The Kartikeya Chalisa (कार्तिकेय चालीसा) is the household hymn to Kartikeya. The Chalisa establishes Bhagwan Kartikeya's iconography, narrative, and devotional connection across 36 chaupais framed by an opening doha and 2 closing doha. Kartikeya is the elder son of Shiva-Parvati, brother of Ganesha; called Murugan, Subrahmanya, Skanda, Shanmukha across regional traditions; central to Tamil and Konkan worship.

Many devotees recite the Kartikeya Chalisa on Tuesday & Skanda Shashthi, with extra paaths during Skanda Shashthi (monthly), Tai Pusam (Tamil Nadu), Kartik Purnima. The Chalisa is the daily anchor for households where Bhagwan Kartikeya is the kuldevta or ishta-devata. The verses move through praise, narrative, and personal petition – the standard Chalisa structure.

This page has the full Kartikeya Chalisa with lyrics in Devanagari and Romanized English. Pair with related Chalisas like the Ganesh Chalisa, Shiv Chalisa, and Parvati Chalisa for the wider household practice.

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Kartikeya Chalisa with Lyrics
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Lyrics with meaning

The complete Kartikeya 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.

Opening Doha

जय जय सब देवन के देवा, करें सदा तुम्हरे पद सेवा। तुम हो जगत के पालनकर्ता, भक्तों के हो तुम दुःखहर्ता॥

jaya jaya saba devana ke deva, karem sada tumhare pada seva| tuma ho jagata ke palanakarta, bhaktom ke ho tuma duhkhaharta||

Opening invocation – salutation to Bhagwan Kartikeya and the framing of the Chalisa-prayer.

Chaupai 1

जयति जयति श्री स्कन्द कुमारा, स्वामी कार्तिकेय अगम अपारा॥

jayati jayati shri skanda kumara, svami kartikeya agama apara||

Verse 1 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 2

शिव सुत, उमा लाल, षडानन, सनमुख, शूलपाणि, शरजनन॥

shiva suta, uma lala, shadanana, sanamukha, shulapani, sharajanana||

Verse 2 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 3

गौरी प्रिय, गंगा के नंदन, कलि-कलुष, दुःख, दारिद्रय निकंदन॥

gauri priya, gamga ke namdana, kali-kalusha, duhkha, daridraya nikamdana||

Verse 3 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 4

देवों के सेनापति स्वामी, तारकासुर के अरि, नमामि॥

devom ke senapati svami, tarakasura ke ari, namami||

Verse 4 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 5

कृत्तिकाओं के तुम सुत कहलाये, इसीसे कार्तिकेय कहाये॥

krrittikaom ke tuma suta kahalaye, isise kartikeya kahaye||

Verse 5 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 6

रूप अनुपम, गुणगान वरिष्ठा, छः मुख सोहत, अंग सुनिष्ठा॥

rupa anupama, gunagana varishtha, chah mukha sohata, amga sunishtha||

Verse 6 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 7

मोर सवारी, शस्त्र कराला, भक्त हेतु तुम हो प्रतिपाला॥

mora savari, shastra karala, bhakta hetu tuma ho pratipala||

Verse 7 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 8

ब्रह्मचारी, व्रतधारी स्वामी, परम तपस्वी, अन्तर्यामी॥

brahmachari, vratadhari svami, parama tapasvi, antaryami||

Verse 8 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 9

देवन के दुःखहर्ता देवा, करते सुर-नर-मुनि सब सेवा॥

devana ke duhkhaharta deva, karate sura-nara-muni saba seva||

Verse 9 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 10

तारक ने जब त्रास मचाया, स्वर्गलोक पर चँवर ढुलाया॥

taraka ne jaba trasa machaya, svargaloka para cha.nvara dhulaya||

Verse 10 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 11

देवगण सब भए दुखारी, भागे-भागे शरण तुम्हारी॥

devagana saba bhae dukhari, bhage-bhage sharana tumhari||

Verse 11 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 12

तब तुमने निज शक्ति दिखाई, तारक का वध तुरत मचाई॥

taba tumane nija shakti dikhai, taraka ka vadha turata machai||

Verse 12 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 13

षण्मुख कहकर मात पुकारा, तब उमा ने हृदय लगाया॥

shanmukha kahakara mata pukara, taba uma ne hrridaya lagaya||

Verse 13 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 14

नाम तुम्हारा है शरवणभव, भवसागर के तुम हो उद्भव॥

nama tumhara hai sharavanabhava, bhavasagara ke tuma ho udbhava||

Verse 14 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 15

गजानन के भ्राता प्यारे, भक्तों के तुम हो रखवारे॥

gajanana ke bhrata pyare, bhaktom ke tuma ho rakhavare||

Verse 15 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 16

कुमार, गुह, गंगासुत देवा, तुम ही हो शिव-पार्वती सेवा॥

kumara, guha, gamgasuta deva, tuma hi ho shiva-parvati seva||

Verse 16 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 17

तेज तुम्हारा है अति भारी, असुर-दल काँपे थरथारी॥

teja tumhara hai ati bhari, asura-dala ka.npe tharathari||

Verse 17 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 18

रोग-दोष, अरु दारिद्र सारा, भक्त-जनों का हरते भारा॥

roga-dosha, aru daridra sara, bhakta-janom ka harate bhara||

Verse 18 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 19

जो कोई तुमको मन से ध्यावे, वह मनवांछित फल को पावे॥

jo koi tumako mana se dhyave, vaha manavamchita phala ko pave||

Verse 19 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 20

जो नर जपता नाम तुम्हारा, हो जाता भवसागर पारा॥

jo nara japata nama tumhara, ho jata bhavasagara para||

Verse 20 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 21

शत्रु-भय से जो है व्याकुल, नाम जपे, होए भय निर्मूल॥

shatru-bhaya se jo hai vyakula, nama jape, hoe bhaya nirmula||

Verse 21 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 22

जो हैं निर्धन, दीन-दुखारी, तुम करते उनकी प्रतिपाली॥

jo haim nirdhana, dina-dukhari, tuma karate unaki pratipali||

Verse 22 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 23

पुत्र-हीन जो तुमको ध्यावे, निश्चय ही वह पुत्र को पावे॥

putra-hina jo tumako dhyave, nishchaya hi vaha putra ko pave||

Verse 23 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 24

भूत-प्रेत अरु दुष्ट पिशाचा, नाम सुने भागे सब साचा॥

bhuta-preta aru dushta pishacha, nama sune bhage saba sacha||

Verse 24 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 25

जो नर पढ़ता यह चालीसा, उसपर कृपा करें गौरीसा॥

jo nara paढ़ta yaha chalisa, usapara krripa karem gaurisa||

Verse 25 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 26

प्रतिदिन इसे जो मन लाए पढ़ेगा, उसका सब दुःख दूर हटेगा॥

pratidina ise jo mana lae paढ़ega, usaka saba duhkha dura hatega||

Verse 26 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 27

ज्ञान-बुद्धि अरु बल बढ़ जावे, घर में सुख-समृद्धि आवे॥

j~nana-buddhi aru bala baढ़ jave, ghara mem sukha-samrriddhi ave||

Verse 27 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 28

कार्तिक मास जो पाठ करावे, सब संकट से तुरत बचावे॥

kartika masa jo patha karave, saba samkata se turata bachave||

Verse 28 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 29

जो यह सुने भक्ति चित लाई, ताको मिले सकल सुखराई॥

jo yaha sune bhakti chita lai, tako mile sakala sukharai||

Verse 29 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 30

स्वामी शक्ति-धर, गणनायक, तुम हो मेरे सदा सहायक॥

svami shakti-dhara, gananayaka, tuma ho mere sada sahayaka||

Verse 30 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 31

मैं हूँ दीन, मलीन, दुखारी, हर लो मेरी विपत्ति सारी॥

maim hu.n dina, malina, dukhari, hara lo meri vipatti sari||

Verse 31 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 32

हे जगपालक, हे जगवंदन, करूँ मैं नित्य तुम्हारा वंदन॥

he jagapalaka, he jagavamdana, karu.n maim nitya tumhara vamdana||

Verse 32 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 33

मुझपर कृपा करो, शरणागत, तुम बिन कोई नहीं मेरा हित॥

mujhapara krripa karo, sharanagata, tuma bina koi nahim mera hita||

Verse 33 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 34

मैं हूँ शरण तुम्हारी देवा, स्वीकार करो यह मेरी सेवा॥

maim hu.n sharana tumhari deva, svikara karo yaha meri seva||

Verse 34 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 35

हे षडानन, हे शिवनंदन, मेटो मेरे दुःख के बंधन॥

he shadanana, he shivanamdana, meto mere duhkha ke bamdhana||

Verse 35 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Chaupai 36

जय जय जय स्वामी कार्तिकेय, हर-हर-हर-हर उमा के प्रिय॥

jaya jaya jaya svami kartikeya, hara-hara-hara-hara uma ke priya||

Verse 36 of the Kartikeya Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Kartikeya in the Chalisa structure.

Closing Doha

यह कार्तिकेय चालीसा, पढ़े जो श्रद्धावान। मिले उसे सुख-शान्ति अरु, भक्ति का वरदान॥

yaha kartikeya chalisa, paढ़e jo shraddhavana| mile use sukha-shanti aru, bhakti ka varadana||

Closing doha sealing the recitation.

Closing Doha 2

– यह पंक्ति साधक के मन से अहंकार के पूर्ण नाश का प्रतीक है। २. षडानन (छह मुख) का रहस्य:

– yaha pamkti sadhaka ke mana se ahamkara ke purna nasha ka pratika hai| 2. shadanana (chaha mukha) ka rahasya:

Closing doha sealing the recitation.

Why this chalisa

What the Kartikeya Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.

Daily anchor for Bhagwan Kartikeya-bhakti

Many homes recite the Kartikeya Chalisa as part of the morning paath. The 36-verse text takes about seven minutes at a comfortable pace and serves as the daily devotional anchor.

For festival days

Tuesday & Skanda Shashthi and the major Bhagwan Kartikeya 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. Kartikeya is the elder son of Shiva-Parvati, brother of Ganesha; called Murugan, Subrahmanya, Skanda, Shanmukha across regional traditions; central to Tamil and Konkan worship

For pilgrim recitation

The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Bhagwan Kartikeya shrines.

For households where Bhagwan Kartikeya is the kuldevta

For households where Bhagwan Kartikeya is the family deity, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer and a central rite during family events.

Origin

The Kartikeya Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Kartikeya. The text is generally placed in the late 19th to early 20th century CE; many published copies attribute it simply to tradition. Kartikeya is the elder son of Shiva-Parvati, brother of Ganesha; called Murugan, Subrahmanya, Skanda, Shanmukha across regional traditions; central to Tamil and Konkan worship

Bhagwan Kartikeya is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Bhagwan Kartikeya-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 Bhagwan Kartikeya'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 Ganesh Chalisa, Shiv Chalisa, and Parvati 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.

  1. Preparation

    Bathe and wear clean clothes. Sit facing South. Traditional offerings to Bhagwan Kartikeya: red flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Red flowers, vibhuti, milk, fruits. Many devotees offer kavadi during Tai Pusam.

  2. 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.

  3. Recitation

    Move through the chaupais without rushing. Read with attention to the meaning of each verse. Kartikeya is honoured by Tamil and Konkan traditions especially. Recite with attention to the warrior-deva commander iconography.

  4. After

    Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Bhagwan Kartikeya if known.

  5. Daily practice and special days

    Tuesday & Skanda Shashthi is auspicious. Skanda Shashthi is the central monthly recitation. Tai Pusam is the major South Indian festival.

Common questions

Why is the Kartikeya Chalisa linked to Tuesday & Skanda Shashthi?
Tuesday is associated with Mangal-tradition warrior-deities; Skanda Shashthi (Shashthi tithi) is Kartikeya's day. Many homes recite the Chalisa as part of the Tuesday & Skanda Shashthi morning paath.
How many paaths should I do during a vow?
The traditional anushthan counts are 11, 21, 41, or 108 paaths over a fixed period (often 41 days). For daily practice, 1 paath is sufficient. Choose a count that fits your schedule and stick to it for the full period.
Can it help during exams or hard periods?
Many devotees recite it during stretches of difficulty. The Chalisa is a verse of devotional faith and steadying practice; it is not a replacement for medical, legal, or professional advice. Use it alongside the practical work, not instead of it.
How does this differ from the Ganesh Chalisa, Shiv Chalisa, and Parvati Chalisa?
Each Chalisa addresses a specific deity. The Kartikeya Chalisa is dedicated to Bhagwan Kartikeya. Many homes recite multiple Chalisas across the week – one for each devata as appropriate to the day or family tradition.
Are there restrictions on who can recite?
No. The Chalisa is for everyday recitation by all householders. There is no menstrual restriction in mainstream practice, though some families follow this convention; the Chalisa text itself does not require it.
Does language matter? My pronunciation isn't perfect.
Devotion matters more than perfect pronunciation. The Chalisa is in Hindi, not Sanskrit, which makes it accessible. Reading the romanized version on this page is fine. Many devotees do manasik paath (silent recitation in the heart).
Can I recite silently or while travelling?
Yes. Manasik paath is valid and widely practised. You can do this on the commute, during a long flight, or in any setting where audible recitation isn't appropriate.
Is there a special connection to the temples of Ujjain?
Kartikeya has the major shrine at Pazhani in Tamil Nadu and Subrahmanya temples across South India; Mahakaleshwar Ujjain has the wider Shaiva connection. Aastha can guide pilgrims with combined Mahakaleshwar-related sequences.

Talk to Aastha

Looking for a Vedic puja in Ujjain?

Aastha is a small family in Ujjain that arranges Vedic pujas at Mahakaleshwar, Kaal Bhairav, Ram Ghat and other sacred sites. If a chalisa isn't quite what you need, we're here to listen. No pressure, no sales.

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