Shiv Chalisa: Meaning
The Shiv Chalisa is a Hindi devotional hymn whose doha names the poet as Ayodhyadas. After saluting Ganesh, it describes Shiva's form, recalls his deeds (the slaying of Taraka through Kartikeya, Jalandhara and Tripura, the descent of the Ganga, drinking the poison at the churning of the ocean, Ram's worship with a thousand lotuses), then becomes a personal prayer and ends with the benefits of recitation. The notes below explain each verse simply.
जय गणेश गिरिजा सुवन मंगल मूल सुजान । कहत अयोध्यादास तुम देहु अभय वरदान ॥
jaya gaṇeśa girijā suvana maṃgala mūla sujāna । kahata ayodhyādāsa tuma dehu abhaya varadāna ॥
गिरिजा सुवन girijā suvana son of Girija मंगल मूल maṃgala mūla root of auspiciousness अभय abhaya fearlessness गिरिजा के पुत्र, सब मंगलों के मूल और ज्ञानी गणेश जी की जय हो; अयोध्यादास कहते हैं: मुझे अभय का वरदान दीजिए।
Victory to Ganesh, son of Girija, root of all auspiciousness and wise; Ayodhyadas says: grant me the boon of fearlessness.
The opening doha salutes Ganesh, son of Girija (Parvati), root of auspiciousness and wise; the poet, Ayodhyadas, asks him for the boon of fearlessness.
जय गिरिजा पति दीन दयाला । सदा करत सन्तन प्रतिपाला ॥
jaya girijā pati dīna dayālā । sadā karata santana pratipālā ॥
गिरिजा पति girijā pati husband of Girija प्रतिपाला pratipālā protection दीनों पर दया करने वाले गिरिजापति की जय हो, जो सदा संतों का पालन करते हैं।
Victory to the lord of Girija, compassionate to the humble, ever the protector of the saints.
Victory to Shiva, husband of Girija, kind to the humble, who always protects the saints.
भाल चन्द्रमा सोहत नीके । कानन कुण्डल नागफनी के ॥
bhāla candramā sohata nīke । kānana kuṇḍala nāgaphanī ke ॥
भाल bhāla forehead नागफनी nāgaphanī serpent hoods आपके माथे पर चंद्रमा सुंदर लगता है और कानों में नागफनी के कुंडल हैं।
The moon shines beautifully on your forehead, and serpent-hood earrings adorn your ears.
The crescent moon shines beautifully on his forehead, and his earrings are of serpent hoods.
अंग गौर शिर गंग बहाये । मुण्डमाल तन क्षार लगाए ॥
aṃga gaura śira gaṃga bahāye । muṇḍamāla tana kṣāra lagāe ॥
गौर gaura fair मुण्डमाल muṇḍamāla garland of skulls क्षार kṣāra ash आपका अंग गौर है, सिर से गंगा बहती है, गले में मुंडमाला है और शरीर पर भस्म लगी है।
Your body is fair, the Ganga flows from your head, you wear a garland of skulls and ash on your body.
His body is fair, the Ganga flows from his head; he wears a garland of skulls and his body is smeared with ash.
वस्त्र खाल बाघम्बर सोहे । छवि को देखि नाग मन मोहे ॥
vastra khāla bāghambara sohe । chavi ko dekhi nāga mana mohe ॥
बाघम्बर bāghambara tiger-skin garment मोहे mohe enchanted बाघंबर आपका वस्त्र है; आपकी छवि देखकर नाग भी मोहित हो जाते हैं।
A tiger skin is your garment; seeing your beauty, even the serpents are enchanted.
He is clothed in a tiger skin; seeing his beauty, even serpents are enchanted.
मैना मातु की हवे दुलारी । बाम अंग सोहत छवि न्यारी ॥
mainā mātu kī have dulārī । bāma aṃga sohata chavi nyārī ॥
मैना mainā Maina (Parvati's mother) बाम अंग bāma aṃga left side न्यारी nyārī unique माता मैना की दुलारी (पार्वती जी) आपके बाएँ अंग में विराजती हैं, उनकी छवि अनोखी है।
The beloved daughter of Mother Maina sits on your left side, a unique beauty.
The darling daughter of mother Maina (Parvati) shines at his left side with a unique beauty. Parvati at Shiva's left recalls the Ardhanarishvara form.
कर त्रिशूल सोहत छवि भारी । करत सदा शत्रुन क्षयकारी ॥
kara triśūla sohata chavi bhārī । karata sadā śatruna kṣayakārī ॥
त्रिशूल triśūla trident क्षयकारी kṣayakārī destroying हाथ में त्रिशूल की छवि भव्य है, जिससे आप सदा शत्रुओं का नाश करते हैं।
The trident in your hand looks magnificent; with it you always destroy the enemies.
The trident in his hand looks magnificent; it always destroys enemies.
नन्दि गणेश सोहै तहँ कैसे । सागर मध्य कमल हैं जैसे ॥
nandi gaṇeśa sohai taham̐ kaise । sāgara madhya kamala haiṃ jaise ॥
नन्दि nandi Nandi, Shiva's bull नंदी और गणेश वहाँ ऐसे शोभित हैं जैसे समुद्र के बीच कमल।
Nandi and Ganesh look as beautiful there as lotuses in the middle of the sea.
Nandi and Ganesh look there as beautiful as lotuses in the middle of the ocean.
कार्तिक श्याम और गणराऊ । या छवि को कहि जात न काऊ ॥
kārtika śyāma aura gaṇarāū । yā chavi ko kahi jāta na kāū ॥
कार्तिक kārtika Kartikeya गणराऊ gaṇarāū Ganesh, lord of the ganas श्याम वर्ण कार्तिकेय और गणेश जी: इस छवि का वर्णन कोई नहीं कर सकता।
Kartikeya, dark-hued, and Ganesh: no one can describe that splendour.
Dark Kartikeya and Ganesh too: this beauty cannot be described.
देवन जबहीं जाय पुकारा । तब ही दुख प्रभु आप निवारा ॥
devana jabahīṃ jāya pukārā । taba hī dukha prabhu āpa nivārā ॥
पुकारा pukārā called out निवारा nivārā removed जब-जब देवताओं ने जाकर पुकारा, तब-तब प्रभु, आपने स्वयं उनका दुख दूर किया।
Whenever the gods went and called to you, Lord, you yourself removed their sorrow.
Whenever the gods came and called out to you, Lord, you yourself removed their sorrow.
किया उपद्रव तारक भारी । देवन सब मिलि तुमहिं जुहारी ॥
kiyā upadrava tāraka bhārī । devana saba mili tumahiṃ juhārī ॥
तारक tāraka the demon Taraka जुहारी juhārī paid homage, appealed जब तारकासुर ने भारी उपद्रव किया, तब सब देवताओं ने मिलकर आपसे विनती की।
When Taraka caused great havoc, all the gods together came to you in supplication.
When the demon Taraka caused great havoc, all the gods together came to you in homage.
तुरत षडानन आप पठायउ । लवनिमेष महँ मारि गिरायउ ॥
turata ṣaḍānana āpa paṭhāya:u । lavanimeṣa maham̐ māri girāya:u ॥
षडानन ṣaḍānana six-faced (Kartikeya) लवनिमेष lavanimeṣa an instant आपने तुरंत षडानन (कार्तिकेय) को भेजा, जिन्होंने पल भर में उसे मार गिराया।
At once you sent Shadanana (Kartikeya), who struck him down in the blink of an eye.
You at once sent six-faced Kartikeya, who struck Taraka down in an instant.
आप जलंधर असुर संहारा । सुयश तुम्हार विदित संसारा ॥
āpa jalaṃdhara asura saṃhārā । suyaśa tumhāra vidita saṃsārā ॥
जलंधर jalaṃdhara the demon Jalandhara सुयश suyaśa good fame आपने जलंधर असुर का संहार किया; आपका सुयश संसार में विदित है।
You destroyed the demon Jalandhara; your fair fame is known throughout the world.
You yourself destroyed the demon Jalandhara; your fame is known throughout the world.
त्रिपुरासुर सन युद्ध मचाई । सबहिं कृपा कर लीन बचाई ॥
tripurāsura sana yuddha macāī । sabahiṃ kṛpā kara līna bacāī ॥
त्रिपुरासुर tripurāsura the demon Tripura आपने त्रिपुरासुर से युद्ध किया और कृपा कर सबको बचा लिया।
You fought a battle against Tripurasura and by your grace saved everyone.
You fought the demon Tripura and graciously saved everyone.
किया तपहिं भागीरथ भारी । पुरब प्रतिज्ञा तासु पुरारी ॥
kiyā tapahiṃ bhāgīratha bhārī । puraba pratijñā tāsu purārī ॥
भागीरथ bhāgīratha King Bhagiratha पुरारी purārī destroyer of the cities (Shiva) भगीरथ ने भारी तप किया, और हे पुरारी, आपने उनकी प्रतिज्ञा पूरी की।
Bhagiratha performed great austerity, and you, destroyer of Tripura, fulfilled his vow.
Bhagiratha performed great austerity, and you, destroyer of the cities, fulfilled his vow (to bring down the Ganga). Shiva caught the descending Ganga in his hair.
दानिन महँ तुम सम कोउ नाहीं । सेवक स्तुति करत सदाहीं ॥
dānina maham̐ tuma sama kou nāhīṃ । sevaka stuti karata sadāhīṃ ॥
दानिन dānina givers दानियों में आपके समान कोई नहीं; सेवक सदा आपकी स्तुति करते हैं।
Among givers there is none like you; your servants always sing your praise.
Among givers there is none like you; your servants always sing your praise.
वेद माहि महिमा तुम गाई । अकथ अनादि भेद नहिं पाई ॥
veda māhi mahimā tuma gāī । akatha anādi bheda nahiṃ pāī ॥
अकथ akatha indescribable अनादि anādi without beginning भेद bheda secret वेद आपकी महिमा गाते हैं, पर आप अकथ और अनादि हैं, आपका भेद वे नहीं पाते।
The Vedas sing your glory, but find you indescribable, without beginning, beyond their reach.
The Vedas sang your glory but could not find your secret: you are indescribable and without beginning.
प्रकटी उदधि मंथन में ज्वाला । जरत सुरासुर भए विहाला ॥
prakaṭī udadhi maṃthana meṃ jvālā । jarata surāsura bhae vihālā ॥
उदधि मंथन udadhi maṃthana churning of the ocean विहाला vihālā distraught जब समुद्र मंथन से ज्वाला (विष) प्रकट हुई, तब देवता और असुर जलकर व्याकुल हो गए।
When the ocean was churned, fire (poison) appeared; gods and demons burned and were in distress.
At the churning of the ocean a flame (the poison) appeared, and gods and demons were scorched and distraught.
कीन्ही दया तहं करी सहाई । नीलकण्ठ तब नाम कहाई ॥
kīnhī dayā tahaṃ karī sahāī । nīlakaṇṭha taba nāma kahāī ॥
नीलकण्ठ nīlakaṇṭha blue-throated आपने वहाँ दया कर सहायता की, तभी आप नीलकंठ कहलाए।
You showed mercy and helped them there, and so were called Neelkanth (blue-throated).
You showed mercy and helped them (by drinking the poison); then you were called Neelkanth, the blue-throated.
पूजन रामचन्द्र जब कीन्हा । जीत के लंक विभीषण दीन्हा ॥
pūjana rāmacandra jaba kīnhā । jīta ke laṃka vibhīṣaṇa dīnhā ॥
पूजन pūjana worship जब श्री रामचंद्र ने आपका पूजन किया, तो उन्होंने लंका जीतकर विभीषण को दी।
When Ramchandra worshipped you, he won Lanka and gave it to Vibhishana.
When Ramachandra worshipped you, he conquered Lanka and gave it to Vibhishana.
सहस कमल में हो रहे धारी । कीन्ह परीक्षा तबहिं पुरारी ॥
sahasa kamala meṃ ho rahe dhārī । kīnha parīkṣā tabahiṃ purārī ॥
सहस कमल sahasa kamala a thousand lotuses परीक्षा parīkṣā test वे सहस्र कमल चढ़ा रहे थे, तभी हे पुरारी, आपने उनकी परीक्षा ली।
He was offering a thousand lotuses when you, destroyer of Tripura, put him to the test.
When Ram was offering a thousand lotuses, you, destroyer of the cities, tested him (by hiding one).
एक कमल प्रभु राखेउ जोई । कमल नयन पूजन चहं सोई ॥
eka kamala prabhu rākheu joī । kamala nayana pūjana cahaṃ soī ॥
कमल नयन kamala nayana lotus-eyed प्रभु, आपने एक कमल छिपा लिया; तब कमलनयन (श्रीराम) ने उसकी जगह अपना नेत्र अर्पित करना चाहा।
You hid one lotus, Lord; then the lotus-eyed one wished to offer his own eye in its place.
When one lotus was missing, the lotus-eyed one (Ram) wanted to offer his own eye in its place.
कठिन भक्ति देखी प्रभु शंकर । भए प्रसन्न दिए इच्छित वर ॥
kaṭhina bhakti dekhī prabhu śaṃkara । bhae prasanna die icchita vara ॥
इच्छित वर icchita vara the desired boon ऐसी कठिन भक्ति देखकर प्रभु शंकर प्रसन्न हुए और इच्छित वर दिया।
Seeing such intense devotion, Lord Shankar was pleased and granted the desired boon.
Seeing such hard devotion, Lord Shankara was pleased and gave the desired boon.
जय जय जय अनन्त अविनाशी । करत कृपा सब के घटवासी ॥
jaya jaya jaya ananta avināśī । karata kṛpā saba ke ghaṭavāsī ॥
अविनाशी avināśī imperishable घटवासी ghaṭavāsī dweller in every heart अनंत और अविनाशी की जय हो, जय हो, जय हो, जो सबके हृदय में वास करते हुए सब पर कृपा करते हैं।
Victory, victory, victory to the infinite and imperishable one, who dwells in every heart and shows grace to all.
Victory to the infinite, imperishable one, who dwells in every heart and shows grace to all.
दुष्ट सकल नित मोहि सतावै । भ्रमत रहौं मोहि चैन न आवै ॥
duṣṭa sakala nita mohi satāvai । bhramata rahauṃ mohi caina na āvai ॥
सतावै satāvai torment चैन caina peace दुष्ट मुझे नित्य सताते हैं; मैं भटकता रहता हूँ और मुझे चैन नहीं मिलता।
The wicked torment me constantly; I wander about and find no peace.
The poet turns to his own plight: all the wicked torment me daily; I wander and find no peace.
त्राहि त्राहि मैं नाथ पुकारो । येहि अवसर मोहि आन उबारो ॥
trāhi trāhi maiṃ nātha pukāro । yehi avasara mohi āna ubāro ॥
त्राहि trāhi save me हे नाथ, मैं "त्राहि त्राहि" पुकारता हूँ; इस अवसर पर आकर मुझे उबारिए।
"Save me, save me," Lord, I cry; come now and rescue me at this moment.
Save me, save me, Lord, I cry; come now and rescue me.
लै त्रिशूल शत्रुन को मारो । संकट से मोहि आन उबारो ॥
lai triśūla śatruna ko māro । saṃkaṭa se mohi āna ubāro ॥
संकट saṃkaṭa trouble त्रिशूल लेकर शत्रुओं को मारिए; आकर मुझे संकट से उबारिए।
Take your trident and strike down the enemies; come and rescue me from trouble.
Take your trident, strike down the enemies, and rescue me from trouble.
मात-पिता भ्राता सब होई । संकट में पूछत नहिं कोई ॥
māta-pitā bhrātā saba hoī । saṃkaṭa meṃ pūchata nahiṃ koī ॥
भ्राता bhrātā brother माता, पिता, भाई सब होते हैं, पर संकट में कोई नहीं पूछता।
Mother, father, brothers: all are there, yet in trouble no one asks after you.
Mother, father, brothers are all there, but in trouble no one asks after me.
स्वामी एक है आस तुम्हारी । आय हरहु मम संकट भारी ॥
svāmī eka hai āsa tumhārī । āya harahu mama saṃkaṭa bhārī ॥
आस āsa hope स्वामी, मुझे केवल आपकी आस है; आकर मेरा भारी संकट हर लीजिए।
Master, my only hope is in you; come and remove my heavy trouble.
Lord, my one hope is in you; come and take away my heavy trouble.
धन निर्धन को देत सदा हीं । जो कोई जांचे सो फल पाहीं ॥
dhana nirdhana ko deta sadā hīṃ । jo koī jāṃce so phala pāhīṃ ॥
जांचे jāṃce asks, begs आप सदा निर्धन को धन देते हैं; जो कोई माँगता है, वह फल पाता है।
You always give wealth to the poor; whoever asks of you receives the fruit.
You always give wealth to the poor; whoever asks of you receives the fruit.
अस्तुति केहि विधि करैं तुम्हारी । क्षमहु नाथ अब चूक हमारी ॥
astuti kehi vidhi karaiṃ tumhārī । kṣamahu nātha aba cūka hamārī ॥
अस्तुति astuti praise चूक cūka fault हम आपकी स्तुति किस विधि से करें? हे नाथ, अब हमारी भूल क्षमा कीजिए।
How can we praise you properly? Lord, forgive our mistakes now.
How shall we praise you? Lord, forgive our faults now.
शंकर हो संकट के नाशन । मंगल कारण विघ्न विनाशन ॥
śaṃkara ho saṃkaṭa ke nāśana । maṃgala kāraṇa vighna vināśana ॥
संकट के नाशन saṃkaṭa ke nāśana destroyer of trouble विघ्न विनाशन vighna vināśana destroyer of obstacles हे शंकर, आप संकटों का नाश करने वाले, मंगल के कारण और विघ्नों का विनाश करने वाले हैं।
Shankar, you destroy trouble, bring auspiciousness and remove obstacles.
You are Shankara, destroyer of trouble, cause of auspiciousness, destroyer of obstacles. The name Shankara is played on: one who brings welfare (sham).
योगी यति मुनि ध्यान लगावैं । शारद नारद शीश नवावैं ॥
yogī yati muni dhyāna lagāvaiṃ । śārada nārada śīśa navāvaiṃ ॥
यति yati ascetic शीश नवावैं śīśa navāvaiṃ bow their heads योगी, यति और मुनि आपका ध्यान लगाते हैं; शारदा और नारद शीश नवाते हैं।
Yogis, ascetics and sages meditate on you; Sharada and Narada bow their heads.
Yogis, ascetics and sages meditate on you; Sharada and Narada bow their heads.
नमो नमो जय नमः शिवाय । सुर ब्रह्मादिक पार न पाय ॥
namo namo jaya namaḥ śivāya । sura brahmādika pāra na pāya ॥
पार न पाय pāra na pāya cannot reach the limit नमो नमो, जय "नमः शिवाय"; ब्रह्मा आदि देवता भी आपका पार नहीं पाते।
Salutations, salutations, victory, "namah Shivaya"; even Brahma and the gods cannot reach your limit.
Salutations, victory, Om Namah Shivaya: Brahma and the gods cannot reach your limit.
जो यह पाठ करे मन लाई । ता पर होत है शम्भु सहाई ॥
jo yaha pāṭha kare mana lāī । tā para hota hai śambhu sahāī ॥
मन लाई mana lāī with the mind fixed सहाई sahāī helper जो मन लगाकर इसका पाठ करता है, शम्भु उसके सहायक होते हैं।
Whoever recites this with a devoted mind, Shambhu becomes their helper.
Whoever recites this with a focused mind, Shambhu becomes his helper. The phalashruti begins here.
ऋनिया जो कोई हो अधिकारी । पाठ करे सो पावन हारी ॥
ṛniyā jo koī ho adhikārī । pāṭha kare so pāvana hārī ॥
ऋनिया ṛniyā in debt जो ऋणी हो, वह इसका पाठ करे तो (ऋण से) मुक्त और पावन हो जाता है।
Whoever is in debt and recites it is freed and purified.
Whoever is burdened by debt, reciting this he becomes free of it.
पुत्र होन कर इच्छा जोई । निश्चय शिव प्रसाद तेहि होई ॥
putra hona kara icchā joī । niścaya śiva prasāda tehi hoī ॥
प्रसाद prasāda grace जिसे पुत्र की इच्छा हो, उसे शिव की कृपा से निश्चय ही प्राप्त होता है।
Whoever wishes for a son will surely receive one by Shiva's grace.
Whoever wishes for a son surely receives Shiva's grace.
पण्डित त्रयोदशी को लावे । ध्यान पूर्वक होम करावे ॥
paṇḍita trayodaśī ko lāve । dhyāna pūrvaka homa karāve ॥
त्रयोदशी trayodaśī the thirteenth lunar day होम homa fire offering त्रयोदशी को पंडित को बुलाकर ध्यानपूर्वक होम कराएँ।
On Trayodashi, bring a pandit and have a homa performed with devotion.
On Trayodashi (the thirteenth lunar day) he should invite a pandit and have a fire offering performed with devotion.
त्रयोदशी व्रत करै हमेशा । ताके तन नहीं रहै कलेशा ॥
trayodaśī vrata karai hameśā । tāke tana nahīṃ rahai kaleśā ॥
व्रत vrata fast, vow जो सदा त्रयोदशी का व्रत करता है, उसके शरीर में कोई कष्ट नहीं रहता।
Whoever always keeps the Trayodashi fast, no affliction remains in their body.
Whoever always keeps the Trayodashi (Pradosh) fast, no suffering remains in his body.
धूप दीप नैवेद्य चढ़ावे । शंकर सम्मुख पाठ सुनावे ॥
dhūpa dīpa naivedya caṙhāve । śaṃkara sammukha pāṭha sunāve ॥
नैवेद्य naivedya food offering धूप, दीप और नैवेद्य चढ़ाएँ और शंकर जी के सम्मुख पाठ सुनाएँ।
Offer incense, lamp and food, and recite it before Shankar.
Offer incense, lamp and food, and recite before Shankara.
जन्म जन्म के पाप नसावे । अन्त धाम शिवपुर में पावे ॥
janma janma ke pāpa nasāve । anta dhāma śivapura meṃ pāve ॥
शिवपुर śivapura Shiva's abode जन्म-जन्म के पाप नष्ट होते हैं और अंत में शिवपुर में धाम मिलता है।
The sins of many births are destroyed, and at the end one reaches Shiva's abode.
The sins of many births are destroyed, and at the end one reaches Shiva's abode.
कहैं अयोध्यादास आस तुम्हारी । जानि सकल दुःख हरहु हमारी ॥
kahaiṃ ayodhyādāsa āsa tumhārī । jāni sakala duḥkha harahu hamārī ॥
अयोध्यादास ayodhyādāsa Ayodhyadas, the poet अयोध्यादास कहते हैं: मुझे आपकी आस है; यह जानकर हमारे सब दुख हर लीजिए।
Ayodhyadas says: my hope is in you; knowing this, remove all our sorrows.
Ayodhyadas says: my hope is in you; knowing this, take away all our sorrow.
नित्त नेम कर प्रातः ही पाठ करौं चालीसा । तुम मेरी मनोकामना पूर्ण करो जगदीश ॥
nitta nema kara prātaḥ hī pāṭha karauṃ cālīsā । tuma merī manokāmanā pūrṇa karo jagadīśa ॥
नित्त नेम nitta nema daily rule मनोकामना manokāmanā heart's wish नित्य नियम से मैं प्रातः ही यह चालीसा पढ़ता हूँ; हे जगदीश, मेरी मनोकामना पूर्ण कीजिए।
Making it a daily rule, I recite this Chalisa every morning; Lord of the world, fulfil my wishes.
I recite this Chalisa every morning as a rule; O lord of the world, fulfil my heart's wish.
मगसर छठि हेमन्त ऋतु संवत् चौंसठ जान । अस्तुति चालीसा शिवहि पूर्ण कीन कल्याण ॥
magasara chaṭhi hemanta ṛtu saṃvat cauṃsaṭha jāna । astuti cālīsā śivahi pūrṇa kīna kalyāṇa ॥
मगसर magasara the month of Margashirsha हेमन्त ऋतु hemanta ṛtu the Hemanta (early winter) season संवत् saṃvat the Vikram era year मार्गशीर्ष की षष्ठी, हेमंत ऋतु, संवत् चौंसठ में, कल्याण के लिए शिव जी की यह स्तुति-चालीसा पूर्ण की गई, ऐसा जानिए।
Know that on the sixth day of Margashirsha, in the Hemant season, in Samvat (year) sixty-four, this hymn of praise to Shiva was completed for the good of all.
The closing doha dates the work: in the month of Margashirsha, on the sixth day, in the Hemanta season, in Samvat "sixty-four", this Chalisa of praise to Shiva was completed for welfare. The century of the year is not stated.
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- Sources
- Shiva, Wikipedia (2026)