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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Dhumavati 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 जय जय धूमावती माता। साधक के संकट हरनिहारी नित विधाता॥
jaya jaya jaya dhumavati mata| sadhaka ke samkata haranihari nita vidhata||
Verse 1 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
प्रात: रूप कुमारी सुखदाई। मध्यान्ह में प्रौढ़ छवि छाई॥
prata: rupa kumari sukhadai| madhyanha mem prau.dha chavi chai||
Verse 2 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
संध्या में वृद्धा बन विराजे। मुण्डमाल गल शोभा साजे॥
samdhya mem vrriddha bana viraje| mundamala gala shobha saje||
Verse 3 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
खट्वांग धारण करहु भवानी। कपाल जटा संग महा भवानी॥
khatvamga dharana karahu bhavani| kapala jata samga maha bhavani||
Verse 4 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
दैत्य शिर माला गह आभूषण। भैरव संग तव लीला निर्मल॥
daitya shira mala gaha abhushana| bhairava samga tava lila nirmala||
Verse 5 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
रक्त सुरा हर्षित कर माता। महिष महा यम रूप दिखाता॥
rakta sura harshita kara mata| mahisha maha yama rupa dikhata||
Verse 6 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
अस्थि खण्ड करहु रस विलासा। भीषण हास्य, करहु संहासा॥
asthi khanda karahu rasa vilasa| bhishana hasya, karahu samhasa||
Verse 7 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
डमरु ध्वनि तव गूँजे भारी। प्रेत संग महाकाल सवारी॥
damaru dhvani tava gu.nje bhari| preta samga mahakala savari||
Verse 8 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
टणटण घंटा करे निनादा। भैरवी छवि जगत विख्याता॥
tanatana ghamta kare ninada| bhairavi chavi jagata vikhyata||
Verse 9 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
मुण्ड माला शोभे सुहाए। चण्ड-मुण्ड संहार कराए॥
munda mala shobhe suhae| chanda-munda samhara karae||
Verse 10 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
वाम कान बिम्ब चन्द्र बिराजे। दक्षिण भानु तेज विराजे॥
vama kana bimba chandra biraje| dakshina bhanu teja viraje||
Verse 11 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
नक्षत्र हार जटा विस्तारा। मुण्ड माला गले उजियारा॥
nakshatra hara jata vistara| munda mala gale ujiyara||
Verse 12 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
त्रिशूल करे, नाग सम्हाले। महाकाल प्रिय, भय न टाले॥
trishula kare, naga samhale| mahakala priya, bhaya na tale||
Verse 13 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
तैल अभ्यक्त वेणी सुहाए। रासभ वाहन रूप दिखाए॥
taila abhyakta veni suhae| rasabha vahana rupa dikhae||
Verse 14 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
स्मशान वासिनी तू जगमाता। सर्व सिद्धि दे शरण विधाता॥
smashana vasini tu jagamata| sarva siddhi de sharana vidhata||
Verse 15 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
रुधिर रसना रक्त विलासी। काली रूप, करो जग वासी॥
rudhira rasana rakta vilasi| kali rupa, karo jaga vasi||
Verse 16 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
महाघोर संकट जब छाए। तेरी आराधना फलदाई॥
mahaghora samkata jaba chae| teri aradhana phaladai||
Verse 17 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
महायुद्ध, रोग, शत्रु संहारे। मंत्र जाप से सिद्ध निहारे॥
mahayuddha, roga, shatru samhare| mamtra japa se siddha nihare||
Verse 18 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
जो यह चालीसा पढ़े ध्याता। सिद्धि पावे, संकट टल जाता॥
jo yaha chalisa pa.dhe dhyata| siddhi pave, samkata tala jata||
Verse 19 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
धूमावती कृपा कर, भवसागर से तार। भक्तन पर अनुकम्पा कर, जग में कर उद्धार॥
dhumavati krripa kara, bhavasagara se tara| bhaktana para anukampa kara, jaga mem kara uddhara||
Verse 20 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
मां धूमावती अष्टक स्तोत्रं ।।अथ स्तोत्रं।।
mam dhumavati ashtaka stotram ||atha stotram||
Verse 21 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
प्रातर्या स्यात्कुमारी कुसुमकलिकया जापमाला जपन्ती, मध्याह्ने प्रौढरूपा विकसितवदना चारुनेत्रा निशायाम्।
pratarya syatkumari kusumakalikaya japamala japanti, madhyahne praudharupa vikasitavadana charunetra nishayam|
Verse 22 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
सन्ध्यायां वृद्धरूपा गलितकुचयुगा मुण्डमालां, वहन्ती सा देवी देवदेवी त्रिभुवनजननी कालिका पातु युष्मान्।।१।।
sandhyayam vrriddharupa galitakuchayuga mundamalam, vahanti sa devi devadevi tribhuvanajanani kalika patu yushman||1||
Verse 23 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
बद्ध्वा खट्वाङ्गकोटौ कपिलवरजटामण्डलम्पद्मयोने:, कृत्वा दैत्योत्तमाङ्गैस्स्रजमुरसि शिर शेखरन्तार्क्ष्यपक्षै:।
baddhva khatva~ngakotau kapilavarajatamandalampadmayone:, krritva daityottama~ngaissrajamurasi shira shekharantarkshyapakshai:|
Verse 24 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
पूर्णं रक्तै्सुराणां यममहिषमहाशृङ्गमादाय पाणौ, पायाद्वो वन्द्यमानप्रलयमुदितया भैरव: कालरात्र्याम्।।२।।
purnam raktaisuranam yamamahishamahashrri~ngamadaya panau, payadvo vandyamanapralayamuditaya bhairava: kalaratryam||2||
Verse 25 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
चर्वन्तीमस्थिखण्डम्प्रकटकटकटाशब्दशङ्घातम्, उग्रङ्कुर्वाणा प्रेतमध्ये कहहकहकहाहास्यमुग्रङ्कृशाङ्गी।
charvantimasthikhandamprakatakatakatashabdasha~nghatam, ugra~nkurvana pretamadhye kahahakahakahahasyamugra~nkrrisha~ngi|
Verse 26 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
नित्यन्नित्यप्रसक्ता डमरुडिमडिमां स्फारयन्ती मुखाब्जम्, पायान्नश्चण्डिकेयं झझमझमझमा जल्पमाना भ्रमन्ती।।३।।
nityannityaprasakta damarudimadimam spharayanti mukhabjam, payannashchandikeyam jhajhamajhamajhama jalpamana bhramanti||3||
Verse 27 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
टण्टण्टण्टण्टटण्टाप्रकरटमटमानाटघण्टां वहन्ती, स्फेंस्फेंस्फेंस्कारकाराटकटकितहसा नादसङ्घट्टभीमा।
tantantantantatantaprakaratamatamanataghantam vahanti, sphemsphemsphemskarakaratakatakitahasa nadasa~nghattabhima|
Verse 28 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
लोलम्मुण्डाग्रमाला ललहलहलहालोललोलाग्रवाचञ्चर्वन्ती, चण्डमुण्डं मटमटमटिते चर्वयन्ती पुनातु।।४।।
lolammundagramala lalahalahalahalolalolagravacha~ncharvanti, chandamundam matamatamatite charvayanti punatu||4||
Verse 29 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
वामे कर्णे मृगाङ्कप्रलयपरिगतन्दक्षिणे सूर्यबिम्बङ्कण्ठे, नक्षत्रहारंव्वरविकटजटाजूटके मुण्डमालाम्।
vame karne mrriga~nkapralayaparigatandakshine suryabimba~nkanthe, nakshatraharamvvaravikatajatajutake mundamalam|
Verse 30 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
स्कन्धे कृत्वोरगेन्द्रध्वजनिकरयुतम्ब्रह्मकङ्कालभारं, संहारे धारयन्ती मम हरतु भयम्भद्रदा भद्रकाली।।५।।
skandhe krritvoragendradhvajanikarayutambrahmaka~nkalabharam, samhare dharayanti mama haratu bhayambhadrada bhadrakali||5||
Verse 31 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
तैलाभ्यक्तैकवेणी त्रपुमयविलसत्कर्णिकाक्रान्तकर्णा, लौहेनैकेन कृत्वा चरणनलिनकामात्मन: पादशोभाम्।
tailabhyaktaikaveni trapumayavilasatkarnikakrantakarna, lauhenaikena krritva charananalinakamatmana: padashobham|
Verse 32 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
दिग्वासा रासभेन ग्रसति जगदिदंय्या यवाकर्णपूरा, वर्षिण्यातिप्रबद्धा ध्वजविततभुजा सासि देवि त्वमेव।।६।।
digvasa rasabhena grasati jagadidamyya yavakarnapura, varshinyatiprabaddha dhvajavitatabhuja sasi devi tvameva||6||
Verse 33 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
सङ्ग्रामे हेतिकृत्वैस्सरुधिरदशनैर्यद्भटानां, शिरोभिर्मालामावद्ध्य मूर्ध्नि ध्वजविततभुजा त्वं श्मशाने प्रविष्टा।
sa~ngrame hetikrritvaissarudhiradashanairyadbhatanam, shirobhirmalamavaddhya murdhni dhvajavitatabhuja tvam shmashane pravishta|
Verse 34 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
दृष्टा भूतप्रभूतैः पृथुतरजघना वद्धनागेन्द्रकाञ्ची, शूलग्रव्यग्रहस्ता मधुरुधिरसदा ताम्रनेत्रा निशायाम्।।७।।
drrishta bhutaprabhutaih prrithutarajaghana vaddhanagendraka~nchi, shulagravyagrahasta madhurudhirasada tamranetra nishayam||7||
Verse 35 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
दंष्ट्रा रौद्रे मुखेऽस्मिंस्तव विशति जगद्देवि सर्वं क्षणार्द्धात्, संसारस्यान्तकाले नररुधिरवशा सम्प्लवे भूमधूम्रे।
damshtra raudre mukhe.asmimstava vishati jagaddevi sarvam kshanarddhat, samsarasyantakale nararudhiravasha samplave bhumadhumre|
Verse 36 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
काली कापालिकी साशवशयनतरा योगिनी योगमुद्रा रक्तारुद्धिः, सभास्था भरणभयहरा त्वं शिवा चण्डघण्टा।।८।।
kali kapaliki sashavashayanatara yogini yogamudra raktaruddhih, sabhastha bharanabhayahara tvam shiva chandaghanta||8||
Verse 37 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
धूमावत्यष्टकम्पुण्यं सर्वापद्विनिवारकम्, य: पठेत्साधको भक्त्या सिद्धिं व्विन्दन्ति वाञ्छिताम्।।९।।
dhumavatyashtakampunyam sarvapadvinivarakam, ya: pathetsadhako bhaktya siddhim vvindanti va~nchitam||9||
Verse 38 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
महापदि महाघोरे महारोगे महारणे, शत्रूच्चाटे मारणादौ जन्तूनाम्मोहने तथा।।१०।।
mahapadi mahaghore maharoge maharane, shatruchchate maranadau jantunammohane tatha||10||
Verse 39 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
पठेत्स्तोत्रमिदन्देवि सर्वत्र सिद्धिभाग्भवेत्, देवदानवगन्धर्वा यक्षराक्षसपन्नगा:।।११।।
pathetstotramidandevi sarvatra siddhibhagbhavet, devadanavagandharva yaksharakshasapannaga:||11||
Verse 40 of the Dhumavati Chalisa – praise of Maa Dhumavati in the Chalisa structure.
Why this chalisa
What the Dhumavati Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Daily anchor for Maa Dhumavati-bhakti
Many homes recite the Dhumavati 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
Saturday & Tuesday and the major Maa Dhumavati 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. Dhumavati is the 7th of the Dasha Mahavidyas; the widow-form representing the void; honoured especially in tantrik Shakta tradition for shatru-nashana
For pilgrim recitation
The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Maa Dhumavati shrines.
For households where Maa Dhumavati is the kuldevta
For households where Maa Dhumavati is the family deity, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer and a central rite during family events.
Origin
The Dhumavati Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Maa Dhumavati. The text is generally placed in the late 19th to early 20th century CE; many published copies attribute it simply to tradition. Dhumavati is the 7th of the Dasha Mahavidyas; the widow-form representing the void; honoured especially in tantrik Shakta tradition for shatru-nashana
Maa Dhumavati is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Maa Dhumavati-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 Dhumavati'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 Bagalamukhi Chalisa, Kali Chalisa, and Chinnamasta 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-West. Traditional offerings to Maa Dhumavati: white flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. White flowers, simple offerings; some traditions offer black sesame and incense. The widow-form is honoured with austere offerings.
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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. Dhumavati is the most fierce of the Mahavidyas; recite with the Tantric devotional emphasis. Mainstream household worship is rare; this is for serious sadhakas.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Maa Dhumavati if known.
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Daily practice and special days
Saturday & Tuesday is auspicious. Dhumavati Jayanti (Jyeshtha Shukla Ashtami) is the central festival. Many tantric sadhakas do 41-paath anushthan.