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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Chamunda Chalisa – two opening dohas, forty chaupais, and a closing doha. A short English meaning sits below every verse. Toggle the script to read in Devanagari, romanized, or both side-by-side.
नमस्कार चामुंडा माता, तीनों लोकों में विख्याता॥
namaskara chamumda mata, tinom lokom mem vikhyata||
Verse 1 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
हिमालय में पवित्र धाम है, महाशक्ति तुमको प्रणाम है॥
himalaya mem pavitra dhama hai, mahashakti tumako pranama hai||
Verse 2 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
मार्कण्डेय ऋषि ने ध्याया, कैसे प्रगटीं भेद बताया॥
markandeya rrishi ne dhyaya, kaise pragatim bheda bataya||
Verse 3 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
शुंभ निशुंभ दो दैत्य बलशाली, तीनों लोक जो कर दिए खाली॥
shumbha nishumbha do daitya balashali, tinom loka jo kara die khali||
Verse 4 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
वायु अग्नि यम कुबेर संग, सूर्य चंद्र वरुण हुए तंग॥
vayu agni yama kubera samga, surya chamdra varuna hue tamga||
Verse 5 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
अपमानित चरणों में आए, गिरिराज हिमालय को लाए॥
apamanita charanom mem ae, giriraja himalaya ko lae||
Verse 6 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
भद्रा-रौद्रा नित्या ध्याया, चेतन शक्ति करके बुलाया॥
bhadra-raudra nitya dhyaya, chetana shakti karake bulaya||
Verse 7 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
क्रोधित होकर काली आई, जिसने अपनी लीला दिखाई॥
krodhita hokara kali ai, jisane apani lila dikhai||
Verse 8 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
चंड मुंड और शुंभ पठाए, कामुक वैरी लड़ने आए॥
chamda mumda aura shumbha pathae, kamuka vairi la.dane ae||
Verse 9 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
पहले सुग्रीव दूत को मारा, भागा चंड भी मारा मारा॥
pahale sugriva duta ko mara, bhaga chamda bhi mara mara||
Verse 10 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
अरबों सैनिक लेकर आया, धूम्र लोचन क्रोध दिखाया॥
arabom sainika lekara aya, dhumra lochana krodha dikhaya||
Verse 11 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
जैसे ही दुष्ट ललकारा, हूं हूं शब्द गुंजा के मारा॥
jaise hi dushta lalakara, hum hum shabda gumja ke mara||
Verse 12 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
सेना ने मचाई भगदड़, फाड़ा सिंह ने आया जो बढ़॥
sena ne machai bhagada.da, pha.da simha ne aya jo ba.dha||
Verse 13 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
हत्या करने चंड-मुंड आए, मदिरा पीकर के घुर्राए॥
hatya karane chamda-mumda ae, madira pikara ke ghurrae||
Verse 14 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
चतुरंगी सेना संग लाए, ऊंचे ऊंचे शिविर गिराए॥
chaturamgi sena samga lae, umche umche shivira girae||
Verse 15 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
तुमने क्रोधित रूप निकाला, प्रगटीं डाल गले मुंड माला॥
tumane krodhita rupa nikala, pragatim dala gale mumda mala||
Verse 16 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
चर्म की साड़ी चीते वाली, हड्डी ढांचा था बलशाली॥
charma ki sa.di chite vali, haddi dhamcha tha balashali||
Verse 17 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
विकराल मुखी आंखें दिखलाईं, जिसे देख सृष्टि घबराई॥
vikarala mukhi amkhem dikhalaim, jise dekha srrishti ghabarai||
Verse 18 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
चंड मुंड ने चक्र चलाया, ले तलवार हूं शब्द गुंजाया॥
chamda mumda ne chakra chalaya, le talavara hum shabda gumjaya||
Verse 19 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
पापियों का कर दिया निस्तारा, चंड मुंड दोनों को मारा॥
papiyom ka kara diya nistara, chamda mumda donom ko mara||
Verse 20 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
हाथ में मस्तक ले मुस्काई, पापी सेना फिर घबराई॥
hatha mem mastaka le muskai, papi sena phira ghabarai||
Verse 21 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
सरस्वती माँ तुम्हें पुकारा, पड़ा चामुंडा नाम तिहारा॥
sarasvati ma.n tumhem pukara, pa.da chamumda nama tihara||
Verse 22 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
चंड मुंड की मृत्यु सुनकर, कालक मौर्य आए रथ पर॥
chamda mumda ki mrrityu sunakara, kalaka maurya ae ratha para||
Verse 23 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
अरब खरब युद्ध के पथ पर, झोंक दिए सब चामुंडा पर॥
araba kharaba yuddha ke patha para, jhomka die saba chamumda para||
Verse 24 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
उग्र चंडिका प्रगटीं आकर, गीदड़ियों की वाणी भरकर॥
ugra chamdika pragatim akara, gida.diyom ki vani bharakara||
Verse 25 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
काली खड़वांग घूसों से मारा, ब्रह्माणी ने फेंकी जल धारा॥
kali kha.davamga ghusom se mara, brahmani ne phemki jala dhara||
Verse 26 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
महेश्वरी ने त्रिशूल चलाया, मां वैष्णवी चक्र घुमाया॥
maheshvari ne trishula chalaya, mam vaishnavi chakra ghumaya||
Verse 27 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
कार्तिकेय की शक्ति आई, नारसिंही दैत्यों पे छाई॥
kartikeya ki shakti ai, narasimhi daityom pe chai||
Verse 28 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
चुन चुन सिंह सभी को खाया, हर दानव घायल घबराया॥
chuna chuna simha sabhi ko khaya, hara danava ghayala ghabaraya||
Verse 29 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
रक्तबीज माया फैलाई, शक्ति उसने नई दिखाई॥
raktabija maya phailai, shakti usane nai dikhai||
Verse 30 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
रक्त गिरा जब धरती ऊपर, नया दैत्य प्रगटा था वहीं पर॥
rakta gira jaba dharati upara, naya daitya pragata tha vahim para||
Verse 31 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
चंडी माँ अब शूल घुमाया, मारा उसको लहू चुसाया॥
chamdi ma.n aba shula ghumaya, mara usako lahu chusaya||
Verse 32 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
शुंभ निशुंभ अब दौड़े आए, शत्रु सेना भरकर लाए॥
shumbha nishumbha aba dau.de ae, shatru sena bharakara lae||
Verse 33 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
वज्रपात संग शूल चलाए, सभी देवता कुछ घबराए॥
vajrapata samga shula chalae, sabhi devata kucha ghabarae||
Verse 34 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
ललकारा फिर घूंसा मारा, ले त्रिशूल किया निस्तारा॥
lalakara phira ghumsa mara, le trishula kiya nistara||
Verse 35 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
शुंभ निशुंभ धरती पर सोए, दैत्य सभी देखकर रोए॥
shumbha nishumbha dharati para soe, daitya sabhi dekhakara roe||
Verse 36 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
चामुंडा माँ धर्म बचाया, अपना शुभ मंदिर बनवाया॥
chamumda ma.n dharma bachaya, apana shubha mamdira banavaya||
Verse 37 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
सभी देवता आके मनाते, हनुमत भैरव चंवर डुलाते॥
sabhi devata ake manate, hanumata bhairava chamvara dulate||
Verse 38 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
आश्विन चैत्र नवरात्रे आऊं, ध्वजा नारियल भेंट चढ़ाऊं॥
ashvina chaitra navaratre aum, dhvaja nariyala bhemta cha.dhaum||
Verse 39 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
चंदेर नदी स्नान कराऊं, चामुंडा मां तुमको ध्याऊं॥
chamdera nadi snana karaum, chamumda mam tumako dhyaum||
Verse 40 of the Chamunda Chalisa – praise of Maa Chamunda in the Chalisa structure.
नीलवर्ण मां कालिका, रहतीं सदा प्रचण्ड। दस हाथों में शस्त्र धर, देतीं दुष्ट को दण्ड॥
nilavarna mam kalika, rahatim sada prachanda| dasa hathom mem shastra dhara, detim dushta ko danda||
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
मधु कैटभ संहार कर, करी धर्म की जीत। मेरी भी बाधा हरो, हों जो कर्म पुनीत॥
madhu kaitabha samhara kara, kari dharma ki jita| meri bhi badha haro, hom jo karma punita||
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
Why this chalisa
What the Chamunda Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Daily anchor for Maa Chamunda-bhakti
Many homes recite the Chamunda Chalisa as part of the morning paath. The 40-verse text takes about seven minutes at a comfortable pace and serves as the daily devotional anchor.
For festival days
Tuesday & Navratri and the major Maa Chamunda festivals are the central recitation periods. Many devotees do 11 or 21 paaths on these days.
For specific intentions
Many devotees take vows of 11, 21, 41, or 108 paaths over a fixed period for specific intentions – marriage, fertility, illness recovery, court matter. (This is a verse of devotional faith, not a replacement for medical or professional advice.)
Companion to wider tradition worship
Pair with related Chalisas of the same family or sampradaya for the complete daily practice. Chamunda is the form that emerged from Kali's brow to slay Chand and Mund; central to the Devi-Mahatmya narrative
For pilgrim recitation
The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Maa Chamunda shrines.
For households where Maa Chamunda is the kuldevta
For households where Maa Chamunda is the family deity, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer and a central rite during family events.
Origin
The Chamunda Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Chamunda Devi. The text is generally placed in the late 19th to early 20th century CE; many published copies attribute it simply to tradition. Chamunda is the form that emerged from Kali's brow to slay Chand and Mund; central to the Devi-Mahatmya narrative
Maa Chamunda is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Maa Chamunda-bhakti accessible for daily householders without requiring extensive Sanskrit liturgy.
The Chalisa's narrative and iconography establish the central devotional connection. The verses move through praise of Maa Chamunda's form and qualities, narrative episodes from popular tradition, and personal petition – the standard Chalisa structure inherited from the Hanuman Chalisa.
The Chalisa's wider companions are Durga Chalisa, Kali Chalisa, and Mahakali Chalisa. Pair as appropriate for the daily practice.
How to recite
A simple, sustainable approach. Nothing here is a hard rule – devotion shapes the form, not the other way around.
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Preparation
Bathe and wear clean clothes. Sit facing South. Traditional offerings to Maa Chamunda: red flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Red flowers, red cloth, deep diyas. The Chamunda temple at Chandi Devi (Haridwar) and the Chamunda Devi temple in HP are central pilgrimage shrines.
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Posture and start
Sit cross-legged with your spine straight. Bow once. Take a moment of silence. If reciting for a specific intention, offer a brief sankalp.
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Recitation
Move through the chaupais without rushing. Read with attention to the meaning of each verse. Chamunda is a fierce form of Devi who slew Chand and Mund; recite with the fierce-form devotional emphasis.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Maa Chamunda if known.
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Daily practice and special days
Tuesday & Navratri is auspicious. Navratri (Ashwin and Chaitra) is the central Chamunda period. Many devotees do 11 paaths during Navratri.