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The complete Mehar Mata 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.
मूर्ति स्वयंभू शारदा, मैहर आन विराज ।
murti svayambhu sharada, maihara ana viraja |
Opening invocation – salutation to Mehar Mata and the framing of the Chalisa-prayer.
जय जय जय शारदा महारानी, आदि शक्ति तुम जग कल्याणी।
jaya jaya jaya sharada maharani, adi shakti tuma jaga kalyani|
Verse 1 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
रूप चतुर्भुज तुम्हरो माता, तीन लोक महं तुम विख्याता॥
rupa chaturbhuja tumharo mata, tina loka maham tuma vikhyata||
Verse 2 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
दो सहस्त्र वर्षहि अनुमाना, प्रगट भई शारदा जग जाना।
do sahastra varshahi anumana, pragata bhai sharada jaga jana|
Verse 3 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
मैहर नगर विश्व विख्याता, जहाँ बैठी शारदा जग माता॥
maihara nagara vishva vikhyata, jaha.n baithi sharada jaga mata||
Verse 4 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
त्रिकूट पर्वत शारदा वासा, मैहर नगरी परम प्रकाशा।
trikuta parvata sharada vasa, maihara nagari parama prakasha|
Verse 5 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
सर्द इन्दु सम बदन तुम्हारो, रूप चतुर्भुज अतिशय प्यारो॥
sarda indu sama badana tumharo, rupa chaturbhuja atishaya pyaro||
Verse 6 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
कोटि सुर्य सम तन द्युति पावन, राज हंस तुम्हरो शचि वाहन।
koti surya sama tana dyuti pavana, raja hamsa tumharo shachi vahana|
Verse 7 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
कानन कुण्डल लोल सुहवहि, उर्मणी भाल अनूप दिखावहिं ॥
kanana kundala lola suhavahi, urmani bhala anupa dikhavahim ||
Verse 8 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
वीणा पुस्तक अभय धारिणी, जगत्मातु तुम जग विहारिणी।
vina pustaka abhaya dharini, jagatmatu tuma jaga viharini|
Verse 9 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
ब्रह्म सुता अखंड अनूपा, शारदा गुण गावत सुरभूपा॥
brahma suta akhamda anupa, sharada guna gavata surabhupa||
Verse 10 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
हरिहर करहिं शारदा वन्दन, वरुण कुबेर करहिं अभिनन्दन ।
harihara karahim sharada vandana, varuna kubera karahim abhinandana |
Verse 11 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
शारदा रूप कहण्डी अवतारा, चण्ड-मुण्ड असुरन संहारा ॥
sharada rupa kahandi avatara, chanda-munda asurana samhara ||
Verse 12 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
महिषा सुर वध कीन्हि भवानी, दुर्गा बन शारदा कल्याणी।
mahisha sura vadha kinhi bhavani, durga bana sharada kalyani|
Verse 13 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
धरा रूप शारदा भई चण्डी, रक्त बीज काटा रण मुण्डी॥
dhara rupa sharada bhai chandi, rakta bija kata rana mundi||
Verse 14 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
तुलसी सुर्य आदि विद्वाना, शारदा सुयश सदैव बखाना।
tulasi surya adi vidvana, sharada suyasha sadaiva bakhana|
Verse 15 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
कालिदास भए अति विख्याता, तुम्हरी दया शारदा माता॥
kalidasa bhae ati vikhyata, tumhari daya sharada mata||
Verse 16 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
वाल्मीकी नारद मुनि देवा, पुनि-पुनि करहिं शारदा सेवा।
valmiki narada muni deva, puni-puni karahim sharada seva|
Verse 17 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
चरण-शरण देवहु जग माया, सब जग व्यापहिं शारदा माया॥
charana-sharana devahu jaga maya, saba jaga vyapahim sharada maya||
Verse 18 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
अणु-परमाणु शारदा वासा, परम शक्तिमय परम प्रकाशा।
anu-paramanu sharada vasa, parama shaktimaya parama prakasha|
Verse 19 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
हे शारद तुम ब्रह्म स्वरूपा, शिव विरंचि पूजहिं नर भूपा॥
he sharada tuma brahma svarupa, shiva viramchi pujahim nara bhupa||
Verse 20 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
ब्रह्म शक्ति नहि एकउ भेदा, शारदा के गुण गावहिं वेदा।
brahma shakti nahi ekau bheda, sharada ke guna gavahim veda|
Verse 21 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
जय जग वन्दनि विश्व स्वरूपा, निर्गुण-सगुण शारदहिं रूपा॥
jaya jaga vandani vishva svarupa, nirguna-saguna sharadahim rupa||
Verse 22 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
सुमिरहु शारदा नाम अखंडा, व्यापइ नहिं कलिकाल प्रचण्डा।
sumirahu sharada nama akhamda, vyapai nahim kalikala prachanda|
Verse 23 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
सुर्य चन्द्र नभ मण्डल तारे, शारदा कृपा चमकते सारे॥
surya chandra nabha mandala tare, sharada krripa chamakate sare||
Verse 24 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
उद्भव स्थिति प्रलय कारिणी, बन्दउ शारदा जगत तारिणी।
udbhava sthiti pralaya karini, bandau sharada jagata tarini|
Verse 25 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
दु:ख दरिद्र सब जाहिंन साई, तुम्हारी कृपा शारदा माई॥
du:kha daridra saba jahimna sai, tumhari krripa sharada mai||
Verse 26 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
परम पुनीत जगत अधारा,मातु, शारदा ज्ञान तुम्हारा।
parama punita jagata adhara,matu, sharada j~nana tumhara|
Verse 27 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
विद्या बुद्धि मिलहिं सुखदानी, जय जय जय शारदा भवानी॥
vidya buddhi milahim sukhadani, jaya jaya jaya sharada bhavani||
Verse 28 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
शारदे पूजन जो जन करहिं, निश्चय ते भव सागर तरहीं।
sharade pujana jo jana karahim, nishchaya te bhava sagara tarahim|
Verse 29 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
शारद कृपा मिलहिं शुचि ज्ञाना, होई सकल्विधि अति कल्याणा॥
sharada krripa milahim shuchi j~nana, hoi sakalvidhi ati kalyana||
Verse 30 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
जग के विषय महा दु:ख दाई, भजहुँ शारदा अति सुख पाई।
jaga ke vishaya maha du:kha dai, bhajahu.n sharada ati sukha pai|
Verse 31 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
परम प्रकाश शारदा तोरा, दिव्य किरण देवहुँ मम ओरा॥
parama prakasha sharada tora, divya kirana devahu.n mama ora||
Verse 32 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
परमानन्द मगन मन होई, मातु शारदा सुमिरई जोई।
paramananda magana mana hoi, matu sharada sumirai joi|
Verse 33 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
चित्त शान्त होवहिं जप ध्याना, भजहुँ शारदा होवहिं ज्ञाना॥
chitta shanta hovahim japa dhyana, bhajahu.n sharada hovahim j~nana||
Verse 34 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
रचना रचित शारदा केरी, पाठ करहिं भव छटई फेरी।
rachana rachita sharada keri, patha karahim bhava chatai pheri|
Verse 35 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
सत् – सत् नमन पढ़ीहे धरिध्याना, शारदा मातु करहिं कल्याणा॥
sat – sat namana pa.dhihe dharidhyana, sharada matu karahim kalyana||
Verse 36 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
शारदा महिमा को जग जाना, नेति-नेति कह वेद बखाना।
sharada mahima ko jaga jana, neti-neti kaha veda bakhana|
Verse 37 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
सत् – सत् नमन शारदा तोरा, कृपा द्र्ष्टि कीजै मम ओरा॥
sat – sat namana sharada tora, krripa drshti kijai mama ora||
Verse 38 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
जो जन सेवा करहिं तुम्हारी, तिन कहँ कतहुँ नाहि दु:खभारी ।
jo jana seva karahim tumhari, tina kaha.n katahu.n nahi du:khabhari |
Verse 39 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
जोयह पाठ करै चालीस, मातु शारदा देहुँ आशीषा॥
joyaha patha karai chalisa, matu sharada dehu.n ashisha||
Verse 40 of the Mehar Mata Chalisa – praise of Mehar Mata in the Chalisa structure.
बन्दऊँ शारद चरण रज, भक्ति ज्ञान मोहि देहुँ।
bandau.n sharada charana raja, bhakti j~nana mohi dehu.n|
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
सकल अविद्या दूर कर, सदा बसहु उर्गेहुँ।
sakala avidya dura kara, sada basahu urgehu.n|
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
Why this chalisa
What the Mehar Mata Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Daily anchor for Mehar Mata-bhakti
Many homes recite the Mehar Mata 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 and the major Mehar Mata 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. Mehar Mata is honoured by various Rajasthani communities as a kuldevi; localised tradition
For pilgrim recitation
The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Mehar Mata shrines.
For households where Mehar Mata is the kuldevta
For households where Mehar Mata is the family deity, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer and a central rite during family events.
Origin
The Mehar Mata Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Mehar Mata. The text is generally placed in the late 19th to early 20th century CE; many published copies attribute it simply to tradition. Mehar Mata is honoured by various Rajasthani communities as a kuldevi; localised tradition
Mehar Mata is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Mehar Mata-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 Mehar Mata'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 Durga Chalisa, Karni Mata Chalisa, and Rani Sati 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 Mehar Mata: red flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Traditional offerings include red flowers, fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Specific to Mehar Mata traditions.
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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. Recite with attention to the Mehar Mata devotional emphasis as outlined in the verses.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Mehar Mata if known.
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Daily practice and special days
Tuesday & Friday is auspicious. Navratri, Tuesdays are the central recitation periods. Many devotees do 11 paaths during festivals.