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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Tara 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.
यह चालीसा भक्तों को मां तारा देवी के करीब लाता है, जो दस महाविद्याओं में से एक हैं। वे ज्ञान, मुक्ति और सभी प्रकार की बाधाओं को दूर करने वाली मानी जाती हैं। जो लोग ध्यान, साधना या तांत्रिक मार्ग पर हैं, उनके लिए यह चालीसा विशेष रूप से लाभकारी है। जय तारा जगदम्ब जै
yaha chalisa bhaktom ko mam tara devi ke kariba lata hai, jo dasa mahavidyaom mem se eka haim| ve j~nana, mukti aura sabhi prakara ki badhaom ko dura karane vali mani jati haim| jo loga dhyana, sadhan
Opening invocation – salutation to Maa Tara and the framing of the Chalisa-prayer.
मोहि शरण तिहारी जान।। माता तुम ही जगत की पालन हारी
mohi sharana tihari jana|| mata tuma hi jagata ki palana hari
Verse 1 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
तुम ही भक्तन कि भयहारी। तुम ही आदिशक्ति कलिका माइ
tuma hi bhaktana ki bhayahari| tuma hi adishakti kalika mai
Verse 2 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
तुम ही सन्त जनों की सुखदायी। तारणी तरला तन्वी कहलाती
tuma hi santa janom ki sukhadayi| tarani tarala tanvi kahalati
Verse 3 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
निज जनो की मंगलदाता कहलाती। तारा तरुणा बल्लरी तुम ही
nija jano ki mamgaladata kahalati| tara taruna ballari tuma hi
Verse 4 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
तीररुपातरी श्यामा तनुक्षीन हो तुम ही। बामा खेपा की पालन कर्त्री
tirarupatari shyama tanukshina ho tuma hi| bama khepa ki palana kartri
Verse 5 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
माँ तुम ही कहलाती हो सिद्धि दात्री। माता रूप तुम्हारा अति पावन
ma.n tuma hi kahalati ho siddhi datri| mata rupa tumhara ati pavana
Verse 6 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
भक्तन की हो तुम मनभावन। तुमसे इतर नहीं कछु दूजा
bhaktana ki ho tuma manabhavana| tumase itara nahim kachu duja
Verse 7 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
तुम हो सुर-नर मुनि जन की भूपा। तुम ही माता नागलोक मे बसती
tuma ho sura-nara muni jana ki bhupa| tuma hi mata nagaloka me basati
Verse 8 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
जन-जन की विपदा हरती। तुम ही माता कहलाती प्रलयंकारी
jana-jana ki vipada harati| tuma hi mata kahalati pralayamkari
Verse 9 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
सकल त्रैलोक्य की भयहारी। माँ तुमने ही शिव प्राण बचाये
sakala trailokya ki bhayahari| ma.n tumane hi shiva prana bachaye
Verse 10 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
तुम्हरे सुमिरन से विष पार ना पाए। दस महाविद्या क्रम मे तुम आती
tumhare sumirana se visha para na pae| dasa mahavidya krama me tuma ati
Verse 11 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
द्वितीय विद्या तुम कहलाती। माता तुम ही सरस्वती कहलाती
dvitiya vidya tuma kahalati| mata tuma hi sarasvati kahalati
Verse 12 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
तुम ही हो ज्ञान की अधिष्ठात्री। नील सरस्वती है नाम तिहारो
tuma hi ho j~nana ki adhishthatri| nila sarasvati hai nama tiharo
Verse 13 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
चहूँ लोक फैलो जगमग उजियारो। श्मशान प्रिय श्मशाना कहलाती
chahu.n loka phailo jagamaga ujiyaro| shmashana priya shmashana kahalati
Verse 14 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
एकजटा जगदम्बा कहलाती। माता शिव तुम्हरी गोद विराजे
ekajata jagadamba kahalati| mata shiva tumhari goda viraje
Verse 15 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
मुण्डमाल गले मे अति साजे। बाम मार्ग पूजन तुम्को अति प्यारा
mundamala gale me ati saje| bama marga pujana tumko ati pyara
Verse 16 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
शरणागत की तुम हो सहारा। वीरभूमि कि माता तुम वासिनी
sharanagata ki tuma ho sahara| virabhumi ki mata tuma vasini
Verse 17 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
तुम ही अघोरा तुम ही विलासिनी। तुम्हरो चरित जगत आधारा
tuma hi aghora tuma hi vilasini| tumharo charita jagata adhara
Verse 18 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
तुमसे ही माँ चहुँ दिशि उजियारा। तुम्हरो चरित सदा मै गाउं
tumase hi ma.n chahu.n dishi ujiyara| tumharo charita sada mai gaum
Verse 19 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
तुमहि मात रूप मे पाऊं। चिंता सगरी हरो महतारी
tumahi mata rupa me paum| chimta sagari haro mahatari
Verse 20 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
तुम्हरो आसरा जगत मे भारी। तुरीया तरला तीव्रगामिनी तुम ही
tumharo asara jagata me bhari| turiya tarala tivragamini tuma hi
Verse 21 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
नीलतारा उग्रा विषहरी भी तुमही। अचिन्तयामिताकार गुणातीता
nilatara ugra vishahari bhi tumahi| achintayamitakara gunatita
Verse 22 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
बामाखेपा रक्षिता बामाखेपा पूजिता। अघोरपूजिता नेत्रा नेत्रोत्पन्ना तुमहि
bamakhepa rakshita bamakhepa pujita| aghorapujita netra netrotpanna tumahi
Verse 23 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
दिव्या दिव्यज्ञाना भी तुमहि। सब जन मन्त्र रूप तुमहि माँ जपहि
divya divyaj~nana bhi tumahi| saba jana mantra rupa tumahi ma.n japahi
Verse 24 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
त्रीं स्त्रीं रूप का ध्यान सब धरहिं । मुझ पर माँ कृपाल हो जाओ
trim strim rupa ka dhyana saba dharahim | mujha para ma.n krripala ho jao
Verse 25 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
अपनी कृपा का अमिय जल बरसाओ। काली पुत्र निशदिन तुम्हे मनावे
apani krripa ka amiya jala barasao| kali putra nishadina tumhe manave
Verse 26 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
निश-वासर माँ तुमको ध्यावे। खडग खप्पर तुम्हरे हस्त विराजे
nisha-vasara ma.n tumako dhyave| khadaga khappara tumhare hasta viraje
Verse 27 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
खष्टादश तुम्हरी कळा अति साज़े। तुमने माता अगम्य चरित दिखलायो
khashtadasha tumhari kala ati saze| tumane mata agamya charita dikhalayo
Verse 28 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
अक्षोभ ऋषि को मान बढ़ायो। माता तारा मोरे हिय आय विराजो
akshobha rrishi ko mana baढ़ayo| mata tara more hiya aya virajo
Verse 29 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
नील सरस्वती बन साजो। तुम ही भक्ति भाव की अमित सरूपा
nila sarasvati bana sajo| tuma hi bhakti bhava ki amita sarupa
Verse 30 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
अखिल ब्रह्माण्ड की भूपा। बिन तुम्हरे नहि मोक्ष अधिकार
akhila brahmanda ki bhupa| bina tumhare nahi moksha adhikara
Verse 31 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
तुमसे है माता जगत का बेङा पार। आकर मात मोहि दरस दिखाओ
tumase hai mata jagata ka be~na para| akara mata mohi darasa dikhao
Verse 32 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
मम जीवन को सफल बनाओ। रमाकांत है तुम्हारि शरण मे
mama jivana ko saphala banao| ramakamta hai tumhari sharana me
Verse 33 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
दीजो माता मोहि जगह चरण मे। जो मन मन्दिर मे तुमहि बसावे
dijo mata mohi jagaha charana me| jo mana mandira me tumahi basave
Verse 34 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
उसका कोई बाल न बांका कर पावे। तुम्ही आदि शक्ति जगदीशा
usaka koi bala na bamka kara pave| tumhi adi shakti jagadisha
Verse 35 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
ब्रह्मा विष्णु शिव सब नवायें शीशा। तुम ही चराचर जगत कि पालनहारी
brahma vishnu shiva saba navayem shisha| tuma hi charachara jagata ki palanahari
Verse 36 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
तुम ही प्रलय काल मे नाशनकारी। जो नर पढ़ें निरन्तर तारा चालीसा
tuma hi pralaya kala me nashanakari| jo nara paढ़em nirantara tara chalisa
Verse 37 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
बिनश्रम होए सिद्ध साखी गौरीशा। जो नर-सुर मुनि आवे तुम्हरे धामा
binashrama hoe siddha sakhi gaurisha| jo nara-sura muni ave tumhare dhama
Verse 38 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
सफल होयें उनके सब कामा। जय जय जय माँ तारा
saphala hoyem unake saba kama| jaya jaya jaya ma.n tara
Verse 39 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
दीन दुखियन की तुम हो मात्र सहारा। निशदिन माता तारिणी
dina dukhiyana ki tuma ho matra sahara| nishadina mata tarini
Verse 40 of the Tara Chalisa – praise of Maa Tara in the Chalisa structure.
Why this chalisa
What the Tara Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Daily anchor for Maa Tara-bhakti
Many homes recite the Tara 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 Tara 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. Tara is the 2nd of the Dasha Mahavidyas; central to Bama Khepa tradition and the Tarapith shrine in West Bengal
For pilgrim recitation
The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Maa Tara shrines.
For households where Maa Tara is the kuldevta
For households where Maa Tara is the family deity, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer and a central rite during family events.
Origin
The Tara Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Tara Mata. The text is generally placed in the late 19th to early 20th century CE; many published copies attribute it simply to tradition. Tara is the 2nd of the Dasha Mahavidyas; central to Bama Khepa tradition and the Tarapith shrine in West Bengal
Maa Tara is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Maa Tara-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 Tara'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 Kali Chalisa, Bagalamukhi Chalisa, and Kamakhya 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 North-East. Traditional offerings to Maa Tara: blue flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Blue and red flowers (hibiscus traditional), red cloth, deep diyas. Many tantrik traditions offer alcohol and meat (omitted in mainstream household practice).
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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. Tara is honoured at Tarapith (West Bengal) by the Bama Khepa tradition; recite with attention to the tantric Mahavidya emphasis.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Maa Tara if known.
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Daily practice and special days
Tuesday & Friday is auspicious. Tara Jayanti and Tuesdays of Shravan draw extra paaths. Many devotees do 11 paaths during Navratri.