि मंथन में ज्वाला ।
जरत सुरासुर भए विहाला ॥

When fire (poison) rose from the churning of the ocean, the gods and demons were scorched and distraught.

Chaupai 18

कीन्ही दया तहं करी सहाई ।
नीलकण्ठ तब नाम कहाई ॥

You showed compassion and helped them there, and from then you were called Nilakantha, the blue-throated.

Chaupai 19

पूजन रामचन्द्र जब कीन्हा ।
जीत के लंक विभीषण दीन्हा ॥

When Ramachandra worshipped you, he conquered Lanka and gave it to Vibhishana.

Chaupai 20

सहस कमल में हो रहे धारी ।
कीन्ह परीक्षा तबहिं पुरारी ॥

He was offering a thousand lotuses, and then you, slayer of Tripura, put him to the test.

Chaupai 21

एक कमल प्रभु राखेउ जोई ।
कमल नयन पूजन चहं सोई ॥

You hid one lotus, Lord, and the lotus-eyed one then wished to complete the worship with his own eye.

Chaupai 22

कठिन भक्ति देखी प्रभु शंकर ।
भए प्रसन्न दिए इच्छित वर ॥

Seeing such hard devotion, Lord Shankara was pleased and granted the boon he desired.

Chaupai 23

जय जय जय अनन्त अविनाशी ।
करत कृपा सब के घटवासी ॥

Victory, victory, victory to the endless and imperishable one, who dwells in every heart and shows grace to all.

Chaupai 24

दुष्ट सकल नित मोहि सतावै ।
भ्रमत रहौं मोहि चैन न आवै ॥

All the wicked torment me daily; I wander about and find no peace.

Chaupai 25

त्राहि त्राहि मैं नाथ पुकारो ।
येहि अवसर मोहि आन उबारो ॥

Save me, save me, Lord, I cry out; come at this moment and rescue me.

Chaupai 26

लै त्रिशूल शत्रुन को मारो ।
संकट ते मोहि आन उबारो ॥

Take up the trident and strike down my enemies; come and rescue me from distress.

Chaupai 27

मात-पिता भ्राता सब होई ।
संकट में पूछत नहिं कोई ॥

Mother, father, brothers, all are there, yet in trouble no one asks after me.

Chaupai 28

स्वामी एक है आस तुम्हारी ।
आय हरहु मम संकट भारी ॥

Master, you are my only hope; come and take away my heavy troubles.

Chaupai 29

धन निर्धन को देत सदा हीं ।
जो कोई जांचे सो फल पाहीं ॥

You always give wealth to the poor; whoever asks of you receives the fruit.

Chaupai 30

अस्तुति केहि विधि करैं तुम्हारी ।
क्षमहु नाथ अब चूक हमारी ॥

In what way can we praise you? Forgive our faults now, Lord.

Chaupai 31

शंकर हो संकट के नाशन ।
मंगल कारण विघ्न विनाशन ॥

Shankara, you are the destroyer of distress, the cause of good and the remover of obstacles.

Chaupai 32

योगी यति मुनि ध्यान लगावैं ।
शारद नारद शीश नवावैं ॥

Yogis, ascetics and sages meditate on you; Sharada and Narada bow their heads to you.

Chaupai 33

नमो नमो जय नमः शिवाय ।
सुर ब्रह्मादिक पार न पाय ॥

Salutations, salutations, victory, salutations to Shiva; even the gods led by Brahma cannot reach your limit.

Chaupai 34

जो यह पाठ करे मन लाई ।
ता पर होत है शम्भु सहाई ॥

The verse says that whoever recites this with a devoted mind is helped by Shambhu.

Chaupai 35

ऋनियां जो कोई हो अधिकारी ।
पाठ करे सो पावन हारी ॥

The verse says that anyone burdened with debt who recites it is purified and set free.

Chaupai 36

पुत्र होन कर इच्छा जोई ।
निश्चय शिव प्रसाद तेहि होई ॥

The verse says that whoever wishes for a son to be born surely receives it by Shiva's grace.

Chaupai 37

पण्डित त्रयोदशी को लावे ।
ध्यान पूर्वक होम करावे ॥

On Trayodashi one should bring a learned priest and have a homa performed with attention.

Chaupai 38

त्रयोदशी व्रत करै हमेशा ।
ताके तन नहीं रहै कलेशा ॥

The verse says that whoever always keeps the Trayodashi fast has no affliction left in the body.

Chaupai 39

धूप दीप नैवेद्य चढ़ावे ।
शंकर सम्मुख पाठ सुनावे ॥

Offering incense, lamp and food, one should recite this before Shankara.

Chaupai 40

जन्म जन्म के पाप नसावे ।
अन्त धाम शिवपुर में पावे ॥

The verse says this destroys the sins of many births and at the end one reaches the abode of Shiva.

Chaupai 41

कहैं अयोध्यादास आस तुम्हारी ।
जानि सकल दुःख हरहु हमारी ॥

Ayodhyadas says: you are my hope; knowing this, take away all our sorrows.

Doha 2

नित्त नेम उठि प्रातः ही पाठ करो चालीसा ।
तुम मेरी मनोकामना पूर्ण करो जगदीश ॥

Rise early each morning as a daily rule and recite the Chalisa. Lord of the world, fulfil my heart's wish.

Doha 3

मगसिर छठि हेमन्त ऋतु संवत चौसठ जान ।
स्तुति चालीसा शिवहि पूर्ण कीन कल्याण ॥

Know that on the sixth day of Magasir (Margashirsha), in the Hemanta season, in Samvat (year) sixty-four, this Chalisa in praise of Shiva was completed, for the good of all.

The syllable people get wrong

In chaupai 11 the six-faced Kartikeya is ṣaḍānana, 'six faces': the first consonant is the retroflex ṣ and the ḍ is retroflex too, so it is said sha-DAA-na-na with the tongue curled back. Reading it as 'sad-aanan' with a dental d and an English 's' loses the word ṣaṭ, six, that the name is built on.

When the Shiv Chalisa is chanted

Weekday. Monday

Festival. Pradosha (Trayodashi), which chaupais 37 and 38 name, and Maha Shivaratri

Questions

The poem names its author as Ayodhyadas, in the opening doha and in chaupai 41. The closing doha says it was completed on the sixth of Magasir in the Hemanta season, Samvat 64, but omits the century. Claims of 1607 or 1907 CE rest on that one line read two different ways, and no scholarly source confirms either. The honest answer is that the poet and the date are not known beyond the poem's own words.
The poem says Rama worshipped Shiva with a thousand lotuses before winning Lanka for Vibhishana, that Shiva hid one lotus to test him, and that the 'lotus-eyed' Rama resolved to offer his own eye. The Shiva Purana tells the same test of Vishnu at Varanasi, rewarded with the Sudarshana discus, and the Bengali Krittivasi Ramayana tells it of Rama and Durga with 108 lotuses. The chalisa joins the two, placing Rama before Shiva.
Chaupais 34 to 40 carry the stated fruits. The verses say that Shambhu helps whoever reads it with a settled mind, that one burdened with debt is freed, that one who wishes for a son receives Shiva's grace, and that one who keeps the Trayodashi vow is left without bodily affliction. Chaupai 37 adds a Trayodashi homa with a learned priest, and chaupai 40 says the sins of many births are destroyed and Shivapura is reached at the end.
Its opening doha is a salute to Ganesha rather than to Shiva: victory to Ganesha, son of Girija, root of auspiciousness and the all-wise one, with Ayodhyadas asking him for the boon of fearlessness. Chaupai 1 then hails Girija's husband, so the poem reaches Shiva through his son and his consort, and chaupais 5 to 8 return to that household, setting Parvati, Nandi, Ganesha and Kartikeya beside him.
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