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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Jagannath 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 जगन्नाथ स्वामी जय बलभद्र संभाव। जय सुबद्रा ताई अग्या करैं सब काज॥ ॥ चालीसा॥
jaya jagannatha svami jaya balabhadra sambhava| jaya subadra tai agya karaim saba kaja|| || chalisa||
Hail to Jagannath (Krishna at Puri). With folded hands, I make this Chalisa-prayer.
जय जगन्नाथ स्वामी जय बलभद्र संभाव। जय सुबद्रा ताई अग्या करैं सब काज॥
jaya jagannatha svami jaya balabhadra sambhava| jaya subadra tai agya karaim saba kaja||
Verse 1 of the Jagannath Chalisa.
जय जगन्नाथ दयालु दया निधान। करुणा रस सिन्धु नयन अन्धकार।।
jaya jagannatha dayalu daya nidhana| karuna rasa sindhu nayana andhakara||
Verse 2 of the Jagannath Chalisa.
कटकट धनुस विराजत शंखाधार। मुख में कमल नैनन में चकार।।
katakata dhanusa virajata shamkhadhara| mukha mem kamala nainana mem chakara||
Verse 3 of the Jagannath Chalisa.
कनकमय शीश नव चारु चंद्र भाला। नख सिखर छवि गंजित सोहे बाला।।
kanakamaya shisha nava charu chamdra bhala| nakha sikhara chavi gamjita sohe bala||
Verse 4 of the Jagannath Chalisa.
अरुणांचल मुकुट श्रिया सोहत नूप। मुख में मुरली बनमाल अजरे।।
arunamchala mukuta shriya sohata nupa| mukha mem murali banamala ajare||
Verse 5 of the Jagannath Chalisa.
शंख बाजे मृदुँग बाजत ताल। वज्रांकुश गदा शुभ बदन काल।।
shamkha baje mrridu.nga bajata tala| vajramkusha gada shubha badana kala||
Verse 6 of the Jagannath Chalisa.
रक्त अंग वस्त्र बिभूषण बाजत। प्रतीत शोभित नील विशाल जाजत।।
rakta amga vastra bibhushana bajata| pratita shobhita nila vishala jajata||
Verse 7 of the Jagannath Chalisa.
आवत धावत तब जू तार गृहवत। कारज सर्व करैं सुधीर बुधवत।।
avata dhavata taba ju tara grrihavata| karaja sarva karaim sudhira budhavata||
Verse 8 of the Jagannath Chalisa.
शची जब भय भए सागर पार। रामदास कहैं बेद बिख्यात।।
shachi jaba bhaya bhae sagara para| ramadasa kahaim beda bikhyata||
Verse 9 of the Jagannath Chalisa.
श्री जगन्नाथ चालीसा जो कोई। गावैं पाठ करैं कलेश नखटाई।।
shri jagannatha chalisa jo koi| gavaim patha karaim kalesha nakhatai||
Verse 10 of the Jagannath Chalisa.
जो यह पाठ करे मन लाई। तेस ही कृपा करहु जगदीश।।
jo yaha patha kare mana lai| tesa hi krripa karahu jagadisha||
Verse 11 of the Jagannath Chalisa.
पवन तनय संकट हरण गोसाई। कृपा द्रिष्टि तुम्हारी करहु विलासा।।
pavana tanaya samkata harana gosai| krripa drishti tumhari karahu vilasa||
Verse 12 of the Jagannath Chalisa.
Why this chalisa
What the Jagannath Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Daily anchor for Jagannath (Krishna at Puri)-bhakti
Many homes recite the Chalisa as part of the morning paath. The 12-verse text takes about seven minutes to recite at a comfortable pace.
For festival days
Thursday & Rath Yatra and the major Jagannath (Krishna at Puri) festivals are the central recitation periods. Many devotees do 11 or 21 paaths during festivals.
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.
Companion to wider tradition worship
Pair with related Chalisas of the same family or sampradaya for the complete daily practice.
For pilgrim recitation
The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Jagannath (Krishna at Puri) shrines.
Daily devotional anchor
For households where Jagannath (Krishna at Puri) is the kuldevta, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer.
Origin
The Jagannath Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Jagannath (Krishna at Puri). Many published copies attribute it simply to "tradition." The text is generally placed in the 18th-19th century CE by language and content.
Jagannath (Krishna at Puri) is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Jagannath (Krishna at Puri)-bhakti accessible for daily householders.
The Chalisa's narrative and iconography establish the central devotional connection. The verses move through praise, narrative, and personal petition – the standard Chalisa structure.
The Chalisa's wider companions are the related Chalisas of the same tradition. 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: flowers, akshat, fruits, ghee diya, dhoop.
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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.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Jagannath (Krishna at Puri) if known.
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Daily practice and special days
Thursday & Rath Yatra is auspicious. Major festival days draw extra recitations.