On this page
Lyrics with meaning
The complete Vindhyeshwari 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.
नमो नमो विन्ध्येश्वरी, नमो नमो जगदम्ब। सन्तजनों के काज में, माँ करती नहीं विलम्ब॥
Namo namo Vindhyeshvari, namo namo Jagdamba. Santjanon ke kaaj mein, maa karti nahin vilamba.
Salutations, salutations Vindhyeshvari, salutations, salutations Jagdamba. In the work of saintly devotees, Mother causes no delay.
जय जय विन्ध्याचल रानी। आदि शक्ति जग विदित भवानी॥
Jai jai Vindhyachal rani. Adi shakti jag vidit Bhavani.
Hail, hail Queen of Vindhyachal. The primordial Shakti, Bhavani, known across the world.
सिंहवाहिनी जय जग माता। जय जय त्रिभुवन सुखदाता॥
Sinhvahini jai jag mata. Jai jai tribhuvan sukh-data.
Hail to the lion-mounted Mother of the world. Hail, giver of joy to the three worlds.
कष्ट निवारिणी जय जग देवी। जय जय असुरासुर सेवी॥
Kasht nivarini jai jag devi. Jai jai asurasur sevi.
Destroyer of suffering, hail Devi of the world. Hail, served by suras and asuras alike.
महिमा अमित अपार तुम्हारी। शेष सहस्त्र मुख वर्णन हारी॥
Mahima amit apar tumhari. Shesh sahastra mukh varnan hari.
Your glory is unfathomable and infinite. Even the thousand mouths of Sheshnaag fail to describe it.
दीनन के दुख हरत भवानी। नहिं देख्यो तुम सम कोई दानी॥
Dinan ke dukh harat Bhavani. Nahin dekhyo tum sam koi dani.
Bhavani, lifter of the helpless's sorrow. None equal to you in giving has been seen.
सब कर मनसा पुरवत माता। महिमा अमित जग विख्याता॥
Sab kar mansa puravat mata. Mahima amit jag vikhyata.
Mother who fulfils everyone's wishes. Whose infinite glory the world knows.
जो जन ध्यान तुम्हारो लावे। सो तुरतहि वांछित फल पावे॥
Jo jan dhyan tumharo lave. So turtahi vanchhit phal pave.
Whoever meditates upon you. That person quickly receives the desired fruit.
तू ही वैष्णवी तू ही रुद्राणी। तू ही शारदा अरु ब्रह्माणी॥
Tu hi Vaishnavi tu hi Rudrani. Tu hi Sharada aru Brahmani.
You alone are Vaishnavi, you alone are Rudrani. You alone are Sharada (Saraswati) and Brahmani. (The central teaching: every Devi-form is Vindhyavasini.)
रमा राधिका श्यामा काली। तू ही मातु सन्तन प्रतिपाली॥
Rama Radhika Shyama Kali. Tu hi matu santan pratipali.
You are Rama, Radhika, Shyama, Kali. Mother, you are the protector of saintly devotees.
उमा माधवी चण्डी ज्वाला। बेगि मोहि पर होहु दयाला॥
Uma Madhavi Chandi Jwala. Begi mohi par hohu dayala.
You are Uma, Madhavi, Chandi, Jwala. Be quickly compassionate upon me.
तू ही हिंगलाज महारानी। तू ही शीतला अरु विज्ञानी॥
Tu hi Hinglaj Maharani. Tu hi Shitala aru vigyani.
You alone are Queen of Hinglaj. You alone are Shitala and Vigyani. (Hinglaj – the Shakti Peetha now in Pakistan; one of the most ancient Devi sites.)
दुर्गा दुर्ग विनाशिनी माता। तू ही लक्ष्मी जग सुख दाता॥
Durga durg vinashini mata. Tu hi Lakshmi jag sukh data.
Durga, Mother who destroys every fortress (of evil). You alone are Lakshmi, giver of joy to the world.
तू ही जाह्नवी अरु उत्राणी। हेमावती अम्बे निरवाणी॥
Tu hi Jahnavi aru Utrani. Hemavati Ambe nirvani.
You alone are Jahnavi (Ganga) and Utrani. Hemavati, Ambe, Nirvani.
अष्टभुजी वाराहिनी देवी। करत विष्णु शिव जाकर सेवा॥
Ashta-bhuji Varahini devi. Karat Vishnu Shiv jaakar seva.
Eight-armed Varahini Devi. Vishnu and Shiva go and serve you.
चौसठ देवी कल्यानी। गौरी मंगला सब गुण खानी॥
Chausath devi kalyani. Gauri Mangala sab gun khani.
Sixty-four devis, bringers of welfare. Gauri, Mangala, treasury of every quality.
पाटन मुम्बा दन्त कुमारी। भद्रकाली सुन विनय हमारी॥
Patan Mumba dant-kumari. Bhadrakali sun vinay hamari.
Patan-Mumba, the tooth-virgin (Dantkumari). Bhadrakali, hear our prayer.
वज्र धारिणी शोक नाशिनी। आयु रक्षिणी विन्ध्यवासिनी॥
Vajra-dharini shok-nashini. Aayu-rakshini Vindhyavasini.
Wielder of vajra, destroyer of grief. Protector of life, the dweller of the Vindhya hills.
जया और विजया बैताली। मातु संकटी अरु विकराली॥
Jaya aur Vijaya Baitali. Matu Sankati aru Vikarali.
Jaya, Vijaya, Baitali. Mother Sankati and Vikarali.
नाम अनन्त तुम्हार भवानी। बरनै किमि मानुष अज्ञानी॥
Naam anant tumhar Bhavani. Baranai kimi manush agyani.
Bhavani, your names are infinite. How can an ignorant human describe them?
जापर कृपा मात तव होई। तो वह करै चहै मन जोई॥
Japar kripa mat tav hoi. To vah karai chahai man joi.
Whoever receives your grace, Mother. That person can do whatever the heart wishes.
कृपा करहु मोपर महारानी। सिद्ध करिए अब यह मम बानी॥
Kripa karahu mopar maharani. Siddh karie ab yah mam bani.
Show me grace, great queen. Make this prayer of mine successful now.
जो नर धरै मात कर ध्याना। ताकर सदा होय कल्याना॥
Jo nar dharai mat kar dhyana. Takar sada hoy kalyana.
Whoever holds Mother in meditation. Auspiciousness comes to them always.
विपति ताहि सपनेहु नहिं आवै। जो देवी का जाप करावै॥
Vipati tahi sapnehu nahin avai. Jo devi ka jaap karavai.
Calamity does not come to them, even in a dream. To one who keeps the Devi's japa.
जो नर कहं ऋण होय अपारा। सो नर पाठ करै शतबारा॥
Jo nar kahn rin hoy apara. So nar paath karai shat-bara.
Whoever is in unfathomable debt. Let that person recite this Chalisa a hundred times.
निश्चय ऋण मोचन होई जाई। जो नर पाठ करै मन माई॥
Nishchay rin mochan hoi jai. Jo nar paath karai man mai.
Surely the debt will be released. For one who recites with their heart.
अस्तुति जो नर पढ़े पढ़ावै। या जग में सो अति सुख पावै॥
Astuti jo nar padhe padhavai. Ya jag mein so ati sukh pavai.
Whoever reads this praise or has it read. Receives great joy in this world.
जाको व्याधि सतावे भाई। जाप करत सब दूर पराई॥
Jako vyadhi satave bhai. Jaap karat sab door parai.
Whoever is afflicted by disease, brother. Through the japa, it all flees away. (A verse of devotional faith, not a replacement for medical care.)
जो नर अति बन्दी महं होई। बार हजार पाठ कर सोई॥
Jo nar ati bandi mahan hoi. Baar hazaar paath kar soi.
Whoever is in the great prison of bondage. Let them recite the Chalisa one thousand times.
निश्चय बन्दी ते छुटि जाई। सत्य वचन मम मानहु भाई॥
Nishchay bandi te chhuti jai. Satya vachan mam manhu bhai.
Surely they are released from bondage. Take this word of mine as truth, brother.
जा पर जो कछु संकट होई। निश्चय देविहिं सुमिरै सोई॥
Ja par jo kachhu sankat hoi. Nishchay devihin sumirai soi.
Whoever has any trouble upon them. Surely let them remember the Devi.
जा कहँ पुत्र होय नहिं भाई। सो नर या विधि करे उपाई॥
Ja kahan putra hoy nahin bhai. So nar ya vidhi kare upai.
Whoever has no son, brother. Let that person follow this method.
पांच वर्ष सो पाठ करावै। नौरातन में विप्र जिमावै॥
Panch varsh so paath karavai. Nauratan mein vipra jimavai.
Let them recite the Chalisa for five years. And feed brahmins during Navratri. (The five-year putra-anushthan – one of the longest Devi vows in the Vindhyachal tradition.)
निश्चय होहिं प्रसन्न भवानी। पुत्र देहिं ताकहँ गुण खानी॥
Nishchay hohin prasanna Bhavani. Putra dehin takahan gun khani.
Surely Bhavani will be pleased. She will give a son full of virtues. (A verse of devotional faith, not a replacement for medical care or professional advice.)
ध्वजा नारियल आनि चढ़ावै। विधि समेत पूजन करवावै॥
Dhwaja nariyal aani chadhavai. Vidhi samet pujan karvavai.
Bring the dhwaja and coconut to offer. Have the puja performed with proper procedure.
नित्य प्रति पाठ करै मन लाई। प्रेम सहित नहिं आन उपाई॥
Nitya prati paath karai man lai. Prem sahit nahin aan upai.
Daily, recite the Chalisa with focused heart. With love – there is no other method.
यह श्री विन्ध्याचल चालीसा। रंक पढ़त होवे अवनीसा॥
Yah Shri Vindhyachal Chalisa. Rank padhat hove avnisa.
This is Shri Vindhyachal Chalisa. The pauper, by reading it, becomes the lord of the earth.
यह जनि अचरज मानहुं भाई। कृपा दृष्टि तापर होई जाई॥
Yah jani achraj manhun bhai. Kripa drishti tapar hoi jai.
Do not consider this a wonder, brother. The glance of grace falls upon such a person.
जय जय जय जग मातु भवानी। कृपा करहु मोहिं पर जन जानी॥
Jai jai jai jag matu Bhavani. Kripa karahu mohin par jan jani.
Hail, hail, hail Bhavani, mother of the world. Knowing me as your devotee, show me grace.
Why this chalisa
What the Vindhyeshwari Chalisa is recited for, and what people turn to it for.
Anchor for the Vindhyachal Trikon Parikrama
Vindhyachal in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, is the only place in India where the three forms of the Tridevi – Mahalakshmi (Vindhyavasini at the main temple), Mahasaraswati (Ashtabhuja Devi on the hill), and Mahakali (Kali Khoh) – can be worshipped within walking distance, in a triangular circuit known as the Trikon Parikrama. Many pilgrims recite the Chalisa once at each of the three shrines during the parikrama. Verse 14 names the eight-armed Varahini form (Ashtabhuja); verses 8-13 enumerate every Devi name including Lakshmi, Saraswati, Brahmani, Kali, Chandi, Hinglaj, Sheetala – making the Chalisa a complete Devi-pantheon hymn.
For the five-year putra anushthan
Verse 32 names a specific Vindhyavasini practice: "panch varsh so paath karavai, nauratan mein vipra jimavai" – 'recite for five years and feed brahmins during Navratri.' This is one of the longest Devi vows in the household tradition, traditionally undertaken by couples seeking children. The vow includes daily Chalisa recitation, navratri-bhandara, and a final visit to Vindhyachal at the end of the five years. (This is a verse of devotional faith, not a replacement for medical care or professional advice.)
For deliverance from debt
Verses 24-25 name the debt-anushthan: "jo nar kahn rin hoy apara, so nar paath karai shat-bara" – 'whoever is in unfathomable debt should recite this Chalisa one hundred times.' Many Vindhyavasini devotees in trader and Marwari communities undertake the 100-paath anushthan during financial stress, often spread over 21 or 41 days. Pair with the Lakshmi Chalisa for the wider wealth practice and the Kuber Chalisa for Saturn-Friday cycles.
Help during severe illness or imprisonment
Verse 27 promises that disease flees those who do the japa. Verses 28-29 name the prison-anushthan: "jo nar ati bandi mahan hoi, baar hazaar paath kar soi" – 'whoever is in the great prison of bondage should recite a thousand times.' Many devotees recite the Chalisa daily during stretches of illness, court matters, or any extended difficulty. (This is a verse of devotional faith, not a replacement for medical care, legal counsel, or professional advice.)
Anchor for Navratri night-vigil
Sharad Navratri in Ashwin (September-October) and Chaitra Navratri in Chaitra (March-April) are the major periods. The Vindhyachal temple sees lakhs of pilgrims during Navratri, with the Trikon Parikrama running through the night during Maha Ashtami and Maha Navami. Many homes recite nine paaths through the nine nights – one per night – with the final paath during the closing aarti.
Companion to the wider Devi tradition
Verses 8-13 of the Chalisa name nearly every Devi form: Vaishnavi, Rudrani, Sharada, Brahmani, Rama, Radhika, Shyama, Kali, Uma, Madhavi, Chandi, Jwala, Hinglaj, Sheetala, Vigyani, Durga, Lakshmi, Jahnvi, Hemavati, Ambe. This makes the Chalisa a complete Devi primer. Pair with the Durga Chalisa (the wider Devi form), the Kali Chalisa (Kali Khoh at Vindhyachal), the Lakshmi Chalisa and Saraswati Chalisa (the wider Tridevi).
Origin
The Vindhyeshwari Chalisa carries no clear signature line. Many published copies attribute it simply to "tradition" – an honesty worth preserving. The text is generally placed in the 18th-19th century CE by language and style, written in a Hindi with strong Awadhi influence. The Chalisa's structure is unusual in containing no closing doha – the text ends directly with chaupai 38 ("Jai jai jai jag matu Bhavani"). This brevity matches the older sthal-mahatmya-style Devi-Chalisas, where the praise-verses themselves close the recitation without a separate phal-shruti-type doha.
Vindhyavasini herself is the Devi who dwells in the Vindhya hills, near Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. The shrine sits on the banks of the Ganga at the confluence with the Kanta and Son rivers. The legend (preserved in the Devi Bhagavata Purana and the Markandeya Purana) tells that Yashoda's daughter – the female divine being who was exchanged at birth with Krishna in the Mathura prison and who escaped Kamsa's blow by rising into the sky – descended at the Vindhya hills to dwell there as the eternal Vindhyavasini. The classical Devi Mahatmya names her in the eleventh chapter as "Vindhyachalavasini" – the dweller of the Vindhya peak.
The Vindhyachal pilgrimage centre is unique in having three Devi shrines within walking distance, forming the Trikon Parikrama: Mahalakshmi at the main Vindhyavasini temple (the principal shrine), Mahasaraswati at the Ashtabhuja Devi temple on the hill (named in verse 14 of the Chalisa as "Ashtabhuji Varahini"), and Mahakali at the Kali Khoh cave-shrine. Pilgrims complete the parikrama by foot, often during Navratri night-vigil. The Chalisa's verse 8 ("Tu hi Vaishnavi tu hi Rudrani; tu hi Sharada aru Brahmani") is the theological key – Vindhyavasini is the unified Devi behind every named goddess.
The Chalisa's wider companions are the Durga Chalisa (Vindhyavasini is one regional form), the Kali Chalisa (Kali Khoh is part of the Trikon), the Lakshmi Chalisa and Saraswati Chalisa (the Mahalakshmi-Mahasaraswati shrines at Vindhyachal), and the Vaishno Devi Chalisa (the parallel northern Devi who also worships in pindi form, with Lakshmi-Saraswati-Kali at the cave).
How to recite
A simple, sustainable approach. Nothing here is a hard rule – devotion shapes the form, not the other way around.
-
Preparation
Bathe and wear clean clothes – traditionally red or yellow. Sit facing east or facing the direction of Vindhyachal (south of north India). The traditional offerings are red flowers (especially hibiscus and rose), a small ghee diya, akshat (rice with turmeric), a piece of fruit, and a coconut for special days.
-
Posture and start
Sit cross-legged with your spine straight. Bow once. Take a moment of silence. If reciting on Navratri, on Tuesday-Friday, before the Trikon Parikrama, or for a specific intention (debt, illness, child boon), offer a brief sankalp. Begin with the opening doha (Namo namo Vindhyeshvari...) slowly.
-
Recitation
Move through the thirty-eight chaupais without rushing. Verses 1-7 establish the Devi's identity. Verses 8-13 are the Devi-pantheon list (Vaishnavi, Rudrani, Sharada, etc.) – often slowed down. Verses 14-18 name the eight-armed Varahini form and the chausath devis. Verses 22-37 carry the practitioner-facing teachings: the debt-anushthan (verses 24-25), the prison-anushthan (verses 28-29), the five-year putra-anushthan (verses 31-33). End with the final chaupai (the Chalisa has no closing doha).
-
After
Sit quietly with eyes closed. Many people end with the bija mantra Om Aim Hreem Kleem Vindhyavasinyai Namah recited 11 or 21 times. Offer the bhog and take a small portion as prasad.
-
Daily practice and special days
One paath a day – morning – is enough for daily practice. Tuesdays and Fridays are auspicious. Sharad Navratri and Chaitra Navratri are the major periods – nine paaths through the nine nights is traditional. For specific anushthans: 100 paaths over 21-41 days for debt, 1000 paaths over a longer period for prison/imprisonment matters, five-year daily nem with Navratri brahmin-feeding for the putra-vow. The pilgrimage to Vindhyachal during Navratri is the traditional close to any extended anushthan.