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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Chandi 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.
दुर्गे! दुर्गतिनाशिनी, वासिनी गिरिकैलास!
durge! durgatinashini, vasini girikailasa!
Opening invocation – salutation to Maa Chandi and the framing of the Chalisa-prayer.
जयति! अंबिका! जयति! भवानी! शिवा ! सांभवी! भवा! मृडानी!!
jayati! ambika! jayati! bhavani! shiva ! sambhavi! bhava! mrridani!!
Verse 1 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
विन्ध्यनिवासिनि! हिमगिरि-गेहा! वपु विराट अति सूक्ष्म सुदेहा!
vindhyanivasini! himagiri-geha! vapu virata ati sukshma sudeha!
Verse 2 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
तुंग शृंग अयि!गब्बरवासी! शिव-पत्नी! मख दक्ष विनाशी!!
tumga shrrimga ayi!gabbaravasi! shiva-patni! makha daksha vinashi!!
Verse 3 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
सती! जया! कोहला-नग-वासी! ! सकलशब्दमयि!आनंदराशी!!
sati! jaya! kohala-naga-vasi! ! sakalashabdamayi!anamdarashi!!
Verse 4 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
हिंगलाज!भगवति! जयदाई ! असुरनिकंदनि! अभयप्रदाई!
himgalaja!bhagavati! jayadai ! asuranikamdani! abhayapradai!
Verse 5 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
जपाकुसुम-कर! जय कौमारी! पूजित सुर हरि अज, त्रिपुरारी!
japakusuma-kara! jaya kaumari! pujita sura hari aja, tripurari!
Verse 6 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
विघ्ननिवारिणि! भव भय हारिणि! दैत्य विदारिणि! रिपुदलमारिणि!
vighnanivarini! bhava bhaya harini! daitya vidarini! ripudalamarini!
Verse 7 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
विश्वविमोहिनि! दुर्गतिहारी! कालविभंजनि! शरणतिहारी!
vishvavimohini! durgatihari! kalavibhamjani! sharanatihari!
Verse 8 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
कात्यायनि! कुशमांडा गौरी! शशिघंटा गिरिराजकिशोरी!
katyayani! kushamamda gauri! shashighamta girirajakishori!
Verse 9 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
कालरात्रि! ब्रह्मचारिणि बाला! सिद्धिदात्रि! धात्रि जगपाला!
kalaratri! brahmacharini bala! siddhidatri! dhatri jagapala!
Verse 10 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
स्कंदजननि! गणनायक माता ! भव भय भंजनि! सुर मुनि त्राता!
skamdajanani! gananayaka mata ! bhava bhaya bhamjani! sura muni trata!
Verse 11 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
बीसभुजी! वाणी! ब्रह्माणी! कवि कल्याणी! पुस्तकपाणी!
bisabhuji! vani! brahmani! kavi kalyani! pustakapani!
Verse 12 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
स्वर सुर शब्द भाव शुचि दाता! शारद शुभ्र वसन अवदाता!
svara sura shabda bhava shuchi data! sharada shubhra vasana avadata!
Verse 13 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
खप्पर धारिणि! आभ कपाली! सुर संतन भक्तन प्रतिपाली!
khappara dharini! abha kapali! sura samtana bhaktana pratipali!
Verse 14 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
मुंडमालिनी! डाक-डमाली! भद्रकालिका ! तारा!काली!
mumdamalini! daka-damali! bhadrakalika ! tara!kali!
Verse 15 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
कमलाक्षी!दारिद्र्यप्रजारी ! यश-वैभव-धनदा! अघहारी!
kamalakshi!daridryaprajari ! yasha-vaibhava-dhanada! aghahari!
Verse 16 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
विमले! रक्तकमल- वर-पाणी! पद्मनाभ- प्रिय! जनकल्याणी!
vimale! raktakamala- vara-pani! padmanabha- priya! janakalyani!
Verse 17 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
शून्य शिखर में अंब! विराजै! गड़ड़ गड़ड़ घन नौबत गाजै!
shunya shikhara mem amba! virajai! ga.da.da ga.da.da ghana naubata gajai!
Verse 18 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
तडित विनन्दित रूप मनोहर! ज्योति पुंज!जग-तम-हर सुंदर!!
tadita vinandita rupa manohara! jyoti pumja!jaga-tama-hara sumdara!!
Verse 19 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
सकल चराचर देखनहारै! सूर्य चंद्र दो नैन तिहारै!!
sakala charachara dekhanaharai! surya chamdra do naina tiharai!!
Verse 20 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
आदि शक्ति जयदायिनि ज्वाला! कुमकुम सिंदुर रेख कपाला!
adi shakti jayadayini jvala! kumakuma simdura rekha kapala!
Verse 21 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
शिशु-शशि-स्वर्ण मुकुट पर सोहे! स्मित मुख मंद मंद मन मोहे!
shishu-shashi-svarna mukuta para sohe! smita mukha mamda mamda mana mohe!
Verse 22 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
कुंडल मकराकृतशुभ कर्णा! रत्न जटित गलहार सुवर्णा!
kumdala makarakrritashubha karna! ratna jatita galahara suvarna!
Verse 23 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
खडग शूल शर चाप कटारी! जगद्धोधरण धरे महतारी!
khadaga shula shara chapa katari! jagaddhodharana dhare mahatari!
Verse 24 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
नेत्र, लाल विकराल! कराली! चामुंडा! चंडी! करवाली!
netra, lala vikarala! karali! chamumda! chamdi! karavali!
Verse 25 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
भैरवि! असुर भयावनि! माया! तप्तस्वर्णआभा सुरराया!
bhairavi! asura bhayavani! maya! taptasvarnaabha suraraya!
Verse 26 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
युगल चरण अरविंद तुम्हारै! सेवत सुर मुनि भये सुखारै!
yugala charana aravimda tumharai! sevata sura muni bhaye sukharai!
Verse 27 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
जगदंबे! त्रिकुटाचलवासी! परमेश्वरी!विराजिनि काशी!
jagadambe! trikutachalavasi! parameshvari!virajini kashi!
Verse 28 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
अनपुरणा! अन धन यश दाता! ऋषि मुनि भजै तुम्है दिन राता !
anapurana! ana dhana yasha data! rrishi muni bhajai tumhai dina rata !
Verse 29 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
वरमुद्राधारी! रूद्राणी! सुधा सहोदरी-कमला-रानी!
varamudradhari! rudrani! sudha sahodari-kamala-rani!
Verse 30 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
संकट विकट समय जब ध्याई! सपदि सिंह चढ रही सहाई!
samkata vikata samaya jaba dhyai! sapadi simha chadha rahi sahai!
Verse 31 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
चंड मुंड महिषासुरमारै! रक्त बीज शक्ति संहारै!
chamda mumda mahishasuramarai! rakta bija shakti samharai!
Verse 32 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
धूम्रविलोचन भृकृटि विलासा! दुर्गा-पाप पुंज-तम-नाशा!
dhumravilochana bhrrikrriti vilasa! durga-papa pumja-tama-nasha!
Verse 33 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
भक्त-कल्पलतिके! वरदाई! नवदुर्गे! दशविद्ये! माई!
bhakta-kalpalatike! varadai! navadurge! dashavidye! mai!
Verse 34 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
अष्ठ सिद्धि! नवनिद्धि प्रदाई! अस कहि कविजन कीरत गाई!
ashtha siddhi! navaniddhi pradai! asa kahi kavijana kirata gai!
Verse 35 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
महिमा अमित! चरित सुखकारी! गावत जन जावत बलिहारी!
mahima amita! charita sukhakari! gavata jana javata balihari!
Verse 36 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
सकल जगत तुम्हरौ जस छायौ! मार्कंडेय मुनि किंचित गायौ!
sakala jagata tumharau jasa chayau! markamdeya muni kimchita gayau!
Verse 37 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
ऋषि कोविद कवि पंडित ज्ञानी! नेति नेति कहि! तोही!बखानी!!
rrishi kovida kavi pamdita j~nani! neti neti kahi! tohi!bakhani!!
Verse 38 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
मोह निशा ने मम मन घेरो! सत्वर करियै मात सवैरौ!
moha nisha ne mama mana ghero! satvara kariyai mata savairau!
Verse 39 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
कवि नरपत पर किरपा कीजै! निज चरणन चाकर रख लीजै!
kavi narapata para kirapa kijai! nija charanana chakara rakha lijai!
Verse 40 of the Chandi Chalisa – praise of Maa Chandi in the Chalisa structure.
गणपति षणमुख शिव सहित, करन सुमंगल मूल!
ganapati shanamukha shiva sahita, karana sumamgala mula!
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
रहौ विराजित ह्रदय में, शिवा!चढी शार्दूल!!
rahau virajita hradaya mem, shiva!chadhi shardula!!
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
Why this chalisa
What the Chandi Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Daily anchor for Maa Chandi-bhakti
Many homes recite the Chandi 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 Chandi 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. Chandi is the central form of the Devi-Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati); the Chandi Path is recited across India during Navratri
For pilgrim recitation
The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Maa Chandi shrines.
For households where Maa Chandi is the kuldevta
For households where Maa Chandi is the family deity, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer and a central rite during family events.
Origin
The Chandi Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Chandi Devi. The closing doha attributes composition to Kavi Narpat. The text is generally placed in the late 19th century CE. Chandi is the central form of the Devi-Mahatmya (Durga Saptashati); the Chandi Path is recited across India during Navratri
Maa Chandi is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Maa Chandi-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 Chandi'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 Chamunda 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 Chandi: red flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Red flowers, red cloth, deep diyas. The Chandi Path (Durga Saptashati) is paired with the Chalisa during Chandi Yagna.
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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. Chandi is the central Devi-Mahatmya form; recite with attention to the fierce Devi-form iconography. The Chalisa pairs naturally with the Chandi Path / Durga Saptashati.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Maa Chandi if known.
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Daily practice and special days
Tuesday & Navratri is auspicious. Navratri (Ashwin and Chaitra) is the central Chandi period. Chandi Yagna is performed at temples and homes during Navratri.