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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Ravidas 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.
देहु आय मोहिं ज्ञान। करौं चरित्र बखान॥
dehu aya mohim j~nana| karaum charitra bakhana||
Opening invocation – salutation to Guru Ravidas and the framing of the Chalisa-prayer.
जै होवै रविदास तुम्हारी। कृपा करहु हरिजन हितकारी॥
jai hovai ravidasa tumhari| krripa karahu harijana hitakari||
Verse 1 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
राहु भक्त तुम्हारे ताता। कर्मा नाम तुम्हारी माता॥
rahu bhakta tumhare tata| karma nama tumhari mata||
Verse 2 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
काशी ढिंग माडुर स्थाना। वर्ण अछूत करत गुजराना॥
kashi dhimga madura sthana| varna achuta karata gujarana||
Verse 3 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
द्वादश वर्ष उम्र जब आई। तुम्हरे मन हरि भक्ति समाई॥
dvadasha varsha umra jaba ai| tumhare mana hari bhakti samai||
Verse 4 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
रामानन्द के शिष्य कहाये। पाय ज्ञान निज नाम बढ़ाये॥
ramananda ke shishya kahaye| paya j~nana nija nama ba.dhaye||
Verse 5 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
शास्त्र तर्क काशी में कीन्हों। ज्ञानिन को उपदेश है दीन्हों॥
shastra tarka kashi mem kinhom| j~nanina ko upadesha hai dinhom||
Verse 6 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
गंग मातु के भक्त अपारा। कौड़ी दीन्ह उनहिं उपहारा॥
gamga matu ke bhakta apara| kau.di dinha unahim upahara||
Verse 7 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
पंडित जन ताको लै जाई। गंग मातु को दीन्ह चढ़ाई॥
pamdita jana tako lai jai| gamga matu ko dinha cha.dhai||
Verse 8 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
हाथ पसारि लीन्ह चौगानी। भक्त की महिमा अमित बखानी॥
hatha pasari linha chaugani| bhakta ki mahima amita bakhani||
Verse 9 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
चकित भये पंडित काशी के। देखि चरित भव भय नाशी के॥
chakita bhaye pamdita kashi ke| dekhi charita bhava bhaya nashi ke||
Verse 10 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
रल जटित कंगन तब दीन्हाँ। रविदास अधिकारी कीन्हाँ॥
rala jatita kamgana taba dinha.n| ravidasa adhikari kinha.n||
Verse 11 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
पंडित दीजौ भक्त को मेरे। आदि जन्म के जो हैं चेरे॥
pamdita dijau bhakta ko mere| adi janma ke jo haim chere||
Verse 12 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
पहुँचे पंडित ढिग रविदासा। दै कंगन पुरइ अभिलाषा॥
pahu.nche pamdita dhiga ravidasa| dai kamgana purai abhilasha||
Verse 13 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
तब रविदास कही यह बाता। दूसर कंगन लावहु ताता॥
taba ravidasa kahi yaha bata| dusara kamgana lavahu tata||
Verse 14 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
पंडित जन तब कसम उठाई। दूसर दीन्ह न गंगा माई॥
pamdita jana taba kasama uthai| dusara dinha na gamga mai||
Verse 15 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
तब रविदास ने वचन उचारे। पडित जन सब भये सुखारे॥
taba ravidasa ne vachana uchare| padita jana saba bhaye sukhare||
Verse 16 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
जो सर्वदा रहै मन चंगा। तौ घर बसति मातु है गंगा॥
jo sarvada rahai mana chamga| tau ghara basati matu hai gamga||
Verse 17 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
हाथ कठौती में तब डारा। दूसर कंगन एक निकारा॥
hatha kathauti mem taba dara| dusara kamgana eka nikara||
Verse 18 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
चित संकोचित पंडित कीन्हें। अपने अपने मारग लीन्हें॥
chita samkochita pamdita kinhem| apane apane maraga linhem||
Verse 19 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
तब से प्रचलित एक प्रसंगा। मन चंगा तो कठौती में गंगा॥
taba se prachalita eka prasamga| mana chamga to kathauti mem gamga||
Verse 20 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
एक बार फिरि परयो झमेला। मिलि पंडितजन कीन्हों खेला॥
eka bara phiri parayo jhamela| mili pamditajana kinhom khela||
Verse 21 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
सालिग राम गंग उतरावै। सोई प्रबल भक्त कहलावै॥
saliga rama gamga utaravai| soi prabala bhakta kahalavai||
Verse 22 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
सब जन गये गंग के तीरा। मूरति तैरावन बिच नीरा॥
saba jana gaye gamga ke tira| murati tairavana bicha nira||
Verse 23 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
डूब गईं सबकी मझधारा। सबके मन भयो दुःख अपारा॥
duba gaim sabaki majhadhara| sabake mana bhayo duhkha apara||
Verse 24 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
पत्थर मूर्ति रही उतराई। सुर नर मिलि जयकार मचाई॥
patthara murti rahi utarai| sura nara mili jayakara machai||
Verse 25 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
रह्यो नाम रविदास तुम्हारा। मच्यो नगर महँ हाहाकारा॥
rahyo nama ravidasa tumhara| machyo nagara maha.n hahakara||
Verse 26 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
चीरि देह तुम दुग्ध बहायो। जन्म जनेऊ आप दिखाओ॥
chiri deha tuma dugdha bahayo| janma janeu apa dikhao||
Verse 27 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
देखि चकित भये सब नर नारी। विद्वानन सुधि बिसरी सारी॥
dekhi chakita bhaye saba nara nari| vidvanana sudhi bisari sari||
Verse 28 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
ज्ञान तर्क कबिरा संग कीन्हों। चकित उनहुँ का तुम करि दीन्हों॥
j~nana tarka kabira samga kinhom| chakita unahu.n ka tuma kari dinhom||
Verse 29 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
गुरु गोरखहि दीन्ह उपदेशा। उन मान्यो तकि संत विशेषा॥
guru gorakhahi dinha upadesha| una manyo taki samta vishesha||
Verse 30 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
सदना पीर तर्क बहु कीन्हाँ। तुम ताको उपदेश है दीन्हाँ॥
sadana pira tarka bahu kinha.n| tuma tako upadesha hai dinha.n||
Verse 31 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
मन महँ हार्योो सदन कसाई। जो दिल्ली में खबरि सुनाई॥
mana maha.n haryoo sadana kasai| jo dilli mem khabari sunai||
Verse 32 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
मुस्लिम धर्म की सुनि कुबड़ाई। लोधि सिकन्दर गयो गुस्साई॥
muslima dharma ki suni kuba.dai| lodhi sikandara gayo gussai||
Verse 33 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
अपने गृह तब तुमहिं बुलावा। मुस्लिम होन हेतु समुझावा॥
apane grriha taba tumahim bulava| muslima hona hetu samujhava||
Verse 34 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
मानी नाहिं तुम उसकी बानी। बंदीगृह काटी है रानी॥
mani nahim tuma usaki bani| bamdigrriha kati hai rani||
Verse 35 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
कृष्ण दरश पाये रविदासा। सफल भई तुम्हरी सब आशा॥
krrishna darasha paye ravidasa| saphala bhai tumhari saba asha||
Verse 36 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
ताले टूटि खुल्यो है कारा। माम सिकन्दर के तुम मारा॥
tale tuti khulyo hai kara| mama sikandara ke tuma mara||
Verse 37 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
काशी पुर तुम कहँ पहुँचाई। दै प्रभुता अरुमान बड़ाई॥
kashi pura tuma kaha.n pahu.nchai| dai prabhuta arumana ba.dai||
Verse 38 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
मीरा योगावति गुरु कीन्हों। जिनको क्षत्रिय वंश प्रवीनो॥
mira yogavati guru kinhom| jinako kshatriya vamsha pravino||
Verse 39 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
तिनको दै उपदेश अपारा। कीन्हों भव से तुम निस्तारा॥
tinako dai upadesha apara| kinhom bhava se tuma nistara||
Verse 40 of the Ravidas Chalisa – praise of Guru Ravidas in the Chalisa structure.
कीन्हें चरित अपार। तहूं न पावै पार॥
kinhem charita apara| tahum na pavai para||
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
ध्यान धरै चालीसा। जगतपति जगदीशा॥
dhyana dharai chalisa| jagatapati jagadisha||
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
Why this chalisa
What the Ravidas Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Daily anchor for Guru Ravidas-bhakti
Many homes recite the Ravidas 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
Magh Purnima (Ravidas Jayanti) & Sundays and the major Guru Ravidas 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. Ravidas was a 15th-century saint from Varanasi whose verses appear in the Guru Granth Sahib
For pilgrim recitation
The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Guru Ravidas shrines.
For households where Guru Ravidas is the kuldevta
For households where Guru Ravidas is the family deity, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer and a central rite during family events.
Origin
The Ravidas Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Sant Ravidas. Sant Ravidas (15th century, Varanasi) was a Bhakti-movement saint and contemporary of Kabir. The Chalisa-text is generally placed in the late 19th to early 20th century CE. Ravidas was a 15th-century saint from Varanasi whose verses appear in the Guru Granth Sahib
Guru Ravidas is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Guru Ravidas-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 Guru Ravidas'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 Kabir Chalisa, Sai Baba Chalisa, and Tulsidas 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 Guru Ravidas: saffron flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Saffron flowers, white cloth (the saint's traditional dress), simple offerings of fruit and water.
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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. Sant Ravidas's verses emphasise Bhakti and equality; recite with the saint's plain humility in mind.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Guru Ravidas if known.
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Daily practice and special days
Magh Purnima (Ravidas Jayanti) & Sundays is auspicious. Magh Purnima is Ravidas Jayanti, the central festival. The Begumpura tradition recites the Chalisa across the day.