Vaishno Devi Chalisa
श्री वैष्णो देवी चालीसा
Origin & Story
Traditional Hindi devotional chalisa · Traditional (signed 'Sharma') · Devotional era
Mata Vaishno Devi is revered as a unified form of Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati who, in the age of Kali, took her abode in a cave high in the Trikuta mountains near Katra. The Chalisa narrates her sacred story — her penance for Lord Rama, her flight from the yogi Bhairon, her nine months in the Garbhajoon cave, and her self-revelation as the Pindi — a tale retold by the millions who climb to her shrine crying 'Jai Mata Di.'
✦ As told in scripture
It is told that the Mother granted the yogi Bhairon liberation even as she struck off his head — promising that no pilgrimage to her cave is complete without his darshan too. Pilgrims climb the Trikuta hills singing her praise, and return saying their heartfelt wishes were granted at the Pindi.
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Complete Text with Meaning
गरुड़ वाहिनी वैष्णवी त्रिकुटा पर्वत धाम । काली लक्ष्मी सरस्वती शक्ति तुम्हें प्रणाम ॥
Garuda़ vahini vaishnavi trikuta parvata dhama Kali lakshmi sarasvati shakti tumhem pranama
Meaning:O Vaishnavi who rides the Garuda, whose abode is the Trikuta mountain; Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswati — O Shakti, I bow to you.
वैष्णो वरदानी । कलिकाल में शुभ कल्याणी ॥
Vaishno varadani Kalikala mem shubha kalyani
Meaning:Victory to Vaishno, the boon-giver, the auspicious bringer of welfare in the age of Kali.
मणि पर्वत पर ज्योति तुम्हारी । पिण्डी रूप में हो अवतारी ॥
Mani parvata para jyoti tumhari Pindi rupa mem ho avatari
Meaning:On Mani mountain shines your light; you have incarnated in the form of the Pindi (the holy rock).
देवी देवता अंश दियो है । रत्नाकर घर जन्म लियो है ॥
Devi devata amsha diyo hai Ratnakara ghara janma liyo hai
Meaning:The gods gave a portion of themselves; you took birth in the home of (the sage) Ratnakar.
करी तपस्या राम को पाऊँ । त्रेता की शक्ति कहलाऊँ ॥
Kari tapasya rama ko paun Treta ki shakti kahalaun
Meaning:"I performed penance to attain Rama; I am called the Shakti of the Treta age."
कहा राम मणि पर्वत जाओ । कलियुग की देवी कहलाओ ॥
Kaha rama mani parvata jao Kaliyuga ki devi kahalao
Meaning:Rama said: "Go to Mani mountain; you shall be called the Goddess of the Kali age."
विष्णु रूप से कल्कि बनकर । लूँगा शक्ति रूप बदलकर ॥
Vishnu rupa se kalki banakara Lunga shakti rupa badalakara
Meaning:"As Vishnu I shall become Kalki, changing into the form of Shakti;"
तब तक त्रिकुटा घाटी जाओ । गुफा अँधेरी जाकर पाओ ॥
Taba taka trikuta ghati jao Gupha andheri jakara pao
Meaning:"till then, go to the Trikuta valley and find a dark cave to dwell in."
काली लक्ष्मी सरस्वती माँ । करेंगी रक्षण पार्वती माँ ॥
Kali lakshmi sarasvati man Karemgi rakshana parvati man
Meaning:Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswati — Mother Parvati — will be your protectors.
ब्रह्मा विष्णु शंकर द्वारे । हनुमत भैरों प्रहरी प्यारे ॥
Brahma vishnu shamkara dvare Hanumata bhairom prahari pyare
Meaning:At your gates stand Brahma, Vishnu and Shankara; Hanuman and Bhairon, the beloved sentinels.
रिद्धि सिद्धि चँवर डुलावें । कलियुग वासी पूजत आवें ॥
Riddhi siddhi chanvara dulavem Kaliyuga vasi pujata avem
Meaning:Riddhi and Siddhi wave the fly-whisk; the dwellers of the Kali age come to worship.
पान सुपारी ध्वजा नारियल । चरणामृत चरणों का निर्मल ॥
Pana supari dhvaja nariyala Charanamrita charanom ka nirmala
Meaning:Paan, betel-nut, banner and coconut, and the pure charnamrit of your feet (are offered).
दिया फलित वर माँ मुस्काई । करन तपस्या पर्वत आई ॥
Diya phalita vara man muskai Karana tapasya parvata ai
Meaning:The Mother smiled and granted the fruitful boon; she came to the mountain to perform penance.
कलिकाल की भड़की ज्वाला । इक दिन अपना रूप निकाला ॥
Kalikala ki bhada़ki jvala Ika dina apana rupa nikala
Meaning:When the fire of the Kali age blazed up, one day she revealed her true form.
कन्या बन नगरोटा आई । योगी भैरों दिया दिखाई ॥
Kanya bana nagarota ai Yogi bhairom diya dikhai
Meaning:Taking the form of a maiden she came to Nagrota; the yogi Bhairon caught sight of her.
रूप देख सुन्दर ललचाया । पीछे पीछे भागा आया ॥
Rupa dekha sundara lalachaya Pichhe pichhe bhaga aya
Meaning:Seeing her beautiful form he was tempted, and ran chasing after her.
कन्याओं के साथ मिली माँ । कौल कंदौली तभी चली माँ ॥
Kanyaom ke satha mili man Kaula kamdauli tabhi chali man
Meaning:The Mother joined the company of maidens (kanyas); from Kaul Kandoli she then moved on.
देवा माई दर्शन दीना । पवन रूप हो गई प्रवीणा ॥
Deva mai darshana dina Pavana rupa ho gai pravina
Meaning:The langur (Veer) gave darshan; she became swift, taking the form of the wind.
नवरात्रों में लीला रचाई । भक्त श्रीधर के घर आई ॥
Navaratrom mem lila rachai Bhakta shridhara ke ghara ai
Meaning:During the Navratris she enacted her divine play; she came to the home of the devotee Shridhar.
योगिन को भण्डारा दीना । सबने रुचिकर भोजन कीना ॥
Yogina ko bhandara dina Sabane ruchikara bhojana kina
Meaning:She gave a feast (bhandara) to the yogis; all ate the delicious food with relish.
मांस मदिरा भैरों माँगी । रूप पवन कर इच्छा त्यागी ॥
Mamsa madira bhairom mangi Rupa pavana kara ichchha tyagi
Meaning:Bhairon demanded meat and wine; taking the wind-form, she renounced (his demand and departed).
बाण मारकर गंगा निकाली । पर्वत भागी हो मतवाली ॥
Bana marakara gamga nikali Parvata bhagi ho matavali
Meaning:Shooting an arrow she brought forth the Ganga (Banganga); intoxicated with power, she fled up the mountain.
चरण रखे आ एक शिला जब । चरण पादुका नाम पड़ा तब ॥
Charana rakhe a eka shila jaba Charana paduka nama pada़a taba
Meaning:When she set her feet upon a rock, that place came to be named Charan Paduka.
पीछे भैरों था बलकारी । छोटी गुफा में जाय पधारी ॥
Pichhe bhairom tha balakari Chhoti gupha mem jaya padhari
Meaning:Behind her the mighty Bhairon pursued; she entered a small cave (Garbhajoon).
नौ माह तक किया निवासा । चली फोड़कर किया प्रकाशा ॥
Nau maha taka kiya nivasa Chali phoda़kara kiya prakasha
Meaning:She dwelt there for nine months, then split it open and came forth, revealing her light.
आद्या शक्ति ब्रह्म कुमारी । कहलाई माँ आदि कुँवारी ॥
Adya shakti brahma kumari Kahalai man adi kunvari
Meaning:The Primordial Shakti, daughter of Brahman, came to be called Mother Adi Kunwari (the Eternal Virgin).
गुफा द्वार पहुँची मुस्काई । लांगुर वीर ने आज्ञा पाई ॥
Gupha dvara pahunchi muskai Lamgura vira ne ajna pai
Meaning:Reaching the cave-door she smiled; the brave Langur received her command.
भागा भागा भैरों आया । रक्षा हित निज शस्त्र चलाया ॥
Bhaga bhaga bhairom aya Raksha hita nija shastra chalaya
Meaning:Bhairon came running; for his own protection he wielded his weapon.
पड़ा शीश जा पर्वत ऊपर । किया क्षमा जा दिया उसे वर ॥
Pada़a shisha ja parvata upara Kiya kshama ja diya use vara
Meaning:His head fell upon the mountain above; she forgave him and granted him a boon:
अपने संग में पुजवाऊँगी । भैरों घाटी बनवाऊँगी ॥
Apane samga mem pujavaungi Bhairom ghati banavaungi
Meaning:"I shall have you worshipped along with me; I shall establish Bhairon's valley (shrine)."
पहले मेरा दर्शन होगा । पीछे तेरा सुमरन होगा ॥
Pahale mera darshana hoga Pichhe tera sumarana hoga
Meaning:"First my darshan shall be had, and afterwards your remembrance (worship)."
बैठ गई माँ पिण्डी होकर । चरणों में बहता जल झर-झर ॥
Baitha gai man pindi hokara Charanom mem bahata jala jhara-jhara
Meaning:The Mother sat, becoming the Pindi; at her feet the water flows ceaselessly.
चौंसठ योगिनी भैरों बरवन । सप्तऋषि आ करते सुमरन ॥
Chaumsatha yogini bhairom baravana Saptarishi a karate sumarana
Meaning:The sixty-four yoginis and Bhairon attend; the seven sages come to worship.
घंटा ध्वनि पर्वत पर बाजे । गुफा निराली सुन्दर लागे ॥
Ghamta dhvani parvata para baje Gupha nirali sundara lage
Meaning:The sound of the bell rings out upon the mountain; the matchless cave looks beautiful.
भक्त श्रीधर पूजन कीना । भक्ति सेवा का वर लीना ॥
Bhakta shridhara pujana kina Bhakti seva ka vara lina
Meaning:The devotee Shridhar performed the worship; he received the boon of devotion and service.
सेवक ध्यानूँ तुमको ध्याया । ध्वजा व चोला आन चढ़ाया ॥
Sevaka dhyanun tumako dhyaya Dhvaja va chola ana chadha़aya
Meaning:Your servant Dhyanu meditated upon you; he came and offered the banner and the robe (chola).
सिंह सदा दर पहरा देता । पंजा शेर का दुःख हर लेता ॥
Simha sada dara pahara deta Pamja shera ka duhkha hara leta
Meaning:The lion ever keeps watch at your door; the lion's paw takes away all sorrow.
जम्बू द्वीप महाराज मनाया । सिर सोने का छत्र चढ़ाया ॥
Jambu dvipa maharaja manaya Sira sone ka chhatra chadha़aya
Meaning:The king of Jambudvipa honoured you; he offered a golden parasol over your head.
हीरे की मूरत संग प्यारी । जगे अखण्ड इक जोत तुम्हारी ॥
Hire ki murata samga pyari Jage akhanda ika jota tumhari
Meaning:A dear diamond-studded image is beside you; your single, unbroken flame burns ever.
आश्विन चैत्र नवराते आऊँ । पिण्डी रानी दर्शन पाऊँ ॥
Ashvina chaitra navarate aun Pindi rani darshana paun
Meaning:In the Navratris of Ashvin and Chaitra I come; may I gain the darshan of the Pindi-Queen.
सेवक शर्मा शरण तिहारी । हरो वैष्णो विपत हमारी ॥
Sevaka sharma sharana tihari Haro vaishno vipata hamari
Meaning:Your servant Sharma is at your refuge; O Vaishno, remove our calamity.
कलियुग में महिमा तेरी है माँ अपरम्पार । धर्म की हानि हो रही प्रगट हो अवतार ॥
Kaliyuga mem mahima teri hai man aparampara Dharma ki hani ho rahi pragata ho avatara
Meaning:In the Kali age your glory, O Mother, is boundless; when dharma declines, you become manifest as an incarnation.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Vaishno Devi Chalisa
Recited to invoke Mata Vaishno Devi — the Goddess of the Trikuta hills, a unified form of Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswati — for protection, prosperity and fulfilment of wishes.
Narrates the Mother's sacred story — her penance, the Bhairon episode, the Garbhajoon cave and the Pindi — strengthening faith and devotion.
Believed to grant 'manvanchit phal' (the heart's desire) to those who come to the Mother with firm faith, and to remove obstacles, fear and calamity.
Especially powerful during Navratri (Ashvin and Chaitra), and recited by pilgrims on the yatra to the holy cave at Katra.
Chanted with the Vaishno Devi Aarti and Durga Chalisa to complete the Mother's worship.
How to Chant Vaishno Devi Chalisa
After bathing, sit before an image of Mata Vaishno Devi, light a lamp and offer red flowers, a chunri and prasad. Recite the Chalisa with devotion, dwelling on the Mother's sacred story, and conclude with the Vaishno Devi Aarti and the cry 'Jai Mata Di.' It is especially recited daily through the nine days of Navratri, and by pilgrims on the yatra to the Trikuta cave.
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