The Mahaveer Chalisa
The Mahaveer Chalisa is a revered devotional hymn in the Jain tradition, dedicated to Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism. Comprising 40 verses, this poetic composition serves as a powerful medium for devotees to express their reverence, seek blessings, and connect spiritually with Mahavira’s teachings of non-violence (ahimsa), truth (satya), and liberation (moksha). Written in simple yet profound language, the Mahaveer Chalisa is chanted by Jains and spiritual seekers worldwide to invoke inner peace, strength, and prosperity.
Historical and Spiritual Context
Lord Mahavira, born as Vardhamana in 599 BCE in present-day Bihar, India, is a towering figure in Jainism. Renouncing worldly life at the age of 30, he attained Kevala Jnana (omniscience) after 12 years of rigorous penance and meditation. His teachings emphasize the liberation of the soul from the cycle of birth and death through ethical living, self-discipline, and compassion. The Mahaveer Chalisa encapsulates these ideals, celebrating Mahavira’s divine qualities and his role as a guide for humanity.
While the exact authorship of the Mahaveer Chalisa remains uncertain, it is traditionally regarded as a folk composition passed down through generations. Written primarily in Hindi or regional dialects like Awadhi, it mirrors the style of other popular Chalisas, such as the Hanuman Chalisa, but is uniquely tailored to reflect Jain philosophy and Mahavira’s life.
The Mahaveer Chalisa
॥ DOHA ॥
SHISHA NAVA ARIHANTA KO,
SIDDHANA KARUN PRANAMA।
UPADHYAYA ACHARYA KA,
LE SUKHAKARI NAMA॥
SARVA SADHU AURA SARASWATI,
JINA MANDIRA SUKHAKARA।
MAHAVIRA BHAGAWANA KO,
MANA MANDIRA MEIN DHARA॥
॥ CHAUPAI ॥
JAI MAHAVIRA DAYALU SWAMI।
VIRA PRABHU TUMA JAGA MEIN NAMI॥
VARDHAMANA HAI NAMA TUMHARA।
LAGE HRIDAYA KO PYARA PYARA॥
SHANTI CHHAVI AURA MOHANI MURATA।
SHANA HANSILI SOHANI SURATA॥
TUMNE VESHA DIGAMBARA DHARA।
KARMA SHATRU BHI TUMA SE HARA॥
KRODHA MANA ARU LOBHA BHAGAYA।
MAHA-MOHA TAMASE DARA KHAYA॥
TU SARVAGYA SARVA KA GYATA।
TUJHAKO DUNIYA SE KYA NATA॥
TUJHAMEIN NAHIN RAGA AURA DVESHA।
VIRA RANA RAGA TU HITOPADESHA॥
TERA NAMA JAGATA MEIN SACHCHA।
JISAKO JANE BACHCHA BACHCHA॥
BHUTA PRETA TUMA SE BHAYA KHAVEIN।
VYANTARA RAKSHASA SABA BHAGA JAVEIN॥
MAHA VYADHA MARI NA SATAVE।
MAHA VIKARALA KALA DARA KHAVE॥
KALA NAGA HOYA PHANA-DHARI।
YA HO SHERA BHAYANKARA BHARI॥
NA HO KOI BACHANE VALA।
SWAMI TUMHIN KARO PRATIPALA॥
AGNI DAVANALA SULAGA RAHI HO।
TEJA HAVA SE BHADAKA RAHI HO॥
NAMA TUMHARA SABA DUKHA KHOVE।
AGA EKADAMA THANDI HOVE॥
HINSAMAYA THA BHARATA SARA।
TABA TUMANE KINA NISTARA॥
JANMA LIYA KUNDALAPURA NAGARI।
HUI SUKHI TABA PRAJA SAGARI॥
SIDDHARATHA JI PITA TUMHARE।
TRISHALA KE ANKHO KE TARE॥
CHHODA SABHI JHANJHATA SANSARI।
SWAMI HUE BALA BRAHMACHARI॥
PANCHAMA KALA MAHA DUKHADAI।
CHANDANAPURA MAHIMA DIKHALAI॥
TILE MEIN ATISHAYA DIKHALAYA।
EKA GAYA KA DUDHA GIRAYA॥
SOCHA HUA MANA MEIN GWALE KE।
PAHUNCHA EKA PHAVADA LEKE॥
SARA TILA KHODA BAGAYA।
TABA TUMANE DARSHANA DIKHALAYA॥
JODHARAJA KO DUKHA NE GHERA।
USANE NAMA JAPA JABA TERA॥
THANDA HUA TOPA KA GOLA।
TABA SABA NE JAIKARA BOLA॥
MANTRI NE MANDIRA BANAVAYA।
RAJA NE BHI DRAVYA LAGAYA॥
BADI DHARMASHALA BANAVAI।
TUMAKO LANE KO THAHARAI॥
TUMANE TODI BISON GADI।
PAHIYA KHASAKA NAHI AGADI॥
GWALE NE JO HATHA LAGAYA।
PHIRA TO RATHA CHALATA HI PAYA॥
PAHILE DINA BAISHAKHA VADI KE।
RATHA JATA HAI TIRA NADI KE॥
MINA GUJARA SABA HI ATE।
NACHA-KUDA SABA CHITA UMAGATE॥
SWAMI TUMANE PREMA NIBHAYA।
GWALE KA BAHU MANA BADAYA॥
HATHA LAGE GWALE KA JABA HI।
SWAMI RATHA CHALATA HAI TABA HI॥
MERI HAI TUTI SI NAIYA।
TUMA BINA KOI NAHIN KHIVAIYA॥
MUJHA PARA SWAMI JARA KRIPA KARA।
MAIN HU PRABHU TUMHARA CHAKARA॥
TUMA SE MAIN ARU KACHHU NAHIN CHAHUN।
JANMA JANMA TERE DARSHANA PAU॥
CHALISE KO CHANDRA BANAVE।
BIRA PRABHU KO SHISHA NAVAVE॥
॥ SORTHA ॥
NITA CHALISAHI BARA,
PATHA KARE CHALISA DINA।
KHEYA SUGANDHA APARA,
VARDHAMANA KE SAMANE।
HOYA KUBERA SAMANA,
JANMA DARIDRI HOYA JO।
JISAKE NAHIN SANTANA,
NAMA VANSHA JAGA MEIN CHALE।
Benefits of Reciting the Mahaveer Chalisa
In Jain tradition, reciting the Mahaveer Chalisa is believed to yield numerous spiritual and practical benefits:
- Mental Peace: The rhythmic chanting calms the mind, reducing stress and fostering inner tranquility.
- Spiritual Growth: It reinforces Jain values like non-violence and detachment, guiding devotees toward ethical living.
- Protection: Devotees believe it shields them from negative energies, fears, and physical ailments.
- Prosperity and Fulfillment: Regular recitation is said to remove obstacles, bringing material and spiritual abundance.
- Karmic Purification: By focusing on Mahavira’s liberation, it inspires devotees to shed karmic burdens.
A traditional practice is to recite the Chalisa 40 times daily for 40 consecutive days, often in front of Mahavira’s idol or image, to maximize its effects. The early morning hours, particularly Brahma Muhurta (4–6 AM), are considered especially auspicious.
How to Recite the Mahaveer Chalisa
For those new to the practice, here’s a simple guide:
- Preparation: Bathe and wear clean clothes to maintain purity.
- Setting: Sit in a quiet space, preferably facing a picture or idol of Lord Mahavira. Light a lamp or incense to create a sacred ambiance.
- Recitation: Chant the verses with devotion, focusing on their meaning. Beginners can follow along with a text or audio recording.
- Conclusion: Offer a prayer or bow to Mahavira, and distribute prasad (blessed food) if desired.
While it can be recited any day, it holds special significance during Mahavir Jayanti, the annual celebration of Mahavira’s birth.
