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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Chinnamasta 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.
जय गणेश जननी गुण खानी। जयति छिन्नमस्तका भवानी।।
jaya ganesha janani guna khani| jayati chinnamastaka bhavani||
Verse 1 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
गौरी सती उमा रुद्राणी। जयति महाविद्या कल्याणी।।
gauri sati uma rudrani| jayati mahavidya kalyani||
Verse 2 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
सर्वमंगला मंगलकारी। मस्तक खड्ग धरे अविकारी।।
sarvamamgala mamgalakari| mastaka khadga dhare avikari||
Verse 3 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
रजरप्पा में वास तुम्हारा। तुमसे सदा जगत उजियारा।।
rajarappa mem vasa tumhara| tumase sada jagata ujiyara||
Verse 4 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
तुमसे जगत चराचर माता। भजें तुम्हें शिव विष्णु विधाता।।
tumase jagata charachara mata| bhajem tumhem shiva vishnu vidhata||
Verse 5 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
यति मुनीन्द्र नित ध्यान लगावें। नारद शेष नित्य गुण गावें।
yati munindra nita dhyana lagavem| narada shesha nitya guna gavem|
Verse 6 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
मेधा ऋषि को तुमने तारा। सूरथ का सौभाग्य निखारा।।
medha rrishi ko tumane tara| suratha ka saubhagya nikhara||
Verse 7 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
वैश्य समाधि ज्ञान से मंडित। हुआ अंबिके पल में पंडित।।
vaishya samadhi j~nana se mamdita| hua ambike pala mem pamdita||
Verse 8 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
रजरप्पा का कण-कण न्यारा। दामोदर पावन जल धारा।।
rajarappa ka kana-kana nyara| damodara pavana jala dhara||
Verse 9 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
मिली जहां भैरवी भवानी। महिमा अमित न जात बखानी।।
mili jaham bhairavi bhavani| mahima amita na jata bakhani||
Verse 10 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
जय शैलेश सुता अति प्यारी। जया और विजया सखि प्यारी।।
jaya shailesha suta ati pyari| jaya aura vijaya sakhi pyari||
Verse 11 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
संगम तट पर गई नहाने। लगी सखियों को भूख सताने।।
samgama tata para gai nahane| lagi sakhiyom ko bhukha satane||
Verse 12 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
तब सखियन ने भोजन मांगा। सुन चित्कार जगा अनुरागा।।
taba sakhiyana ne bhojana mamga| suna chitkara jaga anuraga||
Verse 13 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
निज सिर काट तुरत दिखलाई। अपना शोणित उन्हें पिलाई।।
nija sira kata turata dikhalai| apana shonita unhem pilai||
Verse 14 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
तबसे कहें सकल बुध ज्ञानी। जयतु छिन्नमस्ता वरदानी।।
tabase kahem sakala budha j~nani| jayatu chinnamasta varadani||
Verse 15 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
तुम जगदंब अनादि अनन्ता। गावत सतत वेद मुनि सन्ता।।
tuma jagadamba anadi ananta| gavata satata veda muni santa||
Verse 16 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
उड़हुल फूल तुम्हें अति भाये। सुमन कनेर चरण रज पाये।।
u.dahula phula tumhem ati bhaye| sumana kanera charana raja paye||
Verse 17 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
भंडारदह संगम तट प्यारे। एक दिवस एक विप्र पधारे।
bhamdaradaha samgama tata pyare| eka divasa eka vipra padhare|
Verse 18 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
लिए शंख चूड़ी कर माला। आयी एक मनोरम बाला।।
lie shamkha chu.di kara mala| ayi eka manorama bala||
Verse 19 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
गौर बदन शशि सुन्दर मज्जित। रक्त वसन शृंगार सुसज्जित।।
gaura badana shashi sundara majjita| rakta vasana shrrimgara susajjita||
Verse 20 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
बोली विप्र इधर तुम आओ। मुझे शंख चूड़ी पहनाओ।।
boli vipra idhara tuma ao| mujhe shamkha chu.di pahanao||
Verse 21 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
बाला को चूड़ी पहनाकर। चला विप्र अतिशय सुख पाकर।।
bala ko chu.di pahanakara| chala vipra atishaya sukha pakara||
Verse 22 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
सुनहु विप्र बाला तब बोली। जटिल रहस्य पोटली खोली।।
sunahu vipra bala taba boli| jatila rahasya potali kholi||
Verse 23 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
परम विचित्र चरित्र अखंडा। मेरे जनक जगेश्वर पंडा।।
parama vichitra charitra akhamda| mere janaka jageshvara pamda||
Verse 24 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
दाम तोहि चूड़ी कर देंगे। अति हर्षित सत्कार करेंगे।।
dama tohi chu.di kara demge| ati harshita satkara karemge||
Verse 25 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
पहुंचे द्विज पंडा के घर पर। चकित हुए वह भी सब सुनकर।।
pahumche dvija pamda ke ghara para| chakita hue vaha bhi saba sunakara||
Verse 26 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
दोनों भंडार दह पर आये। छिन्नमस्ता का दर्शन पाये।।
donom bhamdara daha para aye| chinnamasta ka darshana paye||
Verse 27 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
उदित चंद्रमुख शोषिण वसनी। जन मन कलुष निशाचर असनी।।
udita chamdramukha shoshina vasani| jana mana kalusha nishachara asani||
Verse 28 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
रक्त कमल आसन सित ज्वाला। दिव्य रूपिणी थी वह बाला।।
rakta kamala asana sita jvala| divya rupini thi vaha bala||
Verse 29 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
बोली छिन्नमस्तका माई। भंडार दह हमरे मन भाई।।
boli chinnamastaka mai| bhamdara daha hamare mana bhai||
Verse 30 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
जाको विपदा बहुत सतावे। दुर्जन प्रेत जिसे धमकावे।।
jako vipada bahuta satave| durjana preta jise dhamakave||
Verse 31 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
बढ़े रोग ऋण रिपु की पीरा। होय कष्ट से शिथिल शरीरा।।
ba.dhe roga rrina ripu ki pira| hoya kashta se shithila sharira||
Verse 32 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
तो नर कबहूं न मन भरमावे। तुरत भाग रजरप्पा आवे।।
to nara kabahum na mana bharamave| turata bhaga rajarappa ave||
Verse 33 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
करे भक्ति पूर्वक जब पूजा। सुखी न हो उसके सम दूजा।।
kare bhakti purvaka jaba puja| sukhi na ho usake sama duja||
Verse 34 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
उभय विप्र ने किन्ह प्रणामा। पूर्ण भये उनके सब कामा।।
ubhaya vipra ne kinha pranama| purna bhaye unake saba kama||
Verse 35 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
पढ़े छिन्नमस्ता चालीसा। अंबहि नित्य झुकावहिं सीसा।।
pa.dhe chinnamasta chalisa| ambahi nitya jhukavahim sisa||
Verse 36 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
ता पर कृपा मातु की होई। फिर वह करै चहे मन जोई।।
ta para krripa matu ki hoi| phira vaha karai chahe mana joi||
Verse 37 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
मैं अति नीच लालची कामी। नित्य स्वार्थरत दुर्जन नामी।।
maim ati nicha lalachi kami| nitya svartharata durjana nami||
Verse 38 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
छमहुं छिन्नमस्ता जगदम्बा। करहुं कृपा मत करहुं विलंबा।।
chamahum chinnamasta jagadamba| karahum krripa mata karahum vilamba||
Verse 39 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
‘विनय’ दीन आरत सुत जानी। करहुं कृपा जगदंब भवानी।।
‘vinaya’ dina arata suta jani| karahum krripa jagadamba bhavani||
Verse 40 of the Chinnamasta Chalisa – praise of Maa Chinnamasta in the Chalisa structure.
Why this chalisa
What the Chinnamasta Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Daily anchor for Maa Chinnamasta-bhakti
Many homes recite the Chinnamasta 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 & Friday and the major Maa Chinnamasta 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. 6th of the Dasha Mahavidyas; the Rajrappa shrine on the Damodar-Bhairavi confluence is the central pilgrimage site
For pilgrim recitation
The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Maa Chinnamasta shrines.
For households where Maa Chinnamasta is the kuldevta
For households where Maa Chinnamasta is the family deity, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer and a central rite during family events.
Origin
The Chinnamasta Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Chinnamasta Mata. The text is generally placed in the late 19th to early 20th century CE; many published copies attribute it simply to tradition. 6th of the Dasha Mahavidyas; the Rajrappa shrine on the Damodar-Bhairavi confluence is the central pilgrimage site
Maa Chinnamasta is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Maa Chinnamasta-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 Chinnamasta'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 Kali Chalisa, Bagalamukhi Chalisa, and Durga 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 North. Traditional offerings to Maa Chinnamasta: red flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Red flowers (hibiscus is traditional), red cloth, deep diyas. Many tantrik traditions offer alcohol and meat (omitted in mainstream household practice).
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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. Chinnamasta is honoured by Bengali Shakta and tantrik traditions; recite with attention to the self-decapitating fierce-form iconography.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Maa Chinnamasta if known.
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Daily practice and special days
Tuesday & Friday is auspicious. Chinnamasta Jayanti and Tuesdays of Shravan draw extra paaths. Many devotees do 11 paaths during Navratri.