Shri Radha Chalisa English
The Shri Radha Chalisa is a sacred hymn in Hinduism, consisting of 40 verses (chalisa means “forty” in Hindi) dedicated to Shri Radha, the divine consort of Lord Krishna and the embodiment of pure love, devotion, and spiritual grace. This devotional composition is widely recited by devotees of Krishna, especially those within the Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition, to seek Radha’s blessings, express devotion, and deepen their connection with the divine couple—Radha and Krishna. In this article, we explore the origins, structure, themes, and spiritual significance of the Shri Radha Chalisa, along with its role in fostering bhakti (devotion).
Shri Radha Chalisa
॥ DOHA ॥
SHRI RADHE VRISHABHANUJA,BHAKTANI PRANADHARA।
VRINDAVIPINA VIHARINI,PRANAVAUM BARAMBARA॥
JAISAU TAISAU RAVARAU,KRISHNA PRIYA SUKHADHAMA।
CHARANA SHARANA NIJA DIJIYE,SUNDARA SUKHADA LALAMA॥
॥ CHAUPAI ॥
JAYA VRISHABHANU KUNVARI SHRI SHYAMA।KIRATI NANDINI SHOBHA DHAMA॥
NITYA VIHARINI SHYAMA ADHARA।AMITA MODA MANGALA DATARA॥
RASA VILASINI RASA VISTARINI।SAHACHARI SUBHAGA YUTHA MANA BHAVANI॥
NITYA KISHORI RADHA GORI।SHYAMA PRANADHANA ATI JIYA BHORI॥
KARUNA SAGARA HIYA UMANGINI।LALITADIKA SAKHIYANA KI SANGINI॥
DINA KARA KANYA KULA VIHARINI।KRISHNA PRANA PRIYA HIYA HULASAVANI॥
NITYA SHYAMA TUMARAU GUNA GAVAIN।RADHA RADHA KAHI HARASHAVAIN॥
MURALI MEM NITA NAMA UCHAREM।TUVA KARANA LILA VAPU DHAREM॥
PREMA SVARUPINI ATI SUKUMARI।SHYAMA PRIYA VRISHABHANU DULARI॥
NAVALA KISHORI ATI CHHAVI DHAMA।DYUTI LAGHU LAGAI KOTI RATI KAMA॥
GAURANGI SHASHI NINDAKA BADANA।SUBHAGA CHAPALA ANIYARE NAYANA॥
JAVAKA YUTA YUGA PANKAJA CHARANA।NUPURA DHUNI PRITAMA MANA HARANA॥
SANTATA SAHACHARI SEVA KARAHIM।MAHA MODA MANGALA MANA BHARAHIM॥
RASIKANA JIVANA PRANA ADHARA।RADHA NAMA SAKALA SUKHA SARA॥
AGAMA AGOCHARA NITYA SVARUPA।DHYANA DHARATA NISHIDINA BRAJA BHUPA॥
UPAJEU JASU ANSHA GUNA KHANI।KOTINA UMA RAMA BRAHMANI॥
NITYA DHAMA GOLOKA VIHARINI।JANA RAKSHAKA DUKHA DOSHA NASAVANI॥
SHIVA AJA MUNI SANAKADIKA NARADA।PARA NA PANYI SHESHA ARU SHARADA॥
RADHA SHUBHA GUNA RUPA UJARI।NIRAKHI PRASANNA HOTA BANABARI॥
BRAJA JIVANA DHANA RADHA RANI।MAHIMA AMITA NA JAYA BAKHANI॥
PRITAMA SANGA DEI GALABANHI।BIHARATA NITA VRINDAVANA MANHI॥
RADHA KRISHNA KRISHNA KAHAIN RADHA।EKA RUPA DOU PRITI AGADHA॥
SHRI RADHA MOHANA MANA HARANI।JANA SUKHA DAYAKA PRAPHULITA BADANI॥
KOTIKA RUPA DHAREM NANDA NANDA।DARSHA KARANA HITA GOKULA CHANDA॥
RASA KELI KARI TUMHEIN RIJAVEM।MANA KARAU JABA ATI DUHKHA PAVEM॥
PRAPHULITA HOTA DARSHA JABA PAVEM।VIVIDHA BHANTI NITA VINAYA SUNAVEM॥
VRINDARANYA VIHARINI SHYAMA।NAMA LETA PURANA SABA KAMA॥
KOTINA YAJNA TAPASYA KARAHU।VIVIDHA NEMA VRATA HIYA MEM DHARAHU॥
TAU NA SHYAMA BHAKTAHIM APANAVEM।JABA LAGI RADHA NAMA NA GAVEM॥
VRINDAVIPINA SVAMINI RADHA।LILA VAPU TABA AMITA AGADHA॥
SVAYAM KRISHNA PAVAIN NAHIM PARA।AURA TUMHEIN KO JANANA HARA॥
SHRI RADHA RASA PRITI ABHEDA।SADARA GANA KARATA NITA VEDA॥
RADHA TYAGI KRISHNA KO BHAJIHAIN।TE SAPANEHU JAGA JALADHI NA TARI HAIN॥
KIRATI KUNVARI LADILI RADHA।SUMIRATA SAKALA MITAHIM BHAVABADHA॥
NAMA AMANGALA MULA NASAVANA।TRIVIDHA TAPA HARA HARI MANABHAVANA॥
RADHA NAMA LEI JO KOI।SAHAJAHI DAMODARA BASA HOI॥
RADHA NAMA PARAMA SUKHADAI।BHAJATAHIM KRIPA KARAHIM YADURAI॥
YASHUMATI NANDANA PICHHE PHIRIHAIN।JO KOU RADHA NAMA SUMIRIHAIN॥
RASA VIHARINI SHYAMA PYARI।KARAHU KRIPA BARASANE VARI॥
VRINDAVANA HAI SHARANA TIHARI।JAYA JAYA JAYA VRISHABHANU DULARI॥
॥ DOHA ॥
SHRIRADHA SARVESHVARI,RASIKESHVARA GHANASHYAMA।
KARAHUN NIRANTARA BASA MAIN,SHRIVRINDAVANA DHAMA॥
Spiritual Significance
The Shri Radha Chalisa is more than a poetic composition—it is a spiritual practice (sadhana) that elevates the devotee’s consciousness. Here’s why it holds profound importance:
- Awakening Bhakti: Reciting the Chalisa fosters a deep emotional connection with Radha, helping devotees cultivate selfless love and surrender, which are central to Krishna bhakti.
- Purification: The repetition of Radha’s divine names and qualities is believed to cleanse the mind of impurities and material attachments.
- Protection and Blessings: Devotees believe that Radha’s grace, invoked through the Chalisa, protects them from misfortune and guides them toward righteousness.
- Meditative Tool: The rhythmic chanting of the verses serves as a meditative practice, aligning the devotee’s heart and soul with the divine.
In many households and temples, the Chalisa is recited during festivals like Radhashtami (Radha’s birth anniversary), Janmashtami (Krishna’s birth), and other auspicious occasions tied to the Braj tradition.
Cultural Impact and Recitation Practices
The Shri Radha Chalisa has become an integral part of devotional music and literature in India. It is often sung in group settings (bhajan mandalis), accompanied by harmonium, tabla, and cymbals, creating a soul-stirring atmosphere. Many contemporary artists have recorded melodious versions, making it accessible to younger generations via platforms like YouTube and Spotify.
Devotees typically recite the Chalisa:
- Early in the morning or evening as part of daily prayers.
- With a lit lamp (diya) and offerings like flowers or sweets placed before an image of Radha-Krishna.
- In a state of purity, after bathing and with a focused mind.
