Khatu Shyam Chalisa
The Khatu Shyam Chalisa is a devotional hymn consisting of 40 verses dedicated to Lord Khatu Shyam, a revered deity in Hindu spirituality. Known as the “Hare Ka Sahara” , Khatu Shyam is believed to be an incarnation of Barbarika, the grandson of Bhima from the Mahabharata, and a manifestation of Lord Krishna in the Kali Yuga. This sacred composition is a medium for devotees to express their love, devotion, and surrender to Khatu Shyam, seeking his blessings for peace, prosperity, and liberation from worldly troubles.
Origins and Mythological Background
The story of Khatu Shyam is deeply rooted in the epic Mahabharata. Barbarika, the son of Ghatotkacha and grandson of Bhima, was a warrior of unparalleled strength and valor. Blessed with three divine arrows by Goddess Durga, he possessed the power to end the Mahabharata war in a single moment. However, his intention to fight for the weaker side whichever it might be posed a dilemma for Lord Krishna, who foresaw the cosmic consequences of Barbarika’s participation.
To test his devotion and resolve, Krishna, disguised as a Brahmin, asked Barbarika for his head as a charitable offering before the war began. Barbarika willingly agreed, demonstrating his selflessness and unwavering faith. Pleased with his sacrifice, Krishna granted him a boon: in the Kali Yuga, he would be worshipped as “Shyam”, and devotees who pray to him with a pure heart would have their wishes fulfilled. This divine promise gave rise to the veneration of Khatu Shyam, whose temple in Rajasthan’s Sikar district attracts millions of devotees annually.
The Khatu Shyam Chalisa emerged as a poetic tribute to this divine figure, encapsulating his glory, compassion, and miraculous powers. While its exact authorship remains uncertain, it is traditionally recited in Hindi and reflects the rich oral and devotional traditions of North India.
Khatu Shyam Chalisa
॥ DOHA ॥
SHRI GURU CHARANA DHYANA DHARA,
SUMIRI SACHCHIDANANDA।
SHYAMA CHALISA BHANATA HUN,
RACHA CHAIPAI CHHANDA॥
॥ CHAUPAI ॥
SHYAMA SHYAMA BHAJI BARAMBARA।
SAHAJA HI HO BHAVASAGARA PARA॥
INA SAMA DEVA NA DUJA KOI।
DINA DAYALU NA DATA HOI॥
BHIMASUPUTRA AHILAVATI JAYA।
KAHIN BHIMA KA PAUTRA KAHAYA॥
YAHA SABA KATHA SAHI KALPANTARA।
TANIKA NA MANON ISAMEIN ANTARA॥
BARBARIKA VISHNU AVATARA।
BHAKTANA HETU MANUJA TANU DHARA॥
VASUDEVA DEVAKI PYARE।
YASHUMATI MAIYA NANDA DULARE॥
MADHUSUDANA GOPALA MURARI।
BRIJAKISHORA GOVARDHANA DHARI॥
SIYARAMA SHRI HARI GOVINDA।
DINAPALA SHRI BALA MUKUNDA॥
DAMODARA RANACHHODA BIHARI।
NATHA DVARIKADHISHA KHARARI॥
NARAHARI RUPA PRAHALADA PYARA।
KHAMBHA PHARI HIRANAKUSHA MARA॥
RADHA VALLABHA RUKMINI KANTA।
GOPI VALLABHA KANSA HANANTA॥
MANAMOHANA CHITTACHORA KAHAYE।
MAKHANA CHORI CHORI KARA KHAYE॥
MURALIDHARA YADUPATI GHANASHYAMA।
KRISHNA PATITAPAVANA ABHIRAMA॥
MAYAPATI LAKSHMIPATI ISA।
PURUSHOTTAMA KESHAVA JAGADISHA॥
VISHWAPATI TRIBHUVANA UJIYARA।
DINA BANDHU BHAKTANA RAKHAVARA॥
PRABHU KA BHEDA KOI NA PAYA।
SHESHA MAHESHA THAKE MUNIRAYA॥
NARADA SHARADA RISHI YOGINDARA।
SHYAMA SHYAMA SABA RATATA NIRANTARA॥
KARI KOVIDA KARI SAKE NA GINANTA।
NAMA APARA ATHAHA ANANTA॥
HARA SRISHTI HARA YUGA MEIN BHAI।
LE AVATARA BHAKTA SUKHADAI॥
HRIDAYA MANHI KARI DEKHU VICHARA।
SHYAMA BHAJE TO HO NISTARA॥
KIRA PADAVATA GANIKA TARI।
BHILANI KI BHAKTI BALIHARI॥
SATI AHILYA GAUTAMA NARI।
BHAI SHRAPA VASHA SHILA DUKHARI॥
SHYAMA CHARANA RACHA NITA LAI।
PAHUNCHI PATILOKA MEIN JAI॥
AJAMILA ARU SADANA KASAI।
NAMA PRATAPA PARAMA GATI PAI॥
JAKE SHYAMA NAMA ADHARA।
SUKHA LAHAHI DUHKHA DURA HO SARA॥
SHYAMA SULOCHANA HAI ATI SUNDARA।
MORA MUKUTA SIRA TANA PITAMBARA॥
GALA VAIJAYANTIMALA SUHAI।
CHHAVI ANUPA BHAKTANA MANA BHAI॥
SHYAMA SHYAMA SUMIRAHUN DINARATI।
SHAMA DUPAHARI ARU PARABHATI॥
SHYAMA SARATHI JISAKE RATHA KE।
RODE DURA HOYA USA PATHA KE॥
SHYAMA BHAKTA NA KAHIN PARA HARA।
BHIRA PARI TABA SHYAMA PUKARA॥
RASANA SHYAMA NAMA RASA PI LE।
JI LE SHYAMA NAMA KE HALE॥
SANSARI SUKHA BHOGA MILEGA।
ANTA SHYAMA SUKHA YOGA MILEGA॥
SHYAMA PRABHU HAIN TANA KE KALE।
MANA KE GORE BHOLE BHALE॥
SHYAMA SANTA BHAKTANA HITAKARI।
ROGA DOSHA AGHA NASHAI BHARI॥
PREMA SAHITA JE NAMA PUKARA।
BHAKTA LAGATA SHYAMA KO PYARA॥
KHATU MEIN HAI MATHURA VASI।
PARA BRAHMA PURANA AVINASI॥
SUDHA TANA BHARI MURALI BAJAI।
CHAHUN DISHI NANA JAHAN SUNI PAI॥
VRIDDHA BALA JETE NARI NARA।
MUGDHA BHAYE SUNI VANSHI KE SVARA॥
DAUDA DAUDA PAHUNCHE SABA JAI।
KHATU MEIN JAHAN SHYAMA KANHAI॥
JISANE SHYAMA SVARUPA NIHARA।
BHAVA BHAYA SE PAYA CHHUTAKARA॥
॥ DOHA ॥
SHYAMA SALONE SAMVARE,
BARBARIKA TANU DHARA।
ICHCHHA PURNA BHAKTA KI,
KARO NA LAO BARA॥
Benefits of Reciting the Khatu Shyam Chalisa
Devotees attribute numerous benefits to chanting the Khatu Shyam Chalisa with sincerity:
- Inner Peace: The rhythmic recitation calms the mind and alleviates stress.
- Prosperity and Success: It is believed to attract wealth, strength, and success in endeavors.
- Protection: Shyam is seen as a guardian who shields his devotees from harm and negativity.
- Spiritual Growth: The chalisa deepens one’s faith and fosters a closer bond with the divine.
Traditionally, it is recited daily, especially on Wednesdays (a day associated with Shyam), or during visits to the Khatu Shyam Temple in Rajasthan.
