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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Shakambhari 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.
बन्दउ माँ शाकम्भरी चरणगुरू का धरकर ध्यान, शाकम्भरी माँ चालीसा का करे प्रख्यान ॥
bandau ma.n shakambhari charanaguru ka dharakara dhyana, shakambhari ma.n chalisa ka kare prakhyana ||
Opening invocation – salutation to Maa Shakambhari and the framing of the Chalisa-prayer.
शाकम्भरी माँ अति सुखकारी, पूर्ण ब्रह्म सदा दुःखहारी ॥
shakambhari ma.n ati sukhakari, purna brahma sada duhkhahari ||
Verse 1 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
कारण करण जगत की दाता, आंनद चेतन विश्वविधाता ॥
karana karana jagata ki data, amnada chetana vishvavidhata ||
Verse 2 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
अमर जोत है मात तुम्हारी, तुम ही सदा भगतन हितकारी ॥
amara jota hai mata tumhari, tuma hi sada bhagatana hitakari ||
Verse 3 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
महिमा अमित अथाह अपर्णा, ब्रह्म हरी हर मात अपर्णा ॥
mahima amita athaha aparna, brahma hari hara mata aparna ||
Verse 4 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
ज्ञान राशि हो दीन दयाली, शरणागत घर भरती खुशहाली ॥
j~nana rashi ho dina dayali, sharanagata ghara bharati khushahali ||
Verse 5 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
नारायणी तुम ब्रह्म प्रकाशी, जल-थल-नभ हो अविनाशी ॥
narayani tuma brahma prakashi, jala-thala-nabha ho avinashi ||
Verse 6 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
कमल कान्तिमय शान्ति अनपा, जोतमन मर्यादा जोत स्वरूपा ॥
kamala kantimaya shanti anapa, jotamana maryada jota svarupa ||
Verse 7 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
जब जब भक्तों ने है ध्याई, जोत अपनी प्रकट हो आई ॥
jaba jaba bhaktom ne hai dhyai, jota apani prakata ho ai ||
Verse 8 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
प्यारी बहन के संग विराजे, मात शताक्षि संग ही साजे ॥
pyari bahana ke samga viraje, mata shatakshi samga hi saje ||
Verse 9 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
भीम भयंकर रूप कराली, तीसरी बहन की जोत निराली ॥
bhima bhayamkara rupa karali, tisari bahana ki jota nirali ||
Verse 10 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
चौथी बहन भ्रामरी तेरी, अद्भुत चंचल चित्त चितेरी ॥
chauthi bahana bhramari teri, adbhuta chamchala chitta chiteri ||
Verse 11 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
सम्मुख भैरव वीर खड़ा है, दानव दल से खूब लड़ा है ॥
sammukha bhairava vira kha.da hai, danava dala se khuba la.da hai ||
Verse 12 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
शिव शंकर प्रभु भोले भण्डारी, सदा रहे सन्तन हितकारी ॥
shiva shamkara prabhu bhole bhandari, sada rahe santana hitakari ||
Verse 13 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
हनुमत माता लौकड़ा तेरा, सदा शाकम्भरी माँ का चेरा ॥
hanumata mata lauka.da tera, sada shakambhari ma.n ka chera ||
Verse 14 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
हाथ ध्वजा हनुमान विराजे, युद्ध भूमि में माँ संग साजे ॥
hatha dhvaja hanumana viraje, yuddha bhumi mem ma.n samga saje ||
Verse 15 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
कालरात्रि धारे कराली, बहिन मात की अति विकराली ॥
kalaratri dhare karali, bahina mata ki ati vikarali ||
Verse 16 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
दश विद्या नव दुर्गा आदि, ध्याते तुम्हें परमार्थ वादि ॥
dasha vidya nava durga adi, dhyate tumhem paramartha vadi ||
Verse 17 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
अष्ट सिद्धि गणपति जी दाता, बाल रूप शरणागत माता ॥
ashta siddhi ganapati ji data, bala rupa sharanagata mata ||
Verse 18 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
माँ भंडारे के रखवारी, प्रथम पूजने की अधिकारी ॥
ma.n bhamdare ke rakhavari, prathama pujane ki adhikari ||
Verse 19 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
जग की एक भ्रमण की कारण, शिव शक्ति हो दुष्ट विदारण ॥
jaga ki eka bhramana ki karana, shiva shakti ho dushta vidarana ||
Verse 20 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
भूरा देव लौकडा दूजा, जिसकी होती पहली पूजा ॥
bhura deva laukada duja, jisaki hoti pahali puja ||
Verse 21 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
बली बजरंगी तेरा चेरा, चले संग यश गाता तेरा ॥
bali bajaramgi tera chera, chale samga yasha gata tera ||
Verse 22 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
पांच कोस की खोल तुम्हारी, तेरी लीला अति विस्तारी ॥
pamcha kosa ki khola tumhari, teri lila ati vistari ||
Verse 23 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
रक्त दन्तिका तुम्हीं बनी हो, रक्त पान कर असुर हनी हो ॥
rakta dantika tumhim bani ho, rakta pana kara asura hani ho ||
Verse 24 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
रक्तबीज का नाश किया था, छिन्न मस्तिका रूप लिया था ॥
raktabija ka nasha kiya tha, chinna mastika rupa liya tha ||
Verse 25 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
सिद्ध योगिनी सहस्या राजे, सात कुण्ड में आप विराजे ॥
siddha yogini sahasya raje, sata kunda mem apa viraje ||
Verse 26 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
रूप मराल का तुमने धारा, भोजन दे दे जन जन तारा ॥
rupa marala ka tumane dhara, bhojana de de jana jana tara ||
Verse 27 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
शोक पात से मुनि जन तारे, शोक पात जन दुःख निवारे ॥
shoka pata se muni jana tare, shoka pata jana duhkha nivare ||
Verse 28 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
भद्र काली कमलेश्वर आई, कान्त शिवा भगतन सुखदाई ॥
bhadra kali kamaleshvara ai, kanta shiva bhagatana sukhadai ||
Verse 29 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
भोग भण्डार हलवा पूरी, ध्वजा नारियल तिलक सिंदूरी ॥
bhoga bhandara halava puri, dhvaja nariyala tilaka simduri ||
Verse 30 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
लाल चुनरी लगती प्यारी, ये ही भेंट ले दुःख निवारी ॥
lala chunari lagati pyari, ye hi bhemta le duhkha nivari ||
Verse 31 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
अंधे को तुम नयन दिखाती, कोढ़ी काया सफल बनाती ॥
amdhe ko tuma nayana dikhati, ko.dhi kaya saphala banati ||
Verse 32 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
बाँझन के घर बाल खिलाती, निर्धन को धन खूब दिलाती ॥
ba.njhana ke ghara bala khilati, nirdhana ko dhana khuba dilati ||
Verse 33 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
सुख दे दे भगत को तारे, साधु सज्जन काज संवारे ॥
sukha de de bhagata ko tare, sadhu sajjana kaja samvare ||
Verse 34 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
भूमण्डल से जोत प्रकाशी, शाकम्भरी माँ दुःख की नाशी ॥
bhumandala se jota prakashi, shakambhari ma.n duhkha ki nashi ||
Verse 35 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
मधुर मधुर मुस्कान तुम्हारी, जन्म जन्म पहचान हमारी ॥
madhura madhura muskana tumhari, janma janma pahachana hamari ||
Verse 36 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
चरण कमल तेरे बलिहारी, जै जै जै जग जननी तुम्हारी ॥
charana kamala tere balihari, jai jai jai jaga janani tumhari ||
Verse 37 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
कांता चालीसा अति सुखकारी, संकट दुःख दुविधा टारी ॥
kamta chalisa ati sukhakari, samkata duhkha duvidha tari ||
Verse 38 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
जो कोई जन चालीसा गावे, मात कृपा अति सुख पावे ॥
jo koi jana chalisa gave, mata krripa ati sukha pave ||
Verse 39 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
कान्ता प्रसाद जगाधरी वासी, भाव शाकम्भरी तत्त्व प्रकाशी ॥
kanta prasada jagadhari vasi, bhava shakambhari tattva prakashi ||
Verse 40 of the Shakambhari Chalisa – praise of Maa Shakambhari in the Chalisa structure.
दुर्गासुर संहारणी करणि जग के काज, शाकम्भरी जननि शिवे रखना मेरी लाज ॥
durgasura samharani karani jaga ke kaja, shakambhari janani shive rakhana meri laja ||
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
युग युग तक व्रत तेरा करे भक्त उद्धार, वो ही तेरा लाड़ला आवे तेरे द्वार ॥
yuga yuga taka vrata tera kare bhakta uddhara, vo hi tera la.dala ave tere dvara ||
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
Why this chalisa
What the Shakambhari Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Daily anchor for Maa Shakambhari-bhakti
Many homes recite the Shakambhari 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, Shakambhari Purnima and the major Maa Shakambhari 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. Shakambhari is a form of Devi who relieved famine by manifesting fruits and vegetables; the central shrine is at Sambhar (Rajasthan) and Sakrai/Saharanpur
For pilgrim recitation
The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Maa Shakambhari shrines.
For households where Maa Shakambhari is the kuldevta
For households where Maa Shakambhari is the family deity, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer and a central rite during family events.
Origin
The Shakambhari Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Shakambhari Devi. The text is generally placed in the late 19th to early 20th century CE; many published copies attribute it simply to tradition. Shakambhari is a form of Devi who relieved famine by manifesting fruits and vegetables; the central shrine is at Sambhar (Rajasthan) and Sakrai/Saharanpur
Maa Shakambhari is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Maa Shakambhari-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 Shakambhari'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, Annapurneshwari Chalisa, and Santoshi Mata 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 Shakambhari: red flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Vegetables, fruits, leafy greens. Shakambhari is the food-providing form, so traditional offerings are vegetables and grain.
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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. Shakambhari is honoured for sustenance and famine relief; recite with the food-providing devotional emphasis.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Maa Shakambhari if known.
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Daily practice and special days
Tuesday & Friday, Shakambhari Purnima is auspicious. Shakambhari Purnima (Paush Purnima) is the central festival. Shakambhari Navratri precedes it.