The Hanuman Chalisa is a devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Hanuman. It was authored by 16th-century poet Tulsidas in the Awadhi Language. The word “chālīsā” is derived from “chālīs”, which means the number forty in Hindi, as the Hanuman Chalisa has 40 verses.
The qualities of Hanuman – His strength, courage, wisdom, celibacy, devotion to Lord Ram and the many names by which he has known—are detailed in the Hanuman Chalisa.
The auspicious form, knowledge, virtues, powers and bravery of Hanuman are described in the first ten verses. Verses eleven to twenty describe the glorious acts of Hanuman in his service to Ram, with the eleventh to fifteenth verses describing the role of Hanuman in bringing back Lakshman (brother of Lord Ram) to consciousness. From the twenty-first verse, Tulsidas describes the need of Hanuman’s mercy.
At the end, Tulsidas hails Hanuman and request him to reside in his heart and in the heart of all devotees to Lord Ram.
It is a very popular belief that chanting the Hanuman Chalisa invokes Hanuman’ divine intervention in grave problems, including those concerning ghosts and evil spirits.
Jai Bajrang Bali Hanuman!
Shri guru charan saroj-raj nij manu mukur sudhaari
Baranau Raghubar bimal jasu jo daayak phal chaari
I (Tulasidasa or devotee) clean the mirror of my mind with the dust of the lotus-feet
of the revered Guru Ji and describe the divine glory of Shri Raghuveer which
bestows the four fruits (aims) of life (Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksa)
Buddhi – heen tanu jaanike sumirow pawan kumar
Bal buddhi bidyaa dehu mohi harahu kalesh bikaar
O son of the Wind! I consider myself as dull in intelligence and humbly ask for
you to provide me strength, wisdom and knowledge removing all my
miseries and imperfections.
Jai Hanuman gyaan gun saagar
Jai kapees tihun lok ujaagar
You are the ocean of knowledge and virtues, the kings of Monkeys, O Hanuman!
You are acknowledged in the three worlds (Bhoo, Bhuvah, Swah) and victory to you!
Ram doot atulit bal dhaamaa
Anjani-putra pawan-sut naamaa
O the unmatched force! You are the messenger of Shri Ram and you are also
known as Anjaniputra (son of Anjani) and Pawanputra (son of Wind)
Mahaaveer bikram Bajarangi
Kumati nivaar sumati ke sangi
You are mighty and courageous and your limbs are as sturdy as Vajra
(the weapon of God Indra), you are the banisher of darkness and ignorance and
companion of wisdom and knowledge.
Kanchan baran biraaj subessa
Kaanan kudal kunchit kesaa
You have a golden lustrous body, you wear beautiful clothes,
You wear earring and your curly hairs are remarkably attractive.
Haath bajra au dhvajaa biraaje
Kaandhe moonj janeu saaje
You hold a ‘Vajra’ (a weapon used by Lord Indra) and a beautiful flag in your
hands and a sacred thread (Moonj grass) is graced around your shoulder.
Shankar suvan kesri nandan
Tej prataap maha jag bandan
O son of Lord Shiva! O delight of Shri Kesari (father of Hanuman)!
Your fervor and glory is great which is honored by the universe.
Bidyaavaan guni ati chaatur
Ram kaaj karibe ko aatur
You are knowledgeable, full of good qualities,
very wise and always eager to serve Lord Ram.
Prabhu charitra sunibe ko rasiyaa
Ram Lakhan Sita man basiyaa
You take great joy in listening and reciting the characteristics of Lord Ram.
Shri Ram Sita and Shri Lakshman reside in your heart, O Hanuman!
Sookshm roop dhari siyahin dikhaavaa
Vikat roop dhari lank jaraavaa
You showed your diminutive form to Mother Sita and you appeared in
your gigantic form to set Lanka on fire.
Bheem roop dhari asur sanhaare
Ramachandra ke kaaj savaare
You destroyed the demons with your powerful form and
carried out Lord Ram’s tasks.
Laaye sanjeevan lakhan jiyaaye
Shree Raghuveer harashi ur laaye
You brought the Sanjeevani Booti (scientific name: Selaginella bryopteris, a lifesaving herb)
to save Lakshman’s life. Lord Ram with a heart full of joy embraced you.
Raghupati keenhi bahut badaayi
Tum mam priya Bharat -hi sam bhaai
Lord Ram praised you and said, “You are as dear to me as my brother Bharata”
Sahas badan tumharo jas gaaven
As kahi shreepati kanth lagaaven
Your success and glory is capable of being sung by thousand tongues
(Sheshnaag, thousand headed cosmic serpent) saying this Lord Ram embraced Hanuman.
Sanakaadik brahmaadi muneesaa
Naarad saarad sahit aheesaa
Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanaatana and Sanatkumar, sages like Brahma, hermits like Narad,
Goddess Saraswati and Sheshnaag (thousand headed cosmic serpent) sing praises of you.
Jam kuber digpaal jahaante
Kavi kobid kahi sake kahaante
Yama (God of death/God of South direction), Kuber (God of wealth/God of North
direction), Digpaal (preserver/protector of other directions, East – Indra, West – Varuna, Northeast – Shiva, Southeast – Agni, Southwest – Virupaksha, Northwest – Vayu),
poets and scholars too fail to describe the extent of your glory.
Tum upkaar Sugereevahin keenha
Ram milaay raaj pad deenha
You obliged Sugreev by united him with Shri Ram which
gave him his kingdom back.
Tumharo mantra Vibheeshan maanaa
Lankeshvar bhaye sab jaga jaanaa
Vibheeshan accepted your advice by which he became the king of Lanka.
The whole world knows it.
Jug sahasra jojan par bhaanoo
Leelyo taahi madhur phal jaanoo
You swallowed the sun, which is yugas (12000) x Sahasra (1000) x yojan (12.4 kilometres)
away (12000x1000x12.4 = 14,88,00,000 kilometres), knowing it as a sweet fruit.
Prabhu mudrikaa meli mukh maahin
Jaladhi laanghi gaye acharaj naahin
There is no wonder in that you kept Lord Ram’s ring in the
mouth and leaped across the ocean.
Durgam kaaj jagat ke jete
Sugam anugrah tumhare tete
All the difficult tasks of the world become easy by your grace.
Ram duvaare tum rakhavaare
Hoat na aagyaa bine paisaare
You are dear to Lord Ram; you are the protector of the door of Lord Ram’s abode.
Nobody can enter without your permission.
Sab sukh lahain tumhaari saranaa
Tum rakshak kaahoo ko darnaa
By your grace one can enjoy all happiness; there is no fear
when you are the protector.
Aapan tej samhaaro aapai
Teenon lok haank te kaanpai
Only you can handle your power, the three worlds tremble at your thunderous call.
Bhoot pishaach nikat nahi aavai
Mahaaveer jab naam sunaavai
When you name is heard or chanted the evil spirits and ghosts do not come near.
Naase rog hare sab peeraa
Japat nirantar Hanumat beeraa
By chanting regularly the name of Hanuman, diseases are eradicated and pain is taken away.
Sankat te Hanuman chudaaven
Man kram bachan dhyaan jo laaven
The one who meditates upon Hanuman with mind, actions (meticulous),
sincerity and faith is liberated from all the miseries.
Sab par Ram tapasvi raajaa
Tin ke kaaj sakal tum saajaa
The ascetic king Lord Ram is with everyone, whose tasks you have effortlessly done.
Aur manorath jo koi laaven
Soi amit jeevan phal paave
Whoever comes to you with desires and aspirations, with faith and sincerity,
they get eternal fruits throughout life.
Chaaron jug parataap tumhaaraa
Hai parasiddh jagat ujiyaaraa
Your glory is in all the four eras (Sat-yug, Treta-yug, Dwapar-yug and Kali-yug)
and your light illuminates the world.
Saadhu sant ke tum rakhavaare
Asur nikandan Ram dulaare
You are the guardians of saints and sages,
you are very dear to Lord Ram and you destroy the demons.
Asht siddhi nav nidhi ke daataa
As bar deen Jaanaki maataa
O Hanuman! Mother Janaki blessed you to grant power of eight siddhis (supernatural power – Anima: reducing one’s body even to the size of an atom, Mahima: expanding one’s body to an infinitely large size, Garima: becoming infinitely heavy, Laghima: becoming almost weightless, Prapti: having unrestricted access to all places, Prakamya: realizing whatever one desires, Ishitva: possessing absolute lordship, Vashitva: the power to subjugate all) and nine niddhis (divine treasures – Mahapadma, Padma, Shankha, Makara, Kachchhapa, Kumud, Kunda, Nila, Kharva)
Ram rasaayan tumhare paasaa
Sadaa raho Raghupati ke daasaa
You have sweet devotion towards Lord Ram and you always remain
Raghupati’s disciple and servitor.
Tumhare bhajan Ram ko paave
Janam janam ke dukh bisaraave
All those who sing your name in devotion get rid of all the sufferings of
many lives and attain Lord Ram Himself.
Ant kaal Raghubar pur jaai
Jahaa janam Hari bhakt kahaai
They reach Lord Ram’s abode and whenever they are born
they are called as devotees of Lord Hari.
Aur devata chitt na dharahi
Hanumat sei sarv sukh karai
There is no need to place any deity in the heart because
all happiness is attained by serving you.
Sankat kate mite sab peeraa
Jo sumire Hanumat bal beeraa
Whoever remembers the mighty brave Hanuman; all their sufferings and pains end.
Jai jai jai Hanuman gosain
Kripaa karahu guru dev ki naai
All glories, all glories, all glories, O Hanuman! Bless me like my Guru. Victory to you!
Jo sat baar path kar koi
Chootahi bandhi mahaa sukh hoi
The one who recites this Hanuman Chalisa a hundred times gets
rid of all bondage and receives salvation.
Jo yah padhe Hanuman Chalisa
Hoye siddhi saakhi gorisaa
There is no doubt that whoever recites this Hanuman Chalisa will receive siddhi
(fulfilling the desires). This is self-witnessed by Lord Shiva.
Tulsidaas sadaa Hari cheraa
Keeje naath hriday maha deraa
O Lord! Please dwell in my heart and I Tulasidasa, will always be your disciple.
Pawan tanay sankat haran mangal moorati roop
Ram Lakhan Sita sahit hriday basahu sur bhoop
O son of the Wind! Hanuman! Symbol of Auspiciousness!
Remover of miseries! Please dwell in my heart with Lord Ram, Lakshman and Sita!
