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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Golu Devta 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.
बुद्धिहीन हूँ नाथ मैं, करो बुद्धि का दान।
buddhihina hu.n natha maim, karo buddhi ka dana|
Opening invocation – salutation to Golu Devta and the framing of the Chalisa-prayer.
जय जय ग्वेल महाबलवाना। हम पर कृपा करो भगवाना॥
jaya jaya gvela mahabalavana| hama para krripa karo bhagavana||
Verse 1 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
न्याय सत्य के तुम अवतारा। दुखियों का दुख हरते सारा॥
nyaya satya ke tuma avatara| dukhiyom ka dukha harate sara||
Verse 2 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
द्वार पे आके जो भी पुकारे। मिट जाते पल में दुख सारे॥
dvara pe ake jo bhi pukare| mita jate pala mem dukha sare||
Verse 3 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
तुम जैसा नहीं कोई दूजा। पुनित होके भी बिन सेवा पूजा॥
tuma jaisa nahim koi duja| punita hoke bhi bina seva puja||
Verse 4 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
शरण में आये नाथ तिहारी। रक्षा करना हे अवतारी॥
sharana mem aye natha tihari| raksha karana he avatari||
Verse 5 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
माँ की सौत थी अत्याचारी। तुमको कष्ट दिये अतिभारी॥
ma.n ki sauta thi atyachari| tumako kashta diye atibhari||
Verse 6 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
झाड़ी में तुमको गिरवाया। विविध भांतिथा तुम्हे सताया॥
jha.di mem tumako giravaya| vividha bhamtitha tumhe sataya||
Verse 7 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
नदी मध्य जल में डुबवाया। फिर भी मार तुम्हें नहीं पाया॥
nadi madhya jala mem dubavaya| phira bhi mara tumhem nahim paya||
Verse 8 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
सरल हृदय था धेवरहे का। हरिपद रति बहुनिगुनविवेका॥
sarala hrridaya tha dhevarahe ka| haripada rati bahunigunaviveka||
Verse 9 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
भाना नाम सकल जग जाना। जल में देख बाल भगवाना॥
bhana nama sakala jaga jana| jala mem dekha bala bhagavana||
Verse 10 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
मन प्रसन्न तन कुलकित भारी। बोला जय हे नाथ तुम्हारी॥
mana prasanna tana kulakita bhari| bola jaya he natha tumhari||
Verse 11 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
कर गयी बालक गोद उठायो। हृदय लगा किहीं अति सुख पायो॥
kara gayi balaka goda uthayo| hrridaya laga kihim ati sukha payo||
Verse 12 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
मन प्रसन्न मुख वचन न आवा। मन हूँ महानिधि धेवर पावा॥
mana prasanna mukha vachana na ava| mana hu.n mahanidhi dhevara pava||
Verse 13 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
उरततेहि शिशु द्रिह ले आयो। नाम गौरिया तब रखवायो॥
uratatehi shishu driha le ayo| nama gauriya taba rakhavayo||
Verse 14 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
सकल काज तज शिशु संगरहयी। देखी बाल लीला सुख लहयी॥
sakala kaja taja shishu samgarahayi| dekhi bala lila sukha lahayi||
Verse 15 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
करत खेल या चरज अनेका। देखी चकित हुई बुद्धि विवेका॥
karata khela ya charaja aneka| dekhi chakita hui buddhi viveka||
Verse 16 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
ध्यालु कथा सुनी जब काना। देखन चले ग्वेल भगवाना॥
dhyalu katha suni jaba kana| dekhana chale gvela bhagavana||
Verse 17 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
देखनपति बालक मुस्काया। जन्मकाल यें कांड सुनाया॥
dekhanapati balaka muskaya| janmakala yem kamda sunaya||
Verse 18 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
सौतेली जननी की करनी। ग्वेल पति संग मुख सब बरनी॥
sauteli janani ki karani| gvela pati samga mukha saba barani||
Verse 19 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
निपति ग्वेल निज हृदय लगायो। प्रेम पुरत नय नन जल पायो॥
nipati gvela nija hrridaya lagayo| prema purata naya nana jala payo||
Verse 20 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
चल हूँ तात अब निजरज धामी। दंड देव में सातों: रानी॥
chala hu.n tata aba nijaraja dhami| damda deva mem satom: rani||
Verse 21 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
काट – काट सिर कठिन कृपाना। कुटिल नारी हरि लेहूँ में प्राणा॥
kata – kata sira kathina krripana| kutila nari hari lehu.n mem prana||
Verse 22 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
हृदय कम्प ऊपजा अति क्रोधा। दंड देहु सुत नारी अबोधा॥
hrridaya kampa upaja ati krodha| damda dehu suta nari abodha||
Verse 23 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
सुन हूँ तात एक बात हमारी। क्षमा करोहुँ ये सब नारी बिचारी॥
suna hu.n tata eka bata hamari| kshama karohu.n ye saba nari bichari||
Verse 24 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
हम ही देखी होई मृतक समाना। जब लगी जियें पड़ी पछताना॥
hama hi dekhi hoi mrritaka samana| jaba lagi jiyem pa.di pachatana||
Verse 25 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
अयशतात केहि कारण लेहूँ। मात सौत कह दंड न देहुँ॥
ayashatata kehi karana lehu.n| mata sauta kaha damda na dehu.n||
Verse 26 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
दया वन्त प्रिय ग्वेल सुझाना। मनुज नहीं तुम देव महाना॥
daya vanta priya gvela sujhana| manuja nahim tuma deva mahana||
Verse 27 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
अमर सदा हो नाम तुम्हारा। ग्वेल गौरिया गोलू प्यारा॥
amara sada ho nama tumhara| gvela gauriya golu pyara||
Verse 28 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
राज करहुँ चम्पावत वीरा। हरहुँ तात जन-जन की पीरा॥
raja karahu.n champavata vira| harahu.n tata jana-jana ki pira||
Verse 29 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
मात – पिता भय धन्य तुम्हारें। उदय आज हुए पुण्य हमारे॥
mata – pita bhaya dhanya tumharem| udaya aja hue punya hamare||
Verse 30 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
पितुआ ज्ञाधर सविनय शीशा। ग्वेल बनें चम्पावत ईशा॥
pitua j~nadhara savinaya shisha| gvela banem champavata isha||
Verse 31 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
सत्य न्याय है तुम्हें प्यारा। तीनों हित तुमने कनधारा॥
satya nyaya hai tumhem pyara| tinom hita tumane kanadhara||
Verse 32 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
दुखियों के दुख देखन पाते। सुनी पुकार तुम उस थल जाते॥
dukhiyom ke dukha dekhana pate| suni pukara tuma usa thala jate||
Verse 33 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
विश्व विविध है न्याय तुम्हारे। निर्बल के तुम एक सहारे॥
vishva vividha hai nyaya tumhare| nirbala ke tuma eka sahare||
Verse 34 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
चितई नमला मंदिर तेरे। बजते घंटे जहाज घनेरे॥
chitai namala mamdira tere| bajate ghamte jahaja ghanere||
Verse 35 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
घोड़ाखाल प्रिय धाम तुम्हारा। चमड़खान तुमको अति प्यारा॥
gho.dakhala priya dhama tumhara| chama.dakhana tumako ati pyara||
Verse 36 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
ताड़ीखेत में महिमा न्यारी। चम्पावत रजधानी प्यारी॥
ta.dikheta mem mahima nyari| champavata rajadhani pyari||
Verse 37 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
गाँव – गाँव में थान तुम्हारें। न्याय हेतु जन तुम ही पुकारें॥
ga.nva – ga.nva mem thana tumharem| nyaya hetu jana tuma hi pukarem||
Verse 38 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
सदा कृपा करना हे स्वामी। ग्वेल देव हे अन्तर्यामी॥
sada krripa karana he svami| gvela deva he antaryami||
Verse 39 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
ये दस बार पाठ कर जोई। विपदा टरें सदा सुख होई॥
ye dasa bara patha kara joi| vipada tarem sada sukha hoi||
Verse 40 of the Golu Devta Chalisa – praise of Golu Devta in the Chalisa structure.
जय गोलू जय गौरिया, जय काली के लाल।
jaya golu jaya gauriya, jaya kali ke lala|
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
मौसानी ना कर सकी, तेरा बांका बाल॥
mausani na kara saki, tera bamka bala||
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
Why this chalisa
What the Golu Devta Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Daily anchor for Golu Devta-bhakti
Many homes recite the Golu Devta 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
Sunday & Tuesday and the major Golu Devta 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. Golu Devta is the central Kumaoni folk-deity revered as the 'God of Justice'; devotees write petitions and complaints at the Chitai temple
For pilgrim recitation
The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Golu Devta shrines.
For households where Golu Devta is the kuldevta
For households where Golu Devta is the family deity, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer and a central rite during family events.
Origin
The Golu Devta Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Golu Devta. The text is generally placed in the late 19th to early 20th century CE; many published copies attribute it simply to tradition. Golu Devta is the central Kumaoni folk-deity revered as the 'God of Justice'; devotees write petitions and complaints at the Chitai temple
Golu Devta is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Golu Devta-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 Golu Devta'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 Kaal Bhairav Chalisa, Shiv Chalisa, and Hanuman 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 East. Traditional offerings to Golu Devta: white flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. White cloth, simple offerings, ringing bells (which devotees offer when their petitions are answered).
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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. Golu Devta is honoured for justice and resolution of grievances; recite with the petitionary devotional emphasis.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Golu Devta if known.
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Daily practice and special days
Sunday & Tuesday is auspicious. The Mela at Chitai (Almora, Uttarakhand) is the central festival. Sundays and Tuesdays draw extra paaths.