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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Shitala 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.
जय-जय माता शीतला, तुमहिं धरै जो ध्यान। होय विमल शीतल हृदय, विकसै बुद्धि बलज्ञान॥
jaya-jaya mata shitala, tumahim dharai jo dhyana| hoya vimala shitala hrridaya, vikasai buddhi balaj~nana||
Hail, hail Shitala Mata – whoever holds you in meditation, the heart becomes pure and cool, intellect, strength, and wisdom blossom.
जय-जय-जय शीतला भवानी। जय जग जननि सकल गुणखानी॥
jaya-jaya-jaya shitala bhavani| jaya jaga janani sakala gunakhani||
Verse 1 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
गृह-गृह शक्ति तुम्हारी राजित। पूरण शरदचन्द्र समसाजित॥
grriha-grriha shakti tumhari rajita| purana sharadachandra samasajita||
Verse 2 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
विस्फोटक से जलत शरीरा। शीतल करत हरत सब पीरा॥
visphotaka se jalata sharira| shitala karata harata saba pira||
Verse 3 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
मातु शीतला तव शुभनामा। सबके गाढ़े आवहिं कामा॥
matu shitala tava shubhanama| sabake ga.dhe avahim kama||
Verse 4 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
शोकहरी शंकरी भवानी। बाल-प्राणरक्षी सुख दानी॥
shokahari shamkari bhavani| bala-pranarakshi sukha dani||
Verse 5 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
शुचि मार्जनी कलश करराजै। मस्तक तेज सूर्य समराजै॥
shuchi marjani kalasha kararajai| mastaka teja surya samarajai||
Verse 6 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
चौसठ योगिन संग में गावैं। वीणा ताल मृदंग बजावै॥
chausatha yogina samga mem gavaim| vina tala mrridamga bajavai||
Verse 7 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
नृत्य नाथ भैरो दिखरावैं। सहज शेष शिव पार ना पावैं॥
nrritya natha bhairo dikharavaim| sahaja shesha shiva para na pavaim||
Verse 8 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
धन्य-धन्य धात्री महारानी। सुरनर मुनि तब सुयश बखानी॥
dhanya-dhanya dhatri maharani| suranara muni taba suyasha bakhani||
Verse 9 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
ज्वाला रूप महा बलकारी। दैत्य एक विस्फोटक भारी॥
jvala rupa maha balakari| daitya eka visphotaka bhari||
Verse 10 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
घर-घर प्रविशत कोई न रक्षत। रोग रूप धरि बालक भक्षत॥
ghara-ghara pravishata koi na rakshata| roga rupa dhari balaka bhakshata||
Verse 11 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
हाहाकार मच्यो जगभारी। सक्यो न जब संकट टारी॥
hahakara machyo jagabhari| sakyo na jaba samkata tari||
Verse 12 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
तब मैया धरि अद्भुत रूपा। करमें लिये मार्जनी सूपा॥
taba maiya dhari adbhuta rupa| karamem liye marjani supa||
Verse 13 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
विस्फोटकहिं पकड़ि कर लीन्ह्यो। मुसल प्रहार बहुविधि कीन्ह्यो॥
visphotakahim paka.di kara linhyo| musala prahara bahuvidhi kinhyo||
Verse 14 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
बहुत प्रकार वह विनती कीन्हा। मैया नहीं भल मैं कछु चीन्हा॥
bahuta prakara vaha vinati kinha| maiya nahim bhala maim kachu chinha||
Verse 15 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
अबनहिं मातु, काहुगृह जइहौं। जहँ अपवित्र सकल दुःख हरिहौं॥
abanahim matu, kahugrriha jaihaum| jaha.n apavitra sakala duhkha harihaum||
Verse 16 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
भभकत तन, शीतल ह्वै जइहैं। विस्फोटक भयघोर नसइहैं॥
bhabhakata tana, shitala hvai jaihaim| visphotaka bhayaghora nasaihaim||
Verse 17 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
श्री शीतलहिं भजे कल्याना। वचन सत्य भाषे भगवाना॥
shri shitalahim bhaje kalyana| vachana satya bhashe bhagavana||
Verse 18 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
विस्फोटक भय जिहि गृह भाई। भजै देवि कहँ यही उपाई॥
visphotaka bhaya jihi grriha bhai| bhajai devi kaha.n yahi upai||
Verse 19 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
कलश शीतला का सजवावै। द्विज से विधिवत पाठ करावै॥
kalasha shitala ka sajavavai| dvija se vidhivata patha karavai||
Verse 20 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
तुम्हीं शीतला, जग की माता। तुम्हीं पिता जग की सुखदाता॥
tumhim shitala, jaga ki mata| tumhim pita jaga ki sukhadata||
Verse 21 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
तुम्हीं जगद्धात्री सुखसेवी। नमो नमामि शीतले देवी॥
tumhim jagaddhatri sukhasevi| namo namami shitale devi||
Verse 22 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
नमो सुक्खकरणी दुःखहरणी। नमो-नमो जगतारणि तरणी॥
namo sukkhakarani duhkhaharani| namo-namo jagatarani tarani||
Verse 23 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
नमो-नमो त्रैलोक्य वन्दिनी। दुखदारिद्रादिक कन्दिनी॥
namo-namo trailokya vandini| dukhadaridradika kandini||
Verse 24 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
श्री शीतला, शेढ़ला, महला। रुणलीह्युणनी मातु मंदला॥
shri shitala, she.dhala, mahala| runalihyunani matu mamdala||
Verse 25 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
हो तुम दिगम्बर तनुधारी। शोभित पंचनाम असवारी॥
ho tuma digambara tanudhari| shobhita pamchanama asavari||
Verse 26 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
रासभ, खर बैशाख सुनन्दन। गर्दभ दुर्वाकंद निकन्दन॥
rasabha, khara baishakha sunandana| gardabha durvakamda nikandana||
Verse 27 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
सुमिरत संग शीतला माई। जाहि सकल दुख दूर पराई॥
sumirata samga shitala mai| jahi sakala dukha dura parai||
Verse 28 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
गलका, गलगन्डादि जुहोई। ताकर मंत्र न औषधि कोई॥
galaka, galagandadi juhoi| takara mamtra na aushadhi koi||
Verse 29 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
एक मातु जी का आराधन। और नहिं कोई है साधन॥
eka matu ji ka aradhana| aura nahim koi hai sadhana||
Verse 30 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
निश्चय मातु शरण जो आवै। निर्भय मन इच्छित फल पावै॥
nishchaya matu sharana jo avai| nirbhaya mana ichchita phala pavai||
Verse 31 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
कोढ़ी, निर्मल काया धारै। अन्धा, दृग-निज दृष्टि निहारै॥
ko.dhi, nirmala kaya dharai| andha, drriga-nija drrishti niharai||
Verse 32 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
वन्ध्या नारि पुत्र को पावै। जन्म दरिद्र धनी होई जावै॥
vandhya nari putra ko pavai| janma daridra dhani hoi javai||
Verse 33 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
मातु शीतला के गुण गावत। लखा मूक को छन्द बनावत॥
matu shitala ke guna gavata| lakha muka ko chanda banavata||
Verse 34 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
यामे कोई करै जनि शंका। जग मे मैया का ही डंका॥
yame koi karai jani shamka| jaga me maiya ka hi damka||
Verse 35 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
भनत रामसुन्दर प्रभुदासा। तट प्रयाग से पूरब पासा॥
bhanata ramasundara prabhudasa| tata prayaga se puraba pasa||
Verse 36 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
पुरी तिवारी मोर निवासा। ककरा गंगा तट दुर्वासा॥
puri tivari mora nivasa| kakara gamga tata durvasa||
Verse 37 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
अब विलम्ब मैं तोहि पुकारत। मातु कृपा कौ बाट निहारत॥
aba vilamba maim tohi pukarata| matu krripa kau bata niharata||
Verse 38 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
पड़ा क्षर तव आस लगाई। रक्षा करहु शीतला माई॥
pa.da kshara tava asa lagai| raksha karahu shitala mai||
Verse 39 of the Shitala Chalisa – healing prayer to the cooling Mother.
घट-घट वासी शीतला, शीतल प्रभा तुम्हार। शीतल छइयां में झुलई, मइया पलना डार॥
ghata-ghata vasi shitala, shitala prabha tumhara| shitala chaiyam mem jhulai, maiya palana dara||
The cooling Shitala dwells in every body. In her cool shade, swing, Mother, with the cradle.
Why this chalisa
What the Shitala Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Anchor for child-illness recovery
Shitala Mata is the household-protector of children specifically against fever, smallpox, measles, chickenpox, and other seasonal childhood illnesses. Many households recite the Chalisa daily during stretches of child fever or rash – often alongside medical treatment, holding the older household teaching that prayer and medicine work together. The neem-leaves named in the Chalisa's iconography are still used in many traditional homes as a cooling poultice for skin rashes. (This is a verse of devotional faith, not a replacement for medical care.)
Centrepiece of Shitala Ashtami / Basoda
Shitala Ashtami on Chaitra Krishna Ashtami (March-April) is the year's major Shitala day. The traditional practice: prepare all the day's food the night before, do not light any fire on the day (in honour of the cooling Devi), and offer the cooled food (Basoda) to Mata. Many homes recite the Chalisa eleven times. The festival is especially observed in Rajasthan, UP, MP, and Gujarat – the regions historically vulnerable to summer epidemics.
For seasonal protection
Many homes recite the Chalisa daily through the summer (April-July) – the season historically associated with fever-illnesses. The central petition: that the home and especially the children remain free of seasonal disease. Verse 31-32 of the Chalisa names the practice: kalash Shitala ka sajwawai, dvij se vidhivat path karawai – placing the kalash, having the path read.
Companion to Hanuman during family illness
Pair with the Hanuman Chalisa for added strength during sustained family illness, and with the Durga Chalisa for the wider Devi tradition. The Shitala-Hanuman pair is the standard household combination during seasonal illness.
For family kuldevta worship
Shitala is the kuldevta (family deity) of many households across north and west India. For these families, the daily Chalisa is part of the morning paath. Pair with the Durga Chalisa for Tuesdays and Fridays.
For deliverance from skin conditions
Verses 50-52 explicitly name the conditions Shitala addresses: kodhi nirmal kaya dhare (the leprous attain a pure body), andha drig nij drishti niharai (the blind see again), vandhya nari putra ko pavai (the childless attain children). Many devotees recite the Chalisa during stretches of skin illness or chronic conditions. (This is a verse of devotional faith, not a replacement for medical care.)
Origin
The Shitala Chalisa is signed in the closing chaupais by Ramsundar Prabhudas – the same saint-poet whose colophon also closes the Ganesh Chalisa and the Shani Chalisa. The text places his residence at Puri Tiwari near Prayag and Kakra Ganga-tat near Durvasa hermitage – the same composer-region as the Sundardas-Sai-Bahuk-Bhairav corpus. The Chalisa is generally placed in the late 18th-19th century CE.
Shitala Mata herself is the goddess of cooling and healing. The classical legend (preserved in the Skanda Purana): when the demon Vishphotak (the personification of smallpox/measles) terrorised the world, no god could defeat him. Shitala Mata herself manifested with the marjani (broom), the sup (winnowing-basket), and the kalash of cooling water, defeated the demon, and granted devotees the boon: anyone who keeps the broom-and-kalash at the home altar during illness will receive her cooling protection. The Chalisa's verses 17-30 narrate this episode.
Iconographically Shitala is depicted four-armed, riding a donkey (verse 41 of this Chalisa: rasabh khar Vaishakh sunandan), with the marjani, sup, kalash, and neem-leaves in her four hands. She is one of the eight Asta-Bhairavi forms (the eight protective Devis). Her primary shrines are at Shitala Mata Mandir at Kankhal (near Haridwar), in many small village shrines across north India, and at the famous Shitala Devi Mandir in Kolkata.
The Chalisa's wider companions are the Durga Chalisa (the wider Devi tradition), the Parvati Chalisa (Shitala is one face of Parvati), the Hanuman Chalisa (paired during illness), and the Santoshi Mata Chalisa (paired in household-women-protection vows).
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 – traditionally white or pale blue, the colours associated with Shitala's cooling form. Sit facing east. The traditional offerings: a small kalash of cool water (kept at the altar throughout the recitation), neem-leaves (placed at the bottom of the kalash), white flowers, a small marjani (broom – symbolic), and cooled food as bhog (Basoda-style).
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Posture and start
Sit cross-legged with your spine straight. Bow once. Take a moment of silence. If reciting on Shitala Ashtami / Basoda, during a child's illness, or for seasonal protection, offer a brief sankalp.
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Recitation
Move through the chaupais without rushing. Verses 1-7 establish the iconography. Verses 17-30 narrate the Vishphotak-demon episode. Verses 50-55 are the practitioner-facing benefits. End with the closing doha.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed. Many people end with the bija mantra Om Shitalayai Namah recited 11 or 21 times. Take a small sip of the kalash water as prasad (the household practice; kept clean for the day). Apply a few drops to the forehead of any sick child.
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Daily practice and special days
Mondays through the summer are auspicious. Shitala Ashtami / Basoda on Chaitra Krishna Ashtami (March-April) is the year's major day – fire is not lit at home, and the Basoda (stale-but-sanctified) food is offered. Many homes recite the Chalisa daily during stretches of family illness, especially child illness.