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Lyrics with meaning
The complete Vamana 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.
श्री वामन शरण जो आयके, धरे विवेक का ध्यान । श्री वामन प्रभु ध्यान धर, देयो अभय वरदान ॥
shri vamana sharana jo ayake, dhare viveka ka dhyana | shri vamana prabhu dhyana dhara, deyo abhaya varadana ||
Opening invocation – salutation to Bhagwan Vamana and the framing of the Chalisa-prayer.
जय जय जय अमन बलबीरा। तीनो लोक तुम्ही रणधीरा॥
jaya jaya jaya amana balabira| tino loka tumhi ranadhira||
Verse 1 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
ब्राह्मण गुण रूप धरो जब। टोना भारी नाम पड़ो तब॥
brahmana guna rupa dharo jaba| tona bhari nama pa.do taba||
Verse 2 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
भाद्रो शुक्ला द्वादशी आयो। वामन बाबा नाम कहाओ॥
bhadro shukla dvadashi ayo| vamana baba nama kahao||
Verse 3 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
बायें अंग जनेऊ साजे। तीनो लोक में डंका बाजे॥
bayem amga janeu saje| tino loka mem damka baje||
Verse 4 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
सर में कमंडल छत्र विराजे। मस्तक तिलक केसरिया साजे॥
sara mem kamamdala chatra viraje| mastaka tilaka kesariya saje||
Verse 5 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
कमर लंगोटा चरण खड़ाऊँ। वामन महिमा निशदिन गाऊँ॥
kamara lamgota charana kha.dau.n| vamana mahima nishadina gau.n||
Verse 6 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
चोटी अदिव्य सदा सिर धारे। दीन दुखी के प्राणं हारे ॥
choti adivya sada sira dhare| dina dukhi ke pranam hare ||
Verse 7 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
धरो रूप जब दिव्य विशाला। बलि भयो तब अति कंगाला॥
dharo rupa jaba divya vishala| bali bhayo taba ati kamgala||
Verse 8 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
रूप देख जब अति विसराला। समझ गया नप है जग सारा॥
rupa dekha jaba ati visarala| samajha gaya napa hai jaga sara||
Verse 9 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
नस बलि ने जब होश संभाला। प्रकट भये तब दीन दयाला॥
nasa bali ne jaba hosha sambhala| prakata bhaye taba dina dayala||
Verse 10 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
दिव्य ज्योति बैंकुठ निवासा। वामन नाम में हुआ प्रकाशा॥
divya jyoti baimkutha nivasa| vamana nama mem hua prakasha||
Verse 11 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
दीपक जो कोई नित्य जलाता। संकट कटे अमर हो जाता ॥
dipaka jo koi nitya jalata| samkata kate amara ho jata ||
Verse 12 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
जो कोई तुम्हरी आरती गाता। पुत्र प्राप्ति पल भर में पाता॥
jo koi tumhari arati gata| putra prapti pala bhara mem pata||
Verse 13 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
तुम्हरी शरण हे जो आता। सदा सहाय लक्ष्मी माता ॥
tumhari sharana he jo ata| sada sahaya lakshmi mata ||
Verse 14 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
श्री हरी विष्णु के अवतार। कश्यप वंश अदिति दुलारे॥
shri hari vishnu ke avatara| kashyapa vamsha aditi dulare||
Verse 15 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
वामन ग्राम से श्री हरी आरी। महिमा न्यारी पूर्ण भारी ॥
vamana grama se shri hari ari| mahima nyari purna bhari ||
Verse 16 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
भरे कमंडल अद्भुत नीरा। जहां पर कृपा मिटे सब पीड़ा॥
bhare kamamdala adbhuta nira| jaham para krripa mite saba pi.da||
Verse 17 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
पूरा हुआ ना बलि का सपना। तीनो लोक तीनो अपना॥
pura hua na bali ka sapana| tino loka tino apana||
Verse 18 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
पूर्ण भारी पल में हो। राक्षस कुल को तुरंत रोऊ॥
purna bhari pala mem ho| rakshasa kula ko turamta rou||
Verse 19 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
तुम्हरा वैभव नहीं बखाना। सुर नर मुनि सब गावै ही गाना॥
tumhara vaibhava nahim bakhana| sura nara muni saba gavai hi gana||
Verse 20 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
चित दिन ध्यान धरे वा मन को। रोग ऋण ना कोई तन को॥
chita dina dhyana dhare va mana ko| roga rrina na koi tana ko||
Verse 21 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
आये वामन द्वारा मन को। सब जन जन और जीवन धन को ॥
aye vamana dvara mana ko| saba jana jana aura jivana dhana ko ||
Verse 22 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
तीनो लोक में महिमा न्यारी। पाताल लोक के हो आभारी ॥
tino loka mem mahima nyari| patala loka ke ho abhari ||
Verse 23 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
जो जन नाम रटत हैं तुम्हरा। रखते बाबा उसपर पहरा ॥
jo jana nama ratata haim tumhara| rakhate baba usapara pahara ||
Verse 24 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
कृष्ण नाम का नाता गहरा। चरण शरण जो तुम्हरी ठहरा॥
krrishna nama ka nata gahara| charana sharana jo tumhari thahara||
Verse 25 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
पंचवटी में शोर निवासा। चारो और तुम हो प्रकाशा ॥
pamchavati mem shora nivasa| charo aura tuma ho prakasha ||
Verse 26 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
हाँथ में पोथी सदा विराजा। रंक का किया आचरण पल में राजा ॥
ha.ntha mem pothi sada viraja| ramka ka kiya acharana pala mem raja ||
Verse 27 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
सम्पति सुमिति तोरे दरवाजे। ढोल निगाडे गाजे बाजे ॥
sampati sumiti tore daravaje| dhola nigade gaje baje ||
Verse 28 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
केसर चन्दन तुमको साजे। वामन ग्राम में तुम्हे ही विराजे ॥
kesara chandana tumako saje| vamana grama mem tumhe hi viraje ||
Verse 29 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
रिद्धि सिद्धि के दाता तुम हो। दीन दुःखी के भ्राता तुम हो॥
riddhi siddhi ke data tuma ho| dina duhkhi ke bhrata tuma ho||
Verse 30 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
वामन ग्राम के तुम जगपाला। तुम बिन पाये ना कोई निवाला ॥
vamana grama ke tuma jagapala| tuma bina paye na koi nivala ||
Verse 31 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
तुम्हरी गाये सदा जो शरणा । उनकी इच्छा पूरी करना॥
tumhari gaye sada jo sharana | unaki ichcha puri karana||
Verse 32 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
निकट निवास गोमती माता। दुःख दरिद्र को दूर भगाता ॥
nikata nivasa gomati mata| duhkha daridra ko dura bhagata ||
Verse 33 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
तुमरा गान सदा जो गाता। उनके तुम हो भाग्य विद्याता ॥
tumara gana sada jo gata| unake tuma ho bhagya vidyata ||
Verse 34 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
भूत पिशाच नाम सुन भागै। असुर जाति खर-खर-खर खापैं ॥
bhuta pishacha nama suna bhagai| asura jati khara-khara-khara khapaim ||
Verse 35 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
वामन महिमा जो जन गाईं। जन्म मरण का को कछु छुटी जाई ॥
vamana mahima jo jana gaim| janma marana ka ko kachu chuti jai ||
Verse 36 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
अंत काल बैकुंठ में जाई। दिव्य ज्योति में वहां छिप जाई ॥
amta kala baikumtha mem jai| divya jyoti mem vaham chipa jai ||
Verse 37 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
संकट कितना भी गंभीरा। वामन तोड़ सब गंभीरा ॥
samkata kitana bhi gambhira| vamana to.da saba gambhira ||
Verse 38 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
जै जै जै विकट गोसाई। कृपा करो केवट की नाईं ॥
jai jai jai vikata gosai| krripa karo kevata ki naim ||
Verse 39 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
अंत काल बैकुंठ निवासा। फिर सिंदु में करे विलासा ॥
amta kala baikumtha nivasa| phira simdu mem kare vilasa ||
Verse 40 of the Vamana Chalisa – praise of Bhagwan Vamana in the Chalisa structure.
चरण शरण निज राखियों, अदिति माई के लाल । छत सी छाया राखियों, तुलसीदास हरिदास ॥
charana sharana nija rakhiyom, aditi mai ke lala | chata si chaya rakhiyom, tulasidasa haridasa ||
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
सुबह स्नान के बाद साफ वस्त्र पहनें। वामन देव की तस्वीर या मूर्ति के सामने बैठें।
subaha snana ke bada sapha vastra pahanem| vamana deva ki tasvira ya murti ke samane baithem|
Closing doha sealing the recitation.
Why this chalisa
What the Vamana Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Daily anchor for Bhagwan Vamana-bhakti
Many homes recite the Vamana 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
Thursday & Vamana Jayanti and the major Bhagwan Vamana 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. Vamana is the 5th avatar of Vishnu; central to the Mahabali narrative and the festival of Onam in Kerala
For pilgrim recitation
The Chalisa is recited during pilgrimage to the major Bhagwan Vamana shrines.
For households where Bhagwan Vamana is the kuldevta
For households where Bhagwan Vamana is the family deity, the Chalisa is the daily morning prayer and a central rite during family events.
Origin
The Vamana Chalisa is the household-tradition Chalisa of Vamana. The text is generally placed in the late 19th to early 20th century CE; many published copies attribute it simply to tradition. Vamana is the 5th avatar of Vishnu; central to the Mahabali narrative and the festival of Onam in Kerala
Bhagwan Vamana is honoured in the wider Hindu tradition with festivals, pilgrimage shrines, and household worship. The Chalisa makes Bhagwan Vamana-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 Bhagwan Vamana'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 Vishnu Chalisa, Narasimha Chalisa, and Ram 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 Bhagwan Vamana: yellow flowers, akshat (rice), fruits, ghee diya, dhoop. Yellow flowers, banana leaves, coconut, rice. Onam tradition includes elaborate sadhya offerings.
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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. Vamana is the dwarf-Brahmin avatar; recite with attention to the humility-and-cosmic-power iconography.
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After
Sit quietly with eyes closed for a moment. End with the bija mantra of Bhagwan Vamana if known.
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Daily practice and special days
Thursday & Vamana Jayanti is auspicious. Vamana Jayanti is the central recitation day. Onam draws extra paaths in Kerala households.