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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Sankata 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.
जगत जननि जगदम्बिके, अरज सुनहु अब मोर। बंदौ पद-युग नाइ सिर, विनय करों कर जोर॥
jagata janani jagadambike, araja sunahu aba mora| bamdau pada-yuga nai sira, vinaya karom kara jora||
Opening invocation – salutation to Maa Sankata and the framing of the Chalisa-prayer.
जय जय जय संकटा भवानी, कृपा करहु मो पर महारानी।
jaya jaya jaya samkata bhavani, krripa karahu mo para maharani|
Verse 1 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
हाथ खड्ग भृकुटि विकराला, अरुण नयन गल में मुण्डमाला॥
hatha khadga bhrrikuti vikarala, aruna nayana gala mem mundamala||
Verse 2 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
कानन कुण्डल की छवि भारी, हिय हुलसे मन होत सुखारी।
kanana kundala ki chavi bhari, hiya hulase mana hota sukhari|
Verse 3 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
केहरि वाहन है तव माता, कष्ट निवारो जन जन त्राता॥
kehari vahana hai tava mata, kashta nivaro jana jana trata||
Verse 4 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
आयऊं शरण तिहारी अम्बे, अभय करहु मोको जगदम्बे।
ayaum sharana tihari ambe, abhaya karahu moko jagadambe|
Verse 5 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
शरण आई जो तुमहिं पुकारा, बिन बिलम्ब तुम ताहि उबारा॥
sharana ai jo tumahim pukara, bina bilamba tuma tahi ubara||
Verse 6 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
भीर पड़ी भक्तन पर जब-जब, किया सहाय मात तुम तब-तब।
bhira pa.di bhaktana para jaba-jaba, kiya sahaya mata tuma taba-taba|
Verse 7 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
रक्तबीज दानव तुम मारे, शुंभ-निशुंभ के उदर विदारे॥
raktabija danava tuma mare, shumbha-nishumbha ke udara vidare||
Verse 8 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
महिसासुर नृप अति बलबीरा, मारे मरे न अति रणधीरा।
mahisasura nrripa ati balabira, mare mare na ati ranadhira|
Verse 9 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
करि संग्राम सकल सुर हारे, अस्तुति करी तुम तुमहिं पुकारे॥
kari samgrama sakala sura hare, astuti kari tuma tumahim pukare||
Verse 10 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
प्रगटेउ काली रूप में माता, सेन सहित तुम ताहि निपाता।
pragateu kali rupa mem mata, sena sahita tuma tahi nipata|
Verse 11 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
तेहि के बध सब देव हरषे, नभ दुंदुभी सुमन बहु बरसे॥
tehi ke badha saba deva harashe, nabha dumdubhi sumana bahu barase||
Verse 12 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
रक्षा करहु दीन जन जानी, जय जय जगदंब भवानी।
raksha karahu dina jana jani, jaya jaya jagadamba bhavani|
Verse 13 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
सब जीवों की हो प्रतिपालक, जय जग जननी दनुज कुल घालक॥
saba jivom ki ho pratipalaka, jaya jaga janani danuja kula ghalaka||
Verse 14 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
सकल सुमन की जीवन दाता, संकट हरो हमारी माता।
sakala sumana ki jivana data, samkata haro hamari mata|
Verse 15 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
संकट नाशक नाम तुम्हारा, सुयश तुम्हार सकल संसारा॥
samkata nashaka nama tumhara, suyasha tumhara sakala samsara||
Verse 16 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
सुर नर नाग असुर मुनि जेते, गावत गुण गान निश दिन तेते।
sura nara naga asura muni jete, gavata guna gana nisha dina tete|
Verse 17 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
योगी निशिवासर तब ध्यावहिं, तदपि तुम्हार अंत न पावहिं॥
yogi nishivasara taba dhyavahim, tadapi tumhara amta na pavahim||
Verse 18 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
अतुल तेज मुख पर छवि सोहै, निरखि सकल सुर नर मुनि मोहै।
atula teja mukha para chavi sohai, nirakhi sakala sura nara muni mohai|
Verse 19 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
चरण कमल मैं शीश झुकाऊं, पाहि पाहि कहि नितहि मनाऊं॥
charana kamala maim shisha jhukaum, pahi pahi kahi nitahi manaum||
Verse 20 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
नेति-नेति कहा वेद बखाना, शक्ति स्वरुप तुम्हार न जाना।
neti-neti kaha veda bakhana, shakti svarupa tumhara na jana|
Verse 21 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
मैं मूरख किमि कहौं बखानी, नाम तुम्हारा अनेक भवानी॥
maim murakha kimi kahaum bakhani, nama tumhara aneka bhavani||
Verse 22 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
सुमिरत नाम कटै दुःख भारी, सत्य वात यह वेद उचारी।
sumirata nama katai duhkha bhari, satya vata yaha veda uchari|
Verse 23 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
नाम तुम्हार लेत जो कोई, ताकौ भय संकट नहीं होई॥
nama tumhara leta jo koi, takau bhaya samkata nahim hoi||
Verse 24 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
संकट आय परै जो कबहिं, नाम लेत बिनसत हैं तबहिं।
samkata aya parai jo kabahim, nama leta binasata haim tabahim|
Verse 25 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
प्रेम सहित जो जपे हमेशा, ताके तन नहि रहे कलेशा॥
prema sahita jo jape hamesha, take tana nahi rahe kalesha||
Verse 26 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
शरणगत होई जो जन आवैं, मनवांछित फल तुरतहि पावै।
sharanagata hoi jo jana avaim, manavamchita phala turatahi pavai|
Verse 27 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
रणचंडी वन असुर संहारा, बंधन काटि कियौ छुटकारा॥
ranachamdi vana asura samhara, bamdhana kati kiyau chutakara||
Verse 28 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
नाम सकल कलि कलुष नसावन, सुमिरत सिद्ध होय नर पावन।
nama sakala kali kalusha nasavana, sumirata siddha hoya nara pavana|
Verse 29 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
षोड्श पूजन करे जो कोई, इच्छित फल पावै नर सोई॥
shodsha pujana kare jo koi, ichchita phala pavai nara soi||
Verse 30 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
जो नारी सिंदूर चढ़ावे, तासु सोहाग अचल हो जावै।
jo nari simdura chaढ़ave, tasu sohaga achala ho javai|
Verse 31 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
पुत्र हेतु जो पूजा करहिं, सन्तति-सुख निश्चय सो लहहिं॥
putra hetu jo puja karahim, santati-sukha nishchaya so lahahim||
Verse 32 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
और कामना करे जो कोई, ताके घर सुख संपत्ति होई।
aura kamana kare jo koi, take ghara sukha sampatti hoi|
Verse 33 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
निर्धन नर जो शरण में आवै, सो निश्चय धनवान कहावै॥
nirdhana nara jo sharana mem avai, so nishchaya dhanavana kahavai||
Verse 34 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
रोगी रोग मुक्त होइ जावै, तब चरणन को ध्यान लगावै।
rogi roga mukta hoi javai, taba charanana ko dhyana lagavai|
Verse 35 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
सब सुख खानि तुमारि पूजा, एहि सम और उपाय न दूजा॥
saba sukha khani tumari puja, ehi sama aura upaya na duja||
Verse 36 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
पार करे संकटा चालीसा, तेहि पर कृपा करहिं गौरीसा।
para kare samkata chalisa, tehi para krripa karahim gaurisa|
Verse 37 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
पाठ करें अरु सुनै सुनावै, वाकौ सब संकट मिटि जावे॥
patha karem aru sunai sunavai, vakau saba samkata miti jave||
Verse 38 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
कहां तक महिमा कहौं तुम्हारी, हरहू बेगि मोहि संकट भारी।
kaham taka mahima kahaum tumhari, harahu begi mohi samkata bhari|
Verse 39 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
मम कारज सब पूरन किजे, दीन जनि मोहिं अभय कर दीजे॥
mama karaja saba purana kije, dina jani mohim abhaya kara dije||
Verse 40 of the Sankata Chalisa – praise of Maa Sankata in the Chalisa structure.
मातु संकटा नाम तब, संकट हरहु हमार। होइ प्रसन्न निज दास पर, लीजै मोहिं उबार॥
matu samkata nama taba, samkata harahu hamara| hoi prasanna nija dasa para, lijai mohim ubara||
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
सन्तशरण को तनय हूँ, शिवदत मिश्र सुनाम। देवरिया मण्डल बसूँ, धाम मझौली ग्राम॥
santasharana ko tanaya hu.n, shivadata mishra sunama| devariya mandala basu.n, dhama majhauli grama||
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
Why this chalisa
What the Sankata Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Daily anchor for Maa Sankata-bhakti
Many homes recite the Sankata 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 Maa Sankata 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. Sankata Mata is honoured for sankat-mochan (obstacle/difficulty removal); a regional Devi-form with shrines in Varanasi and across north India
For pilgrim recitation
The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Maa Sankata shrines.
For households where Maa Sankata is the kuldevta
For households where Maa Sankata is the family deity, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer and a central rite during family events.
Origin
The Sankata Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Sankata Devi. The text is generally placed in the late 19th to early 20th century CE; many published copies attribute it simply to tradition. Sankata Mata is honoured for sankat-mochan (obstacle/difficulty removal); a regional Devi-form with shrines in Varanasi and across north India
Maa Sankata is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Maa Sankata-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 Sankata'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, Santoshi Mata Chalisa, and Kali 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 Maa Sankata: red flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Red flowers, fruits, deep diyas. Many devotees offer prasad to remove specific difficulties or vows.
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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. Sankata is honoured for difficulty-removal; recite with attention to the petitionary devotional emphasis.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Maa Sankata if known.
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Daily practice and special days
Tuesday & Friday is auspicious. Sankata Chaturthi (monthly) is the central recitation. Many devotees do 11 paaths during difficult periods.