Shri Kali Chalisa In English
The Shri Kali Chalisa is a revered devotional hymn in Hinduism, dedicated to Goddess Kali, the fierce and compassionate embodiment of divine feminine energy (Shakti). Comprising 40 verses (chalisa meaning “forty” in Hindi), this hymn is a poetic prayer that extols the virtues, powers, and grace of Goddess Kali. Recited by devotees worldwide, it serves as a spiritual tool to invoke her blessings, seek protection from evil, and attain liberation from worldly fears and afflictions. This article explores the origins, structure, themes, and spiritual significance of the Shri Kali Chalisa, offering a comprehensive guide for devotees and enthusiasts alike.
Shri Kali Chalisa
॥ DOHA ॥
JAI JAI SITARAMA KE,
MADHYAVASINI AMBA।
DEHU DARSHA JAGDAMBA,
ABA KARO NA MATU VILAMBA॥
JAI TARA JAI KALIKA,
JAI DASHA VIDYA VRINDA।
KALI CHALISA RACHATA,
EKA SIDDHA KAVI HINDA॥
PRATAH KALA UTHA JO PADHEY,
DUPAHARIYA YA SHYAMA।
DUKHA DARIDRATA DURA HO,
SIDDHI HOYE SABA KAMA॥
॥ CHAUPAI ॥
JAI KALI KANKAL MALINI।
JAI MANGALA MAHA KAPALINI॥
RAKTABIJA BADHAKARINI MATA।
SADA BHAKATA JANANKI SUKHADATA॥
SHIRO MALIKA BHUSHITA ANGE।
JAI KALI JAI MADHYA MATANGE॥
HARA HRIDAYARAVINDA SUVILASINI।
JAI JAGDAMBA SAKALA DUKHA NASHINI॥
HING KALI SHRI MAHAKARALI।
KRING KALYANI DAKSHINAKALI॥
JAI KALAVATI JAI VIDYAVATI।
JAI TARA SUNDARI MAHAMATI॥
DEHU SUBUDHI HARAHU SABA SANKATA।
HOHU BHAKATA KE AGE PARAGATA॥
JAI OM KARE JAI HUNGKARE।
MAHA SHAKTI JAI APRAMPARE॥
KAMALA KALYUGA DARPA VINASHINI।
SADA BHAKATA JANA KE BHAYANASHINI॥
ABA JAGDAMBA NA DERA LAGAVAHU।
DUKHA DARIDRATA MORA HATAVAHU॥
JAYATI KARALA KALIKA MATA।
KALANALA SAMANA DHUTIGATA॥
JAISHANKARI SURESHI SANATANI।
KOTI SIDHI KAVI MATU PURATANI॥
KAPARDINI KALI KALPA BIMOCHANI।
JAI VIKASITA NAVA NALINABILOCHANI॥
ANANDA KARNI ANAND NIDHANA।
DEHUMATU MOHI NIRMALA GYANA॥
KARUNAMRIT SAGAR KRIPAMAYI।
HOHU DUSHTA JANPARA ABA NIRDAYI॥
SAKALA JIVA TOHI PARAMA PIYARA।
SAKALA VISHVA TORE ADHARA॥
PARLAYA KALA MAI NARTANA KARINI।
JAI JANANI SAB JAGAKI PALANI॥
MAHODARI MAHESHWARI MAYA।
HIMGIRI SUTA VISHVA KI CHAYA॥
SVACHANDA RADA MARADA DHUNI MAHI।
GARJATA TUMAHI AUR KOU NAHI॥
SPHURTI MANIGANAKARA PRATANE।
TARAGANA TU BYOMA VITANE॥
SHRI DHARE SANTANA HITAKARINI।
AGANI PANI ATI DUSHTA VIDARINI॥
DHUMRA VILOCHANI PRANA VIMOCHANI।
SHUMBHA NISHUMBHA MATHANI VARALOCHANI॥
SAHAS BHUJI SARORUHA MALINI।
CHAMUNDE MARAGHATA KI VASINI॥
KHAPPARA MADHYA SUSHONITA SAJI।
MAREHU MAA MAHISHASURA PAJI॥
AMBA AMBIKA CHANDA CHANDIKA।
SABA EKA TUMA ADI KALIKA॥
AJA EKARUPA BAHURUPA।
AKATHA CHATRITRA TAB SHAKTI ANUPA॥
KALKATTA KE DAKSHINA DVARE।
MURATI TORA MAHESHI APARE॥
KADAMBARI PANARATA SHYAMA।
JAI MATANGI KAMA KE DHAMA॥
KAMALASANA VASINI KAMALAYANI।
JAI SHYAMA JAI JAI SHYAMAYANI॥
MATANGI JAI JAYATI PRAKRITI HAI।
JAYATI BHAKATI URA KUMATI SUMATI HAI॥
KOTIBRAHMA SHIVA VISHNU KAMADA।
JAYATI AHINSA DHARAMA JANMADA॥
JALA THALA NABHAMANDALA ME VYAPINI।
SAUDAMINI MADHYA ALAPINI॥
JHANANANA TACHHU MARIRINA NADINI।
JAI SARASVATI VINA VADINI॥
OM AE HRING KLING CHAMUNDAY VICHCHE।
KALITA KANDA SHOBHITA NARAMUNDA॥
JAI BRAHMANDA SIDDHI KAVI MATA।
KAMAKHAYA AUR KALI MATA॥
HINGALAJA VINDHYACHALA VASINI।
ATTAHASINI ARU AGHANA NASHINI॥
KITANI STUTI KARUN AKHANDE।
TU BRAHMANDE SHAKTIJITACHANDE॥
KARAHU KRIPA SABAPE JAGADAMBA।
RAHAHIN NISHANKA TORA AVALAMBA॥
CHATURABHUJI KALI TUMA SHYAMA।
RUPA TUMHARA MAHA ABHIRAMA॥
KHADAGA AUR KHAPPARA KARA SOHATA।
SURA NARA MUNI SABAKO MANA MOHATA॥
TUMHARI KRIPA PAVE JO KOYI।
ROGA SHOKA NAHIN TAKAHA HOYI॥
JO YAHA PATHA KARE CHALISA।
TAPARA KRIPA KARAHI GOURISHA॥
॥ DOHA ॥
JAI KAPALINI JAI SHIVA,
JAI JAI JAI JAGADAMBA।
SADA BHAKTAJANA KERI DUKHA,
HARAHU MATU AVALAMBA॥
Spiritual Significance
The Shri Kali Chalisa holds profound spiritual value:
- Protection: Reciting it is believed to shield devotees from black magic, evil spirits, and physical harm.
- Inner Transformation: Kali’s fierce energy inspires courage and the shedding of ego, aligning the devotee with higher consciousness.
- Karmic Cleansing: Regular chanting is said to purify past sins and remove obstacles.
- Tantric Connection: In Tantric traditions, the Chalisa is a meditative tool to awaken Kundalini energy and connect with Kali’s primal force.
Devotees often recite it during Kali Puja (especially on Diwali’s Amavasya night), Tuesdays, or Saturdays, considered auspicious for Kali worship.
How to Recite Shri Kali Chalisa
- Accompaniments: Some devotees pair it with offerings like red hibiscus, sindoor (vermilion), or black sesame seeds, sacred to Kali.
- Preparation: Sit in a clean space, preferably before an image or idol of Goddess Kali. Light a lamp and offer flowers or incense.
- Mindset: Chant with devotion, visualizing Kali’s form and surrendering fears or desires.
- Frequency: Daily recitation or 11, 21, or 108 times for specific intentions amplifies its effect.
Cultural and Modern Relevance
The Shri Kali Chalisa transcends religious boundaries, resonating with those drawn to Kali’s mystique. In modern times, it has been adapted into bhajans, recorded by artists, and shared online, making it accessible globally. Its themes of empowerment and resilience appeal to contemporary seekers facing life’s uncertainties.
In regions like West Bengal, Assam, and Odisha where Kali worship is prominent the Chalisa is a household prayer, sung during festivals and personal rituals. Its rhythmic verses and emotive power continue to inspire art, music, and literature.
