Shree Gayatri Chalisa In English
The Shree Gayatri Chalisa is a revered devotional hymn in Hinduism dedicated to Goddess Gayatri, the embodiment of divine knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual enlightenment. Comprising 40 verses (chalisa meaning “forty” in Hindi), this sacred composition is a poetic prayer that extols the virtues of Gayatri Mata and seeks her blessings for purity, intellect, and liberation. Rooted in Vedic tradition, the Gayatri Chalisa is a powerful tool for devotees to connect with the divine energy of the Goddess, often chanted or recited with deep devotion.
Origins and Significance
The Gayatri Chalisa draws inspiration from the Gayatri Mantra, one of the oldest and most potent mantras found in the Rigveda (Mandala 3.62.10). The mantra, addressed to Savitr (the sun god), is a plea for enlightenment and is considered the essence of Vedic wisdom:
“Om Bhur Bhuvaḥ Swaḥ Tat Savitur Varenyam Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat.”
(Translation: “We meditate on the glory of the Creator who has created the Earth, the Heavens, and the beyond; may He enlighten our intellect.”)
While the Gayatri Mantra is concise, the Gayatri Chalisa expands this invocation into a detailed hymn, making it accessible for devotees to express their devotion in a structured, lyrical form. Goddess Gayatri, often depicted as a five-faced deity riding a swan, symbolizes the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, ether) and the power of the Vedas. She is revered as Veda Mata (Mother of the Vedas), the source of all knowledge and spiritual awakening.
The Chalisa format, popularized by the Hanuman Chalisa written by Tulsidas, is widely used in Hindu devotional literature. The Shree Gayatri Chalisa follows this tradition, offering 40 verses that praise the Goddess, narrate her divine attributes, and seek her grace.
Shree Gayatri Chalisa In English
॥ DOHA ॥
HRIM SHRIM KLIM MEDHA PRABHA,JIVANA JYOTI PRACHANDA।
SHANTI KANTI JAGRITA PRAGATI,RACHANA SHAKTI AKHANDA॥
JAGATA JANANI MANGALA KARANI,GAYATRI SUKHADHAMA।
PRANAVON SAVITRI SVADHA,SVAHA PURANA KAMA॥
॥ CHAUPAI ॥
BHURBHUVAH SVAH OM YUTA JANANI।
GAYATRI NITA KALIMALA DAHANI॥
AKSHARA CHAUVISA PARAMA PUNITA।
INAMEIN BASEIN SHASTRA SHRUTI GITA॥
SHASHWATA SATOGUNI SATA RUPA।
SATYA SANATANA SUDHA ANUPA॥
HANSARUDHA SITAMBARA DHARI।
SVARNA KANTI SHUCHI GAGANA BIHARI॥
PUSTAKA PUSHPA KAMANDALU MALA।
SHUBHRA VARNA TANU NAYANA VISHALA॥
DHYANA DHARATA PULAKITA HITA HOI।
SUKHA UPAJATA DUHKHA DURMATI KHOI॥
KAMADHENU TUMA SURA TARU CHHAYA।
NIRAKARA KI ADBHUTA MAYA॥
TUMHARI SHARANA GAHAI JO KOI।
TARAI SAKALA SANKATA SON SOI॥
SARASWATI LAKSHMI TUMA KALI।
DIPAI TUMHARI JYOTI NIRALI॥
TUMHARI MAHIMA PARA NA PAVAIN।
JO SHARADA SHATA MUKHA GUNA GAVAIN॥
CHARA VEDA KI MATA PUNITA।
TUMA BRAHMANI GAURI SITA॥
MAHAMANTRA JITANE JAGA MAHIN।
KOU GAYATRI SAMA NAHIN॥
SUMIRATA HIYA MEIN GYANA PRAKASAI।
ALASA PAPA AVIDYA NASAI॥
SRISHTI BIJA JAGA JANANI BHAVANI।
KALARATRI VARADA KALYANI॥
BRAHMA VISHNU RUDRA SURA JETE।
TUMA SON PAVEIN SURATA TETE॥
TUMA BHAKTANA KI BHAKTA TUMHARE।
JANANIHIN PUTRA PRANA TE PYARE॥
MAHIMA APARAMPARA TUMHARI।
JAI JAI JAI TRIPADA BHAYAHARI॥
PURITA SAKALA GYANA VIGYANA।
TUMA SAMA ADHIKA NA JAGAME ANA॥
TUMAHIN JANI KACHHU RAHAI NA SHESHA।
TUMAHIN PAYA KACHHU RAHAI NA KALESHA॥
JANATA TUMAHIN TUMAHIN VHAI JAI।
PARASA PARASI KUDHATU SUHAI॥
TUMHARI SHAKTI DIPAI SABA THAI।
MATA TUMA SABA THAURA SAMAI॥
GRAHA NAKSHATRA BRAHMANDA GHANERE।
SABA GATIVANA TUMHARE PRERE॥
SAKALA SRISHTI KI PRANA VIDHATA।
PALAKA POSHAKA NASHAKA TRATA॥
MATESHWARI DAYA VRATA DHARI।
TUMA SANA TARE PATAKI BHARI॥
JAPARA KRIPA TUMHARI HOI।
TAPARA KRIPA KAREIN SABA KOI॥
MANDA BUDDHI TE BUDHI BALA PAVEIN।
ROGI ROGA RAHITA HAI JAVEIN॥
DARIDRA MITAI KATAI SABA PIRA।
NASHAI DUHKHA HARAI BHAVA BHIRA॥
GRIHA KLESHA CHITA CHINTA BHARI।
NASAI GAYATRI BHAYA HARI॥
SANTATI HINA SUSANTATI PAVEIN।
SUKHA SAMPATI YUTA MODA MANAVEIN॥
BHUTA PISHACHA SABAI BHAYA KHAVEIN।
YAMA KE DUTA NIKATA NAHEIN AVEIN॥
JO SADHAVA SUMIREIN CHITA LAI।
ACHHATA SUHAGA SADA SUKHADAI॥
GHARA VARA SUKHA PRADA LAHAIN KUMARI।
VIDHAVA RAHEIN SATYA VRATA DHARI॥
JAYATI JAYATI JAGADAMBA BHAVANI।
TUMA SAMA AURA DAYALU NA DANI॥
JO SATAGURU SO DIKSHA PAVE।
SO SADHANA KO SAPHALA BANAVE॥
SUMIRANA KARE SURUCHI BADABHAGI।
LAHAIN MANORATHA GRIHI VIRAGI॥
ASHTA SIDDHI NAVANIDHI KI DATA।
SABA SAMARTHA GAYATRI MATA॥
RISHI MUNI YATI TAPASVI YOGI।
ARATA ARTHI CHINTITA BHOGI॥
JO JO SHARANA TUMHARI AVEIN।
SO SO MANA VANCHHITA PHALA PAVEIN॥
BALA BUDHI VIDYA SHILA SVABHAU।
DHANA VAIBHAVA YASHA TEJA UCHHAU॥
SAKALA BADHEIN UPAJEIN SUKHA NANA।
JE YAHA PATHA KARAI DHARI DHYANA॥
॥ DOHA ॥
YAHA CHALISA BHAKTI YUTA,PATHA KARAI JO KOI।
TAPARA KRIPA PRASANNATA,GAYATRI KI HOYA॥
Spiritual and Cultural Importance
The Shree Gayatri Chalisa holds immense significance in Hindu spirituality:
- Daily Devotion: Many devotees recite it daily, especially at dawn or dusk, aligning with the Gayatri Mantra’s association with the sun.
- Mental Clarity: Its recitation is believed to enhance concentration, memory, and spiritual awareness, often recommended for students and seekers.
- Festivals and Rituals: It is chanted during Gayatri Jayanti (celebrated on Shravan Purnima, typically in August) and other auspicious occasions like Navratri.
- Universal Appeal: While rooted in Hinduism, its message of wisdom and enlightenment resonates universally, attracting spiritual seekers beyond religious boundaries.
How to Recite the Gayatri Chalisa
For optimal benefits, devotees follow these steps:
- Purification: Bathe and wear clean clothes to create a sacred atmosphere.
- Setup: Sit facing east (the direction of the rising sun), light a lamp or incense, and place an image or idol of Gayatri Mata.
- Chanting: Recite with focus and devotion, preferably aloud or in a group for amplified energy.
- Mantra Precursor: Many begin with the Gayatri Mantra (108 times or as per capacity) before the Chalisa.
Benefits of Recitation
According to tradition, regular recitation of the Gayatri Chalisa offers:
- Fulfillment of righteous desires and ultimate liberation (moksha).
- Removal of ignorance and enhancement of intellect.
- Protection from negative energies and evil influences.
- Inner peace, emotional balance, and spiritual growth.