Lalitha Chalisa in English
In the rich tapestry of Hindu devotional practices, the Lalitha Chalisa stands out as a profound and cherished hymn dedicated to Goddess Lalitha, also known as Lalitha Tripura Sundari or Shodashi. This 40-verse prayer encapsulates the essence of devotion, celebrating the goddess’s divine qualities, grace, and boundless compassion. For devotees across the world, reciting the Lalitha Chalisa is not just an act of worship it’s a spiritual journey that brings peace, prosperity, and protection.
Who is Goddess Lalitha?
Goddess Lalitha is a revered form of the Divine Mother, often identified as an incarnation of Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva. Known as Tripura Sundari, she embodies beauty, wisdom, and supreme power. In Hindu mythology, she is the ruler of the three worlds (Tripura)heaven, earth, and the netherworld and is celebrated for her role in maintaining cosmic harmony. Her iconography often depicts her seated on a throne, adorned with divine ornaments, radiating grace and strength.
The Lalitha Chalisa draws inspiration from sacred texts like the Lalitopakyana in the Brahmanda Purana, where her greatness is extolled through the Sri Lalitha Sahasranama (1000 names of Lalitha). While the Sahasranama is a longer, intricate recitation, the Chalisa offers a condensed yet equally potent form of devotion, making it accessible to all.
What is the Lalitha Chalisa?
The term “Chalisa” comes from the Hindi word chalis, meaning forty, referring to the 40 verses that make up this devotional poem. Like other Chalisas (e.g., Hanuman Chalisa or Durga Chalisa), the Lalitha Chalisa is written in a simple, rhythmic format, often in regional languages such as Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, or Sanskrit. Each verse praises the goddess’s attributes—her beauty, her power to vanquish evil, her role as the mother of the universe, and her benevolence toward her devotees.
The hymn typically begins with an invocation, seeking the goddess’s blessings, and progresses through descriptions of her divine forms, deeds, and the boons she bestows. It concludes with a heartfelt plea for her grace, protection, and fulfillment of the devotee’s wishes.
Lalitha Chalisa
lalitāmātā śambhupriyā jagatiki mūlaṃ nīvammā
śrī bhuvanēśvari avatāraṃ jagamantaṭikī ādhāram ॥ 1 ॥
hērambuniki mātavugā hariharādulu sēvimpa
chaṇḍunimuṇḍuni saṃhāraṃ chāmuṇḍēśvari avatāram ॥ 2 ॥
padmarēkula kāntulalō bālātripurasundarigā
haṃsavāhanārūḍhiṇigā vēdamātavai vachchitivi ॥ 3 ॥
śvētavastramu dhariyiñchi akṣaramālanu paṭṭukoni
bhaktimārgamu chūpitivi jñānajyōtini nimpitivi ॥ 4 ॥
nitya annadānēśvarigā kāśīpuramuna koluvuṇḍa
ādibikṣuvai vachchāḍu sākṣādāparamēśvaruḍu ॥ 5 ॥
kadambavana sañchāriṇigā kāmēśvaruni kaḻatramugā
kāmitārtha pradāyinigā kañchi kāmākṣivaināvu ॥ 6 ॥
śrīchakrarāja nilayinigā śrīmat tripurasundarigā
siri sampadalu ivvammā śrīmahālakṣmigā rāvammā ॥ 7 ॥
maṇidvīpamuna koluvuṇḍi mahākāḻi avatāramulō
mahiṣāsuruni champitivi mullōkālanu ēlitivi ॥ 8 ॥
pasiḍi vennela kāntulalō paṭṭuvastrapudhāraṇalō
pārijātapu mālalalō pārvati dēvigā vachchitivi ॥ 9 ॥
raktavastramu dhariyiñchi raṇaraṅgamuna pravēśiñchi
raktabījuni hatamārchi ramyakapardinivaināvu ॥ 10 ॥
kārtikēyuniki mātavugā kātyāyinigā karuṇiñchi
kaliyugamantā kāpāḍa kanakadurgavai velisitivi ॥ 11 ॥
rāmaliṅgēśvaru rāṇivigā ravikula sōmuni ramaṇivigā
ramā vāṇi sēvitagā rājarājēśvarivaināvu ॥ 12 ॥
khaḍgaṃ śūlaṃ dhariyiñchi pāśupatāstramu chēbūni
śumbha niśumbhula dunumāḍi vachchindi śrīśyāmalagā ॥ 13 ॥
mahāmantrādhidēvatagā lalitātripurasundarigā
daridra bādhalu toligiñchi mahadānandamu kaligiñchē ॥ 14 ॥
artatrāṇa parāyaṇivē advaitāmṛta varṣiṇivē
ādiśaṅkara pūjitavē aparṇādēvi rāvammā ॥ 15 ॥
viṣṇu pādamuna janiyiñchi gaṅgāvatāramu ettitivi
bhāgīrathuḍu ninu koluva bhūlōkāniki vachchitivi ॥ 16 ॥
āśutōṣuni meppiñchi ardhaśarīraṃ dālchitivi
ādiprakṛti rūpiṇigā darśanamichchenu jagadambā ॥ 17 ॥
dakṣuni iṇṭa janiyiñchi satīdēvigā chāliñchi
aṣṭādaśa pīṭhēśvarigā darśanamichchenu jagadambā ॥ 18 ॥
śaṅkhu chakramu dhariyiñchi rākṣasa saṃhāramunu chēsi
lōkarakṣaṇa chēsāvu bhaktula madilō nilichāvu ॥ 19 ॥
parābhaṭṭārika dēvatagā paramaśānta svarūpiṇigā
chirunavvulanu chindistū cheṛku gaḍanu dharayiñchitivi ॥ 20 ॥
pañchadaśākṣari mantrādhitagā paramēśvara paramēśvaritō
pramathagaṇamulu koluvuṇḍa kailāsambē pulakiñchē ॥ 21 ॥
surulu asurulu andarunu śirasunu vañchi mrokkaṅgā
māṇikyāla kāntulatō nī pādamulu merisinavi ॥ 22 ॥
mūlādhāra chakramulō yōginulaku ādīśvariyai
aṅkuśāyudha dhāriṇigā bhāsillenu śrī jagadambā ॥ 23 ॥
sarvadēvatala śaktulachē satya svarūpiṇi rūpondi
śaṅkhanādamu chēsitivi siṃhavāhinigā vachchitivi ॥ 24 ॥
mahāmēruvu nilayinivi mandāra kusuma mālalatō
munulandaru ninu kolavaṅga mōkṣamārgamu chūpitivi ॥ 25 ॥
chidambarēśvari nī līla chidvilāsamē nī sṛṣṭi
chidrūpī paradēvatagā chirunavvulanu chindiñchē ॥ 26 ॥
ambā śāmbhavi avatāraṃ amṛtapānaṃ nī nāmaṃ
adbhutamainadi nī mahima atisundaramu nī rūpam ॥ 27 ॥
ammalaganna ammavugā muggurammalaku mūlamugā
jñānaprasūnā rāvammā jñānamunandarikivvammā ॥ 28 ॥
niṣṭhatō ninnē kolichedamu nī pūjalanē chēsedamu
kaṣṭamulannī kaḍatērchi kanikaramutō mamu kāpāḍu ॥ 29 ॥
rākṣasa bādhalu paḍalēka dēvatalantā prārthimpa
abhayahastamu chūpitivi avatāramulu dālchitivi ॥ 30 ॥
aruṇāruṇapu kāntulalō agni varṇapu jvālalalō
asurulanandari dunumāḍi aparājitavai vachchitivi ॥ 31 ॥
girirājuniki putrikagā nandananduni sōdarigā
bhūlōkāniki vachchitivi bhaktula kōrkelu tīrchitivi ॥ 32 ॥
paramēśvaruniki priyasatigā jagamantaṭikī mātavugā
andari sēvalu andukoni antaṭa nīvē niṇḍitivi ॥ 33 ॥
karuṇiñchammā lalitammā kāpāḍammā durgammā
darśanamiyyaga rāvammā bhaktula kaṣṭaṃ tīrchammā ॥ 34 ॥
ē vidhamugā ninu kolichinanu ē pēruna ninu pilichinanu
mātṛhṛdayavai dayachūpu karuṇāmūrtigā kāpāḍu ॥ 35 ॥
mallelu mollalu techchitimi manasunu nīkē ichchitimi
maguvalamantā chēritimi nī pārāyaṇa chēsitimi ॥ 36 ॥
trimātṛrūpā lalitammā sṛṣṭi sthiti layakāriṇivi
nī nāmamulu ennennō lekkiñchuṭa mā taramavunā ॥ 37 ॥
āśritulandaru rāraṇḍi ammarūpamu chūḍaṇḍi
ammaku nīrājanamichchi amma dīvena pondudamu ॥ 38 ॥
sadāchāra sampannavugā sāmagāna priyalōlinivi
sadāśiva kuṭumbinivi saubhāgyamichchē dēvatavu ॥ 39 ॥
maṅgaḻagaurī rūpamunu manasula niṇḍā nimpaṇḍi
mahādēviki manamantā maṅgaḻa hāratuliddāmu ॥ 40 ॥
The Benefits of Reciting Lalitha Chalisa
Devotees believe that chanting the Lalitha Chalisa with faith and sincerity unlocks a treasure trove of spiritual and material benefits:
- Inner Peace: The rhythmic recitation calms the mind, dispelling negativity and fostering a sense of tranquility.
- Prosperity and Success: Goddess Lalitha is associated with abundance, and her blessings are said to bring wealth, success, and happiness.
- Protection: As a fierce protector, she shields her devotees from harm, evil forces, and life’s challenges.
- Spiritual Growth: The Chalisa deepens one’s connection to the divine, illuminating the path of devotion and wisdom.
How to Recite the Lalitha Chalisa
While traditions may vary, here’s a general guide to chanting the Lalitha Chalisa:
- Preparation: Begin by cleansing yourself—wash your hands and face, or take a bath if possible. Wear clean clothes, preferably in auspicious colors like pink or red, symbolizing the goddess’s energy.
- Setting: Sit facing east, ideally in a quiet space or in front of an image or idol of Goddess Lalitha. Light a lamp or incense to create a sacred ambiance.
- Invocation: Start with a short prayer or mantra, such as “Om Shri Lalithayai Namah,” to invoke her presence.
- Recitation: Chant the 40 verses aloud or silently, focusing on their meaning. If you’re new to it, follow along with a text or audio recording in your preferred language.
- Conclusion: Offer flowers, a small tilak (mark) to the goddess’s image, and a prayer for your intentions. Conclude with gratitude.
Where to Find the Lalitha Chalisa
The hymn is widely available in various formats:
- Books: Devotional texts or stotra collections often include it.
- Online: Websites like Sanatanweb offer free PDFs and lyrics in multiple languages.
- Audio: Platforms like Gaana or Raaga feature renditions by artists like Nitya Santoshini or B. Nagarani.
Whether you prefer reading, chanting along, or listening, there’s a version to suit every devotee.
