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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Mahakali 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.
मध्यवासिनी अम्ब। अब करो न मातु विलम्ब॥
madhyavasini amba| aba karo na matu vilamba||
Opening invocation – salutation to Maa Mahakali and the framing of the Chalisa-prayer.
जय काली कंकाल मालिनी। जय मंगला महा कपालिनी॥
jaya kali kamkala malini| jaya mamgala maha kapalini||
Verse 1 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
रक्तबीज बधकारिणि माता। सदा भक्त जननकी सुखदाता॥
raktabija badhakarini mata| sada bhakta jananaki sukhadata||
Verse 2 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
शिरो मालिका भूषित अंगे। जय काली जय मद्य मतंगे॥
shiro malika bhushita amge| jaya kali jaya madya matamge||
Verse 3 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
हर हृदयारविन्द सुविलासिनि। जय जगदम्बा सकल दुःख नाशिनि॥
hara hrridayaravinda suvilasini| jaya jagadamba sakala duhkha nashini||
Verse 4 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
ह्रीं काली श्री महाकाली। क्रीं कल्याणी दक्षिणाकाली॥
hrim kali shri mahakali| krim kalyani dakshinakali||
Verse 5 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
जय कलावती जय विद्यावती। जय तारा सुन्दरी महामति॥
jaya kalavati jaya vidyavati| jaya tara sundari mahamati||
Verse 6 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
देहु सुबुद्धि हरहु सब संकट। होहु भक्त के आगे परगट॥
dehu subuddhi harahu saba samkata| hohu bhakta ke age paragata||
Verse 7 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
जय ॐ कारे जय हुंकारे। महा शक्ति जय अपरम्पारे॥
jaya om kare jaya humkare| maha shakti jaya aparampare||
Verse 8 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
कमला कलियुग दर्प विनाशिनी। सदा भक्त जन के भयनाशिनी॥
kamala kaliyuga darpa vinashini| sada bhakta jana ke bhayanashini||
Verse 9 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
अब जगदम्ब न देर लगावहु। दुख दरिद्रता मोर हटावहु॥
aba jagadamba na dera lagavahu| dukha daridrata mora hatavahu||
Verse 10 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
जयति कराल कालिका माता। कालानल समान द्युतिगाता॥
jayati karala kalika mata| kalanala samana dyutigata||
Verse 11 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
जयशंकरी सुरेशि सनातनि। कोटि सिद्धि कवि मातु पुरातनि॥
jayashamkari sureshi sanatani| koti siddhi kavi matu puratani||
Verse 12 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
कपर्दिनी कलि कल्प बिमोचनि। जय विकसित नव नलिनविलोचनि॥
kapardini kali kalpa bimochani| jaya vikasita nava nalinavilochani||
Verse 13 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
आनन्द करणि आनन्द निधाना। देहुमातु मोहि निर्मल ज्ञाना॥
ananda karani ananda nidhana| dehumatu mohi nirmala j~nana||
Verse 14 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
करुणामृत सागर कृपामयी। होहु दुष्ट जनपर अब निर्दयी॥
karunamrrita sagara krripamayi| hohu dushta janapara aba nirdayi||
Verse 15 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
सकल जीव तोहि परम पियारा। सकल विश्व तोरे आधारा॥
sakala jiva tohi parama piyara| sakala vishva tore adhara||
Verse 16 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
प्रलय काल में नर्तन कारिणि। जय जननी सब जग की पालनि॥
pralaya kala mem nartana karini| jaya janani saba jaga ki palani||
Verse 17 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
महोदरी महेश्वरी माया। हिमगिरि सुता विश्व की छाया॥
mahodari maheshvari maya| himagiri suta vishva ki chaya||
Verse 18 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
स्वछन्द रद मारद धुनि माही। गर्जत तुम्ही और कोउ नाही॥
svachanda rada marada dhuni mahi| garjata tumhi aura kou nahi||
Verse 19 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
स्फुरति मणिगणाकार प्रताने। तारागण तू ब्योम विताने॥
sphurati maniganakara pratane| taragana tu byoma vitane||
Verse 20 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
श्री धारे सन्तन हितकारिणी। अग्नि पाणि अति दुष्ट विदारिणि॥
shri dhare santana hitakarini| agni pani ati dushta vidarini||
Verse 21 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
धूम्र विलोचनि प्राण विमोचनि। शुम्भ निशुम्भ मथनि वरलोचनि॥
dhumra vilochani prana vimochani| shumbha nishumbha mathani varalochani||
Verse 22 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
सहस भुजी सरोरुह मालिनी। चामुण्डे मरघट की वासिनी॥
sahasa bhuji saroruha malini| chamunde maraghata ki vasini||
Verse 23 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
खप्पर मध्य सुशोणित साजी। मारेहु माँ महिषासुर पाजी॥
khappara madhya sushonita saji| marehu ma.n mahishasura paji||
Verse 24 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
अम्ब अम्बिका चण्ड चण्डिका। सब एके तुम आदि कालिका॥
amba ambika chanda chandika| saba eke tuma adi kalika||
Verse 25 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
अजा एकरूपा बहुरूपा। अकथ चरित्र तव शक्ति अनूपा॥
aja ekarupa bahurupa| akatha charitra tava shakti anupa||
Verse 26 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
कलकत्ता के दक्षिण द्वारे। मूरति तोर महेशि अपारे॥
kalakatta ke dakshina dvare| murati tora maheshi apare||
Verse 27 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
कादम्बरी पानरत श्यामा। जय मातंगी काम के धामा॥
kadambari panarata shyama| jaya matamgi kama ke dhama||
Verse 28 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
कमलासन वासिनी कमलायनि। जय श्यामा जय जय श्यामायनि॥
kamalasana vasini kamalayani| jaya shyama jaya jaya shyamayani||
Verse 29 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
मातंगी जय जयति प्रकृति हे। जयति भक्ति उर कुमति सुमति है॥
matamgi jaya jayati prakrriti he| jayati bhakti ura kumati sumati hai||
Verse 30 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
कोटिब्रह्म शिव विष्णु कामदा। जयति अहिंसा धर्म जन्मदा॥
kotibrahma shiva vishnu kamada| jayati ahimsa dharma janmada||
Verse 31 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
जल थल नभमण्डल में व्यापिनी। सौदामिनि मध्य अलापिनि॥
jala thala nabhamandala mem vyapini| saudamini madhya alapini||
Verse 32 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
झननन तच्छु मरिरिन नादिनि। जय सरस्वती वीणा वादिनी॥
jhananana tachchu maririna nadini| jaya sarasvati vina vadini||
Verse 33 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं क्लीं चामुण्डायै विच्चे। कलित कण्ठ शोभित नरमुण्डा॥
om aim hrim klim chamundayai vichche| kalita kantha shobhita naramunda||
Verse 34 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
जय ब्रह्माण्ड सिद्धि कवि माता। कामाख्या और काली माता॥
jaya brahmanda siddhi kavi mata| kamakhya aura kali mata||
Verse 35 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
हिंगलाज विन्ध्याचल वासिनी। अट्टहासिनी अरु अघन नाशिनी॥
himgalaja vindhyachala vasini| attahasini aru aghana nashini||
Verse 36 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
कितनी स्तुति करूँ अखण्डे। तू ब्रह्माण्डे शक्तिजितचण्डे॥
kitani stuti karu.n akhande| tu brahmande shaktijitachande||
Verse 37 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
करहु कृपा सबपे जगदम्बा। रहहिं निशंक तोर अवलम्बा॥
karahu krripa sabape jagadamba| rahahim nishamka tora avalamba||
Verse 38 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
चतुर्भुजी काली तुम श्यामा। रूप तुम्हार महा अभिरामा॥
chaturbhuji kali tuma shyama| rupa tumhara maha abhirama||
Verse 39 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
खड्ग और खप्पर कर सोहत। सुर नर मुनि सबको मन मोहत॥
khadga aura khappara kara sohata| sura nara muni sabako mana mohata||
Verse 40 of the Mahakali Chalisa – praise of Maa Mahakali in the Chalisa structure.
जय जय जय जगदम्ब। मातु अवलम्ब॥
jaya jaya jaya jagadamba| matu avalamba||
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
शंकर प्रिया, अपर्णा, अम्बा। जय कपर्दिनी, जय जगदम्बा॥
shamkara priya, aparna, amba| jaya kapardini, jaya jagadamba||
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
Why this chalisa
What the Mahakali Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Daily anchor for Maa Mahakali-bhakti
Many homes recite the Mahakali 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, Kali Chaudas and the major Maa Mahakali 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. Mahakali is the first Mahavidya; central to Bengali Shakta tradition and tantrik sadhana
For pilgrim recitation
The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Maa Mahakali shrines.
For households where Maa Mahakali is the kuldevta
For households where Maa Mahakali is the family deity, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer and a central rite during family events.
Origin
The Mahakali Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Mahakali. The text is generally placed in the late 19th to early 20th century CE; many published copies attribute it simply to tradition. Mahakali is the first Mahavidya; central to Bengali Shakta tradition and tantrik sadhana
Maa Mahakali is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Maa Mahakali-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 Mahakali'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, Durga Chalisa, and Bagalamukhi 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. Traditional offerings to Maa Mahakali: black flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Red and black flowers (hibiscus traditional), red cloth, deep diyas. Some traditions offer alcohol and meat in tantric form (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. Mahakali is honoured by Bengali Shakta and tantrik traditions; recite with attention to the fierce-form iconography.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Maa Mahakali if known.
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Daily practice and special days
Tuesday & Friday, Kali Chaudas is auspicious. Kali Chaudas (Diwali eve) and Kali Puja are the central recitation periods. Many devotees do 11 paaths during Navratri and Tuesdays of Shravan.