THE HANUMAN CHALISA

Hanuman Chalisa is a devotional song based on Lord Hanuman as the model devotee. It is a poem written by Tulsidas in the Awadhi language, and it is the best known Hindu text, apart from the Ramcharitmanas. The word “chalisa” is derived from “chalis” in Hindi, which means 40, as the Hanuman Chalisa has 40 verses. 

Hanuman (also known as Anjaneya and Maruti) is a Hindu deity and an ardent devotee of Lord Rama, a central character in the Sanskrit epic Ramayana. Folk tales increasingly eulogize the powers of Hanuman and He is considered an avatar or reincarnation of Shiva. 

The qualities of Hanuman, His strength, courage, wisdom, celibacy, devotion to Rama and the many names by which He was known is detailed in Hanuman Chalisa. There are more temples devoted to Hanuman than any other deity in India and recitation of Hanuman Chalisa is one of the common religious practices. 

It is believed that the boy Tulasidas was fearful of evil spirits. His devoutness was challenged by fellow boys asking him to climb up 40 steps on a high platform in river Ganges in eerie circumstances. The boy accepted the challenge and climbed up the steps chanting the name of Hanuman in each step in a poetic manner. 

By the time he reached near the idol of Hanuman, he surmounted his fears and created the Hanuman Chalisa by the way. Tulsidas says in the last stanza of Chalisa that whoever chants it with full devotion to Hanuman, will have Hanuman’s grace. 

Amongst the Hindus of Northern India, it is a very popular belief that chanting the Hanuman Chalisa invokes Hanuman’s divine intervention in grave problems, including those concerning evil spirits and this belief is based in the Chalisa itself. 

​ABOUT THE AUTHOR TULSIDAS 

Also known as Goswami Tulsidas, lived during 1532–1623 was a Hindu poet-saint, reformer and philosopher renowned for his devotion for Lord Rama. A composer of several popular works, he is best known for being the author of the epic Ramcharitmanas, a retelling of the Sanskrit Ramayana in the vernacular Awadhi. Tulsidas was acclaimed in his lifetime to be a reincarnation of Valmiki, the composer of the original Ramayana in Sanskrit. 

Tulsidas lived permanently and died in the city of Varanasi. The Tulsi Ghat in Varnasi is named after him. He founded the Sankatmochan Temple dedicated to Hanuman in Varanasi, believed to stand at the place where he had the sight of Hanuman. 

Tulsidas started the Ramlila plays, a folk-theatre adaption of the Ramayana. He has been acclaimed as one of the greatest poets in Hindi, Indian and world literature. The impact of Tulsidas and his works on the art, culture and society in India is widespread and is seen to date in vernacular language 

LANGUAGE OF THE HANUMAN CHALISA 

There are 2 couplets in the beginning and one couplet at the ending between the 40 verses of the Chalisa. The Chalisa details Hanuman in the order of his knowledge, devotion to Lord Rama and man without any desire. As with the case of devotional literature, Tulasidas starts the poem with two couplets praising his Guru (teacher). The language of Chalisa is in the refined Avandhi language. 

THE HANUMAN CHALISA 

Doha 

Shri Guru Charan Sarooja-raj Nija manu Mukura Sudhaari 
Baranau Rahubhara Bimala Yasha Jo Dayaka Phala Chari 
Budhee-Heen Thanu Jannikay Sumirow Pavana Kumara 
Bala-Budhee Vidya Dehoo Mohee Harahu Kalesha Vikaara 


Chopai 

Jai Hanuman gyan gun sagar Jai Kapis tihun lok ujagar 

Ram doot atulit bal dhama Anjaani-putra Pavan sut nama 

Mahabir Bikram Bajrangi Kumati nivar sumati Ke sangi 

Kanchan varan viraj subesa Kanan Kundal Kunchit Kesha 

Hath Vajra Aur Dhuvaje Viraje Kaandhe moonj janehu sajai 

Sankar suvan kesri Nandan Tej prataap maha jag vandan 

Vidyavaan guni ati chatur Ram kaj karibe ko aatur 

Prabu charitra sunibe-ko rasiya Ram Lakhan Sita man Basiya 

Sukshma roop dhari Siyahi dikhava Vikat roop dhari lank jarava 

Bhima roop dhari asur sanghare Ramachandra ke kaj sanvare 

Laye Sanjivan Lakhan Jiyaye Shri Raghuvir Harashi ur laye 

Raghupati Kinhi bahut badai Tum mam priye Bharat-hi-sam bhai 

Sahas badan tumharo yash gaave Asa-kahi Shripati kanth lagaave 

Sankadhik Brahmaadi Muneesa Narad-Sarad sahit Aheesa 

Yam Kuber Digpaal Jahan te Kavi kovid kahi sake kahan te 

Tum upkar Sugreevahin keenha Ram milaye rajpad deenha 

Tumharo mantra Vibheeshan maana Lankeshwar Bhaye Sub jag jana 

Yug sahastra jojan par Bhanu Leelyo tahi madhur phal janu 

Prabhu mudrika meli mukh mahee Jaladhi langhi gaye achraj nahee 

Durgaam kaj jagath ke jete Sugam anugraha tumhre tete 

Ram dwaare tum rakhvare Hoat na agya binu paisare 

Sub sukh lahae tumhari sar na Tum rakshak kahu ko dar naa 

Aapan tej samharo aapai Teenhon lok hank te kanpai 

Bhoot pisaach Nikat nahin aavai Mahavir jab naam sunavae 

Nase rog harae sab peera Japat nirantar Hanumant beera 

Sankat se Hanuman chudavae Man Karam Vachan dyan jo lavai 

Sab par Ram tapasvee raja Tin ke kaj sakal Tum saja 

Aur manorath jo koi lavai Sohi amit jeevan phal pavai 

Charon Yug partap tumhara Hai persidh jagat ujiyara 

Sadhu Sant ke tum Rakhware Asur nikandan Ram dulhare 

Ashta-sidhi nav nidhi ke dhata As-var deen Janki mata 

Ram rasayan tumhare pasa Sada raho Raghupati ke dasa 

Tumhare bhajan Ram ko pavai Janam-janam ke dukh bisraavai 

Anth-kaal Raghuvir pur jayee Jahan janam Hari-Bakht Kahayee 

Aur Devta Chit na dharehi Hanumanth se hi sarve sukh karehi 

Sankat kate-mite sab peera Jo sumirai Hanumat Balbeera 

Jai Jai Jai Hanuman Gosahin Kripa Karahu Gurudev ki nyahin 

Jo sat bar path kare kohi Chutehi bandhi maha sukh hohi 

Jo yah padhe Hanuman Chalisa Hoye siddhi sakhi Gaureesa 

Tulsidas sada hari chera Keejai Nath Hridaye mein dera 

Doha 

Pavan Tanay Sankat Harana Mangala Murati Roop 
Ram Lakhana Sita Sahita Hriday Basahu Soor Bhoop