Kali Chalisa
श्री काली चालीसा
Origin & Story
Traditional Hindi devotional chalisa · Traditional · Devotional era
Kali is the fierce, dark aspect of the Mother Goddess, born of Durga's wrath to slay the demons that the gods could not. The Chalisa recalls her eight-armed form garlanded with skulls, her slaying of Mahishasura, Shumbha and Nishumbha, and the moment when, unstoppable in her battle-fury, she trod upon Shiva and bit her tongue, the form by which she is known to this day, at once the destroyer of all evil and the granter of fearlessness to her devotees.
✦ As told in scripture
It is told that Kali's battle-fury in slaying the demons could not be quelled until Shiva himself lay in her path; the touch of her own lord beneath her foot stilled her wrath, and the Mother who could not be stopped by all the gods was checked in an instant by love, a sign that she yields utterly to the devotion of those who take her name.
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Complete Text with Meaning
जयकाली कलिमलहरण, महिमा अगम अपार । महिष मर्दिनी कालिका , देहु अभय अपार ॥
Jayakali kalimalaharana, mahima agama apara Mahisha mardini kalika , dehu abhaya apara
Meaning:Hail Kali, remover of the impurities of the dark age, whose glory is unfathomable and boundless! O Kalika, slayer of the buffalo-demon Mahisha, grant me boundless fearlessness.
अरि मद मान मिटावन हारी । मुण्डमाल गल सोहत प्यारी ॥
Ari mada mana mitavana hari Mundamala gala sohata pyari
Meaning:You who destroy the pride and arrogance of the foe; a garland of skulls adorns your neck, O beloved Mother.
अष्टभुजी सुखदायक माता । दुष्टदलन जग में विख्याता ॥
Ashtabhuji sukhadayaka mata Dushtadalana jaga mem vikhyata
Meaning:Eight-armed Mother, giver of joy, renowned throughout the world as the crusher of the wicked.
भाल विशाल मुकुट छवि छाजै । कर में शीश शत्रु का साजै ॥
Bhala vishala mukuta chhavi chhajai Kara mem shisha shatru ka sajai
Meaning:Upon your broad brow a crown shines in beauty; in one hand you hold the severed head of the enemy.
दूजे हाथ लिए मधु प्याला । हाथ तीसरे सोहत भाला ॥
Duje hatha lie madhu pyala Hatha tisare sohata bhala
Meaning:In your second hand you hold a cup of wine; in your third hand gleams a spear.
चौथे खप्पर खड्ग कर पाञ्चे । छठे त्रिशूल शत्रु बल जाञ्चे ॥
Chauthe khappara khadga kara panche Chhathe trishula shatru bala janche
Meaning:In the fourth a skull-bowl, in the fifth a sword; with the trident in the sixth you put the enemy's strength to the test.
सप्तम कर दमकत असि प्यारी । शोभा अद्भुत मात तुम्हारी ॥
Saptama kara damakata asi pyari Shobha adbhuta mata tumhari
Meaning:In your seventh hand glitters the beloved sword; wondrous is your splendour, O Mother.
अष्टम कर भक्तन वर दाता । जग मनहरण रूप ये माता ॥
Ashtama kara bhaktana vara data Jaga manaharana rupa ye mata
Meaning:Your eighth hand bestows boons upon your devotees; this form of yours, O Mother, enchants the whole world.
भक्तन में अनुरक्त भवानी । निशदिन रटें ऋषि-मुनि ज्ञानी ॥
Bhaktana mem anurakta bhavani Nishadina ratem rishi-muni jnani
Meaning:O Bhavani, devoted to your devotees, whom the sages, seers and the wise repeat by day and night.
महशक्ति अति प्रबल पुनीता । तू ही काली तू ही सीता ॥
Mahashakti ati prabala punita Tu hi kali tu hi sita
Meaning:Great Power (Mahashakti), most mighty and holy, you alone are Kali and you alone are Sita.
पतित तारिणी हे जग पालक । कल्याणी पापीकुल घालक ॥
Patita tarini he jaga palaka Kalyani papikula ghalaka
Meaning:Redeemer of the fallen, O sustainer of the world; auspicious Kalyani, destroyer of the whole brood of sinners.
शेष सुरेश न पावत पारा । गौरी रूप धर्यो इक बारा ॥
Shesha suresha na pavata para Gauri rupa dharyo ika bara
Meaning:Neither Shesha nor Indra, lord of the gods, can find your limit; once you assumed the fair form of Gauri.
तुम समान दाता नहिं दूजा । विधिवत करें भक्तजन पूजा ॥
Tuma samana data nahim duja Vidhivata karem bhaktajana puja
Meaning:There is no other giver equal to you; your devotees worship you according to the sacred rites.
रूप भयङ्कर जब तुम धारा । दुष्टदलन कीन्हेहु संहारा ॥
Rupa bhayankara jaba tuma dhara Dushtadalana kinhehu samhara
Meaning:When you assumed your terrifying form, you crushed the wicked and wrought their utter destruction.
नाम अनेकन मात तुम्हारे । भक्तजनों के सङ्कट टारे ॥
Nama anekana mata tumhare Bhaktajanom ke sankata tare
Meaning:Many are your names, O Mother; you ward off every calamity of your devotees.
कलि के कष्ट कलेशन हरनी । भव भय मोचन मङ्गल करनी ॥
Kali ke kashta kaleshana harani Bhava bhaya mochana mangala karani
Meaning:Remover of the troubles and afflictions of the Kali age; releaser from the fear of worldly existence, doer of all that is auspicious.
महिमा अगम वेद यश गावैं । नारद शारद पार न पावैं ॥
Mahima agama veda yasha gavaim Narada sharada para na pavaim
Meaning:Your glory is unfathomable; the Vedas sing your fame; even Narada and Sharada (Saraswati) cannot reach your far shore.
भू पर भार बढ्यौ जब भारी । तब तब तुम प्रकटीं महतारी ॥
Bhu para bhara badhyau jaba bhari Taba taba tuma prakatim mahatari
Meaning:Whenever the burden upon the earth grew heavy, then and again you became manifest, O Mother.
आदि अनादि अभय वरदाता । विश्वविदित भव सङ्कट त्राता ॥
Adi anadi abhaya varadata Vishvavidita bhava sankata trata
Meaning:Beginning and beginningless, giver of the boon of fearlessness; known throughout the universe as the saviour from the perils of existence.
कुसमय नाम तुम्हारौ लीन्हा । उसको सदा अभय वर दीन्हा ॥
Kusamaya nama tumharau linha Usako sada abhaya vara dinha
Meaning:Whoever took your name in a time of distress, to him you ever granted the boon of fearlessness.
ध्यान धरें श्रुति शेष सुरेशा । काल रूप लखि तुमरो भेषा ॥
Dhyana dharem shruti shesha suresha Kala rupa lakhi tumaro bhesha
Meaning:The Vedas, Shesha and Indra meditate upon you, beholding your guise in the very form of Time (Kala).
कलुआ भैंरों सङ्ग तुम्हारे । अरि हित रूप भयानक धारे ॥
Kalua bhaimrom sanga tumhare Ari hita rupa bhayanaka dhare
Meaning:Kalua and Bhairava are your companions; to destroy the enemy you assume a fearsome form.
सेवक लाङ्गुर रहत अगारी । चौसठ जोगन आज्ञाकारी ॥
Sevaka langura rahata agari Chausatha jogana ajnakari
Meaning:Your servant Langur (Hanuman) stands ever before you; the sixty-four Yoginis are obedient to your command.
त्रेता में रघुवर हित आई । दशकन्धर की सैन नसाई ॥
Treta mem raghuvara hita ai Dashakandhara ki saina nasai
Meaning:In the Treta age you came for the sake of Raghuvara (Rama), and destroyed the army of the ten-headed Ravana.
खेला रण का खेल निराला । भरा मांस-मज्जा से प्याला ॥
Khela rana ka khela nirala Bhara mamsa-majja se pyala
Meaning:You played the wondrous game of battle, and filled your bowl with flesh and marrow.
रौद्र रूप लखि दानव भागे । कियौ गवन भवन निज त्यागे ॥
Raudra rupa lakhi danava bhage Kiyau gavana bhavana nija tyage
Meaning:Beholding your furious form, the demons fled, abandoning their own dwellings in flight.
तब ऐसौ तामस चढ़ आयो । स्वजन विजन को भेद भुलायो ॥
Taba aisau tamasa chadha़ ayo Svajana vijana ko bheda bhulayo
Meaning:Then such a dark fury rose up in you that you forgot the difference between your own people and strangers.
ये बालक लखि शङ्कर आए । राह रोक चरनन में धाए ॥
Ye balaka lakhi shankara ae Raha roka charanana mem dhae
Meaning:Seeing this, Shankara (Shiva) came and, blocking your path, threw himself down at your feet.
तब मुख जीभ निकर जो आई । यही रूप प्रचलित है माई ॥
Taba mukha jibha nikara jo ai Yahi rupa prachalita hai mai
Meaning:Then your tongue shot out from your mouth (in startled shame at treading on Shiva); this is the form, O Mother, that is famed the world over.
बाढ्यो महिषासुर मद भारी । पीड़इत किए सकल नर-नारी ॥
Badhyo mahishasura mada bhari Pida़ita kie sakala nara-nari
Meaning:The buffalo-demon Mahishasura, swollen with great arrogance, tormented every man and woman.
करूण पुकार सुनी भक्तन की । पीर मिटावन हित जन-जन की ॥
Karuna pukara suni bhaktana ki Pira mitavana hita jana-jana ki
Meaning:You heard the piteous cry of your devotees, to wipe away the suffering of each and every soul.
तब प्रगटी निज सैन समेता । नाम पड़ा मां महिष विजेता ॥
Taba pragati nija saina sameta Nama pada़a mam mahisha vijeta
Meaning:Then you appeared together with your own host; and your name, O Mother, became 'Conqueror of Mahisha'.
शुम्भ निशुम्भ हने छन माहीं । तुम सम जग दूसर कौ नाहीं ॥
Shumbha nishumbha hane chhana mahim Tuma sama jaga dusara kau nahim
Meaning:You slew Shumbha and Nishumbha in an instant; there is no other in the world equal to you.
मान मथनहारी खल दल के । सदा सहायक भक्त विकल के ॥
Mana mathanahari khala dala ke Sada sahayaka bhakta vikala ke
Meaning:Crusher of the pride of the hosts of the wicked; ever the helper of the devotee in distress.
दीन विहीन करैं नित सेवा । पावैं मनवाञ्छित फल मेवा ॥
Dina vihina karaim nita seva Pavaim manavanchhita phala meva
Meaning:The humble and destitute who serve you daily obtain the cherished fruit of their heart's desire.
सङ्कट में जो सुमिरन करहीं । उनके कष्ट मातु तुम हरहीं ॥
Sankata mem jo sumirana karahim Unake kashta matu tuma harahim
Meaning:Those who remember you in calamity, their sufferings, O Mother, you take away.
प्रेम सहित जो कीरतिगावैं । भव बन्धन सों मुक्ती पावैं ॥
Prema sahita jo kiratigavaim Bhava bandhana som mukti pavaim
Meaning:Those who sing your glory with love attain release from the bonds of worldly existence.
काली चालीसा जो पढ़हीं । स्वर्गलोक बिनु बन्धन चढ़हीं ॥
Kali chalisa jo padha़him Svargaloka binu bandhana chadha़him
Meaning:Those who read the Kali Chalisa ascend to the heavenly realm, free of all bondage.
दया दृष्टि हेरौ जगदम्बा । केहि कारणमां कियौ विलम्बा ॥
Daya drishti herau jagadamba Kehi karanamam kiyau vilamba
Meaning:Cast your glance of compassion upon me, O Jagadamba; for what reason, O Mother, do you delay?
करहु मातु भक्तन रखवाली । जयति जयति काली कङ्काली ॥
Karahu matu bhaktana rakhavali Jayati jayati kali kankali
Meaning:Protect your devotees, O Mother; victory, victory to Kali, the skeletal one (Kankali)!
सेवक दीन अनाथ अनारी। भक्तिभाव युति शरण तुम्हारी ॥
Sevaka dina anatha anari Bhaktibhava yuti sharana tumhari
Meaning:Your servant is humble, orphaned and helpless; with a heart full of devotion he takes refuge in you.
प्रेम सहित जो करे, काली चालीसा पाठ । तिनकी पूरन कामना, होय सकल जग ठाठ ॥
Prema sahita jo kare, kali chalisa patha Tinaki purana kamana, hoya sakala jaga thatha
Meaning:Whoever recites the Kali Chalisa with love, all their desires are fulfilled, and the whole splendour of the world is theirs.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Kali Chalisa
Recited to invoke Maa Kali, the fierce protective form of the Goddess, for the destruction of fear, enemies, negativity and the ego.
Describes Kali's eight-armed form, her companions and her deeds (the slaying of Mahishasura, Shumbha and Nishumbha, and the episode of treading on Shiva), strengthening courage and surrender.
Believed to remove the troubles and afflictions of the Kali age, to shield devotees in danger, and to grant the heart's desire to those who serve her with devotion.
Especially recited on Kali Puja and the Amavasya nights, during Navratri (the night of Kali / Maha Ashtami), and on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Chanted with the Durga Chalisa, Durga Kavach and Mahishasura Mardini Stotra to complete the worship of the Mother.
How to Chant Kali Chalisa
After bathing, sit before an image of Maa Kali, light a lamp (and incense) and offer red flowers (hibiscus) and prasad. Recite the Chalisa with a calm, fearless and devoted mind, dwelling on the Mother as the destroyer of all evil, and conclude with 'Jai Maa Kali'. It is recited with special power on Kali Puja and Amavasya nights.
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