Hanuman Chalisa
हनुमान चालीसा
The complete 40-verse hymn by Goswami Tulsidas Ji — in Hindi (Awadhi) with English transliteration, meaning of the dohas, spiritual significance, benefits of chanting, and FAQs.
Introduction
The Hanuman Chalisa is a forty-verse devotional hymn in praise of Hanuman Ji — the greatest devotee of Bhagwan Ram, the son of Anjani and Pavan Dev, and the personification of strength, wisdom and unwavering bhakti. Composed by Sant Tulsidas Ji in the 16th century, it is one of the most widely recited hymns of Sanatan Dharma, chanted daily in homes and temples across the world.
History
Goswami Tulsidas Ji, the great sant and author of the Ramcharitmanas, composed the Hanuman Chalisa in the Awadhi language during the reign of Emperor Akbar. Tradition holds that Tulsidas Ji composed it while imprisoned in Delhi — chanting it forty times a day until Hanuman Ji himself intervened, and the emperor released the saint in awe.
Spiritual Significance
The Chalisa is a distilled portrait of Hanuman Ji — his form, his deeds in the Ramayana, and his role as the eternal servant of Ram. Each verse invokes a different quality of Bajrang Bali: his strength (bal), his knowledge (gyan), his devotion (bhakti) and his fearlessness. To chant the Chalisa is to invite these very qualities into one's own heart.
Benefits of Chanting
- Removes fear, anxiety and negative influences from life.
- Brings courage, mental strength and steady resolve.
- Deepens devotion to Bhagwan Ram and Sita Mata.
- Clears obstacles in work, studies and relationships.
- Calms the mind and improves focus and concentration.
- Traditionally believed to protect from ill effects of Shani.
How to Chant
Bathe and sit facing east or north before an image of Hanuman Ji. Light a lamp with sesame oil, offer flowers or sindoor if available, and begin with the two opening dohas. Chant each chaupai clearly and unhurriedly, finishing with the closing doha. Tuesdays and Saturdays, and the Brahma Muhurta (roughly 4–5 AM), are considered especially auspicious.
Full Lyrics
श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज, निज मनु मुकुरु सुधारि। बरनउँ रघुबर बिमल जसु, जो दायकु फल चारि॥ बुद्धिहीन तनु जानिके, सुमिरौं पवन कुमार। बल बुधि बिद्या देहु मोहिं, हरहु कलेस बिकार॥
Cleansing the mirror of my mind with the dust of Guru's lotus feet, I sing the pure fame of Raghubar, the giver of the four fruits of life. Knowing myself lacking in wisdom, I remember the Son of the Wind — grant me strength, intellect and knowledge; remove my afflictions and impurities.
जय हनुमान ज्ञान गुन सागर। जय कपीस तिहुँ लोक उजागर॥
Jai Hanuman gyan gun sagar, Jai Kapis tihun lok ujagar.
रामदूत अतुलित बल धामा। अंजनि पुत्र पवनसुत नामा॥
Ram doot atulit bal dhama, Anjani putra Pavan sut nama.
महाबीर बिक्रम बजरंगी। कुमति निवार सुमति के संगी॥
Mahabir bikram Bajrangi, Kumati nivar sumati ke sangi.
कंचन बरन बिराज सुबेसा। कानन कुंडल कुँचित केसा॥
Kanchan baran biraj subesa, Kanan kundal kunchit kesa.
हाथ बज्र औ ध्वजा बिराजै। काँधे मूँज जनेऊ साजै॥
Hath bajra au dhwaja birajai, Kandhe moonj janeu sajai.
शंकर सुवन केसरी नंदन। तेज प्रताप महा जग बंदन॥
Shankar suvan Kesari nandan, Tej pratap maha jag bandan.
विद्यावान गुनी अति चातुर। राम काज करिबे को आतुर॥
Vidyavan guni ati chatur, Ram kaj karibe ko atur.
प्रभु चरित्र सुनिबे को रसिया। राम लखन सीता मन बसिया॥
Prabhu charitra sunibe ko rasiya, Ram Lakhan Sita man basiya.
सूक्ष्म रूप धरि सियहिं दिखावा। बिकट रूप धरि लंक जरावा॥
Sukshma roop dhari Siyahin dikhawa, Bikat roop dhari Lank jarawa.
भीम रूप धरि असुर सँहारे। रामचंद्र के काज सँवारे॥
Bhim roop dhari asur sanhare, Ramchandra ke kaj sanware.
लाय सजीवन लखन जियाए। श्रीरघुबीर हरषि उर लाए॥
Laye Sanjeevan Lakhan jiyaye, Shri Raghubir harashi ur laye.
रघुपति कीन्ही बहुत बड़ाई। तुम मम प्रिय भरतहि सम भाई॥
Raghupati kinhi bahut badai, Tum mam priya Bharat-hi sam bhai.
सहस बदन तुम्हरो जस गावैं। अस कहि श्रीपति कंठ लगावैं॥
Sahas badan tumharo jas gavain, As kahi Shripati kanth lagavain.
सनकादिक ब्रह्मादि मुनीसा। नारद सारद सहित अहीसा॥
Sankadik Brahmadi Munisa, Narad Sarad sahit Ahisa.
जम कुबेर दिगपाल जहाँ ते। कबि कोबिद कहि सके कहाँ ते॥
Jam Kuber Digpal jahan te, Kabi kobid kahi sake kahan te.
तुम उपकार सुग्रीवहिं कीन्हा। राम मिलाय राज पद दीन्हा॥
Tum upkar Sugreev-hin kinha, Ram milaye raj pad dinha.
तुम्हरो मंत्र बिभीषण माना। लंकेश्वर भए सब जग जाना॥
Tumharo mantra Bibhishan mana, Lankeshwar bhaye sab jag jana.
जुग सहस्र जोजन पर भानू। लील्यो ताहि मधुर फल जानू॥
Jug sahasra jojan par Bhanu, Lilyo tahi madhur phal janu.
प्रभु मुद्रिका मेलि मुख माहीं। जलधि लाँघि गये अचरज नाहीं॥
Prabhu mudrika meli mukh mahin, Jaladhi laanghi gaye achraj nahin.
दुर्गम काज जगत के जेते। सुगम अनुग्रह तुम्हरे तेते॥
Durgam kaj jagat ke jete, Sugam anugrah tumhare tete.
राम दुआरे तुम रखवारे। होत न आज्ञा बिनु पैसारे॥
Ram duare tum rakhware, Hot na agya binu paisare.
सब सुख लहै तुम्हारी सरना। तुम रक्षक काहू को डरना॥
Sab sukh lahai tumhari sarna, Tum rakshak kahu ko darna.
आपन तेज सम्हारो आपै। तीनों लोक हाँक तें काँपै॥
Aapan tej samharo aapai, Teenon lok hank te kanpai.
भूत पिशाच निकट नहिं आवै। महाबीर जब नाम सुनावै॥
Bhoot pishach nikat nahin aavai, Mahabir jab naam sunavai.
नासै रोग हरै सब पीरा। जपत निरंतर हनुमत बीरा॥
Nasai rog harai sab peera, Japat nirantar Hanumat beera.
संकट तें हनुमान छुड़ावै। मन क्रम बचन ध्यान जो लावै॥
Sankat te Hanuman chhudavai, Man kram bachan dhyan jo lavai.
सब पर राम तपस्वी राजा। तिन के काज सकल तुम साजा॥
Sab par Ram tapasvi raja, Tin ke kaj sakal tum saja.
और मनोरथ जो कोई लावै। सोइ अमित जीवन फल पावै॥
Aur manorath jo koi lavai, Soi amit jeevan phal pavai.
चारों जुग परताप तुम्हारा। है परसिद्ध जगत उजियारा॥
Charon jug partap tumhara, Hai parsiddh jagat ujiyara.
साधु संत के तुम रखवारे। असुर निकंदन राम दुलारे॥
Sadhu sant ke tum rakhware, Asur nikandan Ram dulare.
अष्ट सिद्धि नौ निधि के दाता। अस बर दीन्ह जानकी माता॥
Ashta siddhi nau nidhi ke data, As bar dinh Janki mata.
राम रसायन तुम्हरे पासा। सदा रहो रघुपति के दासा॥
Ram rasayan tumhare pasa, Sada raho Raghupati ke dasa.
तुम्हरे भजन राम को पावै। जनम जनम के दुख बिसरावै॥
Tumhare bhajan Ram ko pavai, Janam janam ke dukh bisravai.
अंत काल रघुबर पुर जाई। जहाँ जन्म हरि भक्त कहाई॥
Anta kaal Raghubar pur jai, Jahan janm Hari bhakt kahai.
और देवता चित्त न धरई। हनुमत सेइ सर्व सुख करई॥
Aur devta chitt na dharai, Hanumat sei sarv sukh karai.
संकट कटै मिटै सब पीरा। जो सुमिरै हनुमत बलबीरा॥
Sankat katai mitai sab peera, Jo sumirai Hanumat balbeera.
जय जय जय हनुमान गोसाईं। कृपा करहु गुरुदेव की नाईं॥
Jai Jai Jai Hanuman Gosain, Kripa karahu Gurudev ki nain.
जो सत बार पाठ कर कोई। छूटहि बंदि महा सुख होई॥
Jo sat bar path kar koi, Chhutahi bandi maha sukh hoi.
जो यह पढ़ै हनुमान चालीसा। होय सिद्धि साखी गौरीसा॥
Jo yah padhai Hanuman Chalisa, Hoye siddhi sakhi Gaurisa.
तुलसीदास सदा हरि चेरा। कीजै नाथ हृदय महँ डेरा॥
Tulsidas sada Hari chera, Kijai nath hriday mahn dera.
पवनतनय संकट हरन, मंगल मूरति रूप। राम लखन सीता सहित, हृदय बसहु सुर भूप॥
O Son of the Wind, remover of afflictions, embodiment of auspiciousness — along with Ram, Lakshman and Sita, reside eternally in my heart, O Lord of the gods.
Meaning of the Opening Dohas
The opening dohas set the intent of the Chalisa. Tulsidas Ji first bows to his Guru, cleansing the mirror of his mind with the dust of the Guru's lotus feet — because only a purified mind can truly glorify the divine. He then acknowledges his own limitations and asks Pavan Kumar (Hanuman Ji) to grant him strength, intellect and knowledge, and to remove all afflictions and impurities. This humility is the doorway to all the verses that follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Hanuman Chalisa?
The Hanuman Chalisa is a 40-verse Awadhi devotional hymn composed by Sant Tulsidas ji in the 16th century, glorifying Hanuman Ji — the greatest devotee of Bhagwan Ram. It is one of the most widely recited hymns in Sanatan Dharma.
How many verses are there in the Hanuman Chalisa?
The Hanuman Chalisa consists of 40 chaupais (verses), preceded by two dohas at the beginning and one doha at the end — a total of 43 stanzas. 'Chalisa' comes from the Hindi word 'chalis', meaning forty.
What are the benefits of chanting the Hanuman Chalisa?
Devotees believe that regular recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa removes fear, brings courage and strength, protects against negative influences, calms the mind, deepens devotion to Bhagwan Ram, and clears obstacles from life.
What is the best time to chant the Hanuman Chalisa?
The traditionally recommended times are early morning (Brahma Muhurta), Tuesday and Saturday — the days considered especially sacred to Hanuman Ji — and any time after taking a bath and lighting a lamp before the deity.
Who wrote the Hanuman Chalisa?
The Hanuman Chalisa was composed by Goswami Tulsidas Ji, who also composed the Ramcharitmanas. It is written in the Awadhi language, a dialect of Hindi.