श्री गंगा चालीसा
Origin & Story
Traditional Hindi devotional chalisa · Sundardas (as named in the closing verse) · Devotional era
Ganga is the sacred river worshipped as a goddess who flows through the three worlds: as Mandakini in heaven, as Bhagirathi-Jahnavi on earth, and as Bhagavati in the netherworld. The Chalisa recalls how, through the penance of Bhagiratha, she descended from heaven and was caught in Shiva's matted locks to spare the earth her force, then flowed on to liberate the ancestors of Sagara, becoming the eternal purifier of all who come to her.
✦ As told in scripture
It is held that even uttering 'Ganga, Ganga' from afar, or a single drop of her water at life's end, washes away the sins of many births, for at her name Yama himself turns away; the river that liberated the sixty thousand sons of Sagara liberates her devotees still.
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Complete Text with Meaning
जय जय जय जग पावनी जयति देवसरि गंग । जय शिव जटा निवासिनी अनुपम तुंग तरंग ॥
Jaya jaya jaya jaga pavani jayati devasari gamga Jaya shiva jata nivasini anupama tumga taramga
Meaning:Victory, victory, victory to Ganga, purifier of the world, the river of the gods! Hail to her who dwells in Shiva's matted locks, with her peerless, soaring waves.
जय जग जननि अघ खानी, आनन्द करनि गंग महरानी । जय भागीरथि सुरसरि माता, कलिमल मूल दलनि विखयाता ।।
Jaya jaga janani agha khani, ananda karani gamga maharani Jaya bhagirathi surasari mata, kalimala mula dalani vikhayata
Meaning:Hail, Mother of the world, devourer of sins, Ganga the great queen who bestows bliss! Hail Bhagirathi, mother river of the gods, renowned as the destroyer of the very root of the sins of Kali.
जय जय जय हनु सुता अघ अननी, भीषम की माता जग जननी । धवल कमल दल मम तनु साजे, लखि शत शरद चन्द्र छवि लाजे ।।
Jaya jaya jaya hanu suta agha anani, bhishama ki mata jaga janani Dhavala kamala dala mama tanu saje, lakhi shata sharada chandra chhavi laje
Meaning:Hail, daughter of Jahnu, slayer of sin, mother of Bhishma and Mother of the world! Your form shines white as a cluster of lotuses; beholding it, the beauty of a hundred autumn moons is put to shame.
वाहन मकर विमल शुचि सोहै, अमिय कलश कर लखि मन मोहै । जडित रत्न कंचन आभूषण, हिय मणि हार, हरणितम दूषण ।।
Vahana makara vimala shuchi sohai, amiya kalasha kara lakhi mana mohai Jadita ratna kamchana abhushana, hiya mani hara, haranitama dushana
Meaning:Your pure, bright crocodile-mount (makara) is resplendent; the nectar-pot in your hand entrances the mind. Adorned with gold and inlaid jewels, a gem-necklace upon your breast, you remove every blemish and the darkness of sin.
जग पावनि त्रय ताप नसावनि, तरल तरंग तंग मन भावनि । जो गणपति अति पूज्य प्रधाना, तिहुं ते प्रथम गंग अस्नाना ।।
Jaga pavani traya tapa nasavani, tarala taramga tamga mana bhavani Jo ganapati ati pujya pradhana, tihum te prathama gamga asnana
Meaning:Purifier of the world, destroyer of the three torments, your rippling, surging waves delight the heart. Even Ganapati, who is most worshipful and is honoured first of all, before him too comes the holy bath in the Ganga.
ब्रह्म कमण्डल वासिनी देवी श्री प्रभु पद पंकज सुख सेवी । साठि सहत्र सगर सुत तारयो, गंगा सागर तीरथ धारयो ।।
Brahma kamandala vasini devi shri prabhu pada pamkaja sukha sevi Sathi sahatra sagara suta tarayo, gamga sagara tiratha dharayo
Meaning:O Goddess who once dwelt in Brahma's water-pot, who blissfully served the lotus-feet of the Lord! You delivered the sixty thousand sons of Sagara and established the holy place of Gangasagar.
अगम तरंग उठयो मन भावन, लखि तीरथ हरिद्वार सुहावन । तीरथ राज प्रयाग अक्षैवट, धरयौ मातु पुनि काशी करवट ।।
Agama taramga uthayo mana bhavana, lakhi tiratha haridvara suhavana Tiratha raja prayaga akshaivata, dharayau matu puni kashi karavata
Meaning:Your fathomless waves rise, delighting the heart; behold the lovely sacred town of Haridwar. The king of holy places, Prayag with its undying banyan (Akshayavat), and then, O Mother, you turned toward Kashi (Varanasi).
धनि धनि सुरसरि स्वर्ग की सीढ़ी, तारणि अमित पितृ पद पीढी । भागीरथ तप कियो अपारा, दियो ब्रह्म तब सुरसरि धारा ।।
Dhani dhani surasari svarga ki sidha़i, tarani amita pitri pada pidhi Bhagiratha tapa kiyo apara, diyo brahma taba surasari dhara
Meaning:Blessed, blessed are you, river of the gods, the very stairway to heaven, who deliver countless generations of ancestors! Bhagiratha performed boundless penance, and then Brahma released the stream of the heavenly river.
जब जग जननी चल्यो लहराई, शंभु जटा महं रह्यो समाई । वर्ष पर्यन्त गंग महरानी, रहीं शंभु के जटा भुलानी ।।
Jaba jaga janani chalyo laharai, shambhu jata maham rahyo samai Varsha paryanta gamga maharani, rahim shambhu ke jata bhulani
Meaning:When the Mother of the world flowed forth surging, she was held absorbed within Shambhu's (Shiva's) matted locks. For a whole year Ganga the great queen remained lost, forgotten, in Shiva's hair.
मुनि भागीरथ शंभुहिं ध्यायो, तब इक बूंद जटा से पायो । ताते मातु भई त्रय धारा, मृत्यु लोक, नभ अरु पातारा ।।
Muni bhagiratha shambhuhim dhyayo, taba ika bumda jata se payo Tate matu bhai traya dhara, mrityu loka, nabha aru patara
Meaning:The sage Bhagiratha meditated upon Shambhu, and then won a single drop from his locks. From that, O Mother, you became three streams, for the mortal world, the heavens, and the netherworld (Patala).
गई पाताल प्रभावति नामा, मन्दाकिनी गई गगन ललामा । मृत्यु लोक जाह्नवी सुहावनि, कलिमल हरणि अगम जग पावनि ।।
Gai patala prabhavati nama, mandakini gai gagana lalama Mrityu loka jahnavi suhavani, kalimala harani agama jaga pavani
Meaning:To Patala you went by the name Bhagavati; to the heavens you went as Mandakini, the ornament of the sky. In the mortal world you are lovely Jahnavi, remover of the impurities of Kali, the fathomless purifier of the world.
धनि मइया तव महिमा भारी, धर्म धुरि कलि कलुष कुठारी । मातु प्रभावति धनि मन्दाकिनी, धनि सुरसरित सकल भयनासिनी ।।
Dhani maiya tava mahima bhari, dharma dhuri kali kalusha kuthari Matu prabhavati dhani mandakini, dhani surasarita sakala bhayanasini
Meaning:Blessed Mother, great is your glory, the axle of dharma, the axe that cleaves the sins of the Kali age. Blessed Bhagavati, blessed Mandakini; blessed river of the gods, destroyer of every fear.
पान करत निर्मल गंगाजल, पावत मन इच्छित अनन्त फल । पूरब जन्म पुण्य जब जागत, तबहिं ध्यान गंगा महं लागत ।।
Pana karata nirmala gamgajala, pavata mana ichchhita ananta phala Puraba janma punya jaba jagata, tabahim dhyana gamga maham lagata
Meaning:Drinking the pure water of Ganga, one gains endless fruit, the heart's every desire. Only when the merit of past births awakens does the mind become fixed in meditation upon Ganga.
जई पगु सुरसरि हेतु उठावहिं, तइ जगि अश्वमेध फल पावहिं । महा पतित जिन काहु न तारे, तिन तारे इक नाम तिहारे ।।
Jai pagu surasari hetu uthavahim, tai jagi ashvamedha phala pavahim Maha patita jina kahu na tare, tina tare ika nama tihare
Meaning:Whatever steps one takes for the sake of the heavenly river, by them one gains in this world the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice. The greatest sinners, whom none could deliver, even those your single name has delivered.
शत योजनहू से जो ध्यावहिं, निश्चय विष्णु लोक पद पावहिं । नाम भजत अगणित अघ नाशै, विमल ज्ञान बल बुद्धि प्रकाशै ।।
Shata yojanahu se jo dhyavahim, nishchaya vishnu loka pada pavahim Nama bhajata aganita agha nashai, vimala jnana bala buddhi prakashai
Meaning:Those who meditate upon you even from a hundred yojanas away surely attain the abode of Vishnu. Chanting your name destroys countless sins and kindles pure knowledge, strength and intellect.
जिमि धन मूल धर्म अरु दाना, धर्म मूल गंगाजल पाना । तव गुण गुणन करत सुख भाजत, गृह गृह सम्पत्ति सुमति विराजत ।।
Jimi dhana mula dharma aru dana, dharma mula gamgajala pana Tava guna gunana karata sukha bhajata, griha griha sampatti sumati virajata
Meaning:As wealth is the root of dharma and charity, so the drinking of Ganga's water is the root of dharma. Reciting your virtues, sorrow takes flight; in home after home prosperity and good sense abide.
गंगहिं नेम सहित निज ध्यावत, दुर्जनहूं सज्जन पद पावत । बुद्धिहीन विद्या बल पावै, रोगी रोग मुक्त ह्वै जावै ।।
Gamgahim nema sahita nija dhyavata, durjanahum sajjana pada pavata Buddhihina vidya bala pavai, rogi roga mukta hvai javai
Meaning:Whoever meditates upon Ganga with a steadfast vow, even the wicked attain the state of the virtuous. The witless gain the power of learning, and the sick are freed from their disease.
गंगा गंगा जो नर कहहीं, भूखे नंगे कबहूं न रहहीं । निकसत की मुख गंगा माई, श्रवण दाबि यम चलहिं पराई ।।
Gamga gamga jo nara kahahim, bhukhe namge kabahum na rahahim Nikasata ki mukha gamga mai, shravana dabi yama chalahim parai
Meaning:Those who say 'Ganga, Ganga' never remain hungry or destitute. The very moment 'Mother Ganga' leaves the lips, Yama (death) flees away, pressing his ears shut.
महां अधिन अधमन कहं तारें, भए नर्क के बन्द किवारे । जो नर जपै गंग शत नामा, सकल सिद्ध पूरण ह्वै कामा ।।
Maham adhina adhamana kaham tarem, bhae narka ke banda kivare Jo nara japai gamga shata nama, sakala siddha purana hvai kama
Meaning:You deliver even the lowest of the low and the most fallen; for them the doors of hell are shut fast. Whoever recites the hundred names of Ganga finds all his aims fulfilled and perfected.
सब सुख भोग परम पद पावहिं, आवागमन रहित ह्वै जावहिं । धनि मइया सुरसरि सुखदैनी, धनि धनि तीरथ राज त्रिवेणी ।।
Saba sukha bhoga parama pada pavahim, avagamana rahita hvai javahim Dhani maiya surasari sukhadaini, dhani dhani tiratha raja triveni
Meaning:They enjoy every happiness and attain the supreme state, becoming free from the round of birth and death. Blessed Mother, river of the gods, giver of joy; blessed, blessed is the king of holy places, the Triveni confluence.
ककरा ग्राम ऋषि दुर्वासा, सुन्दरदास गंगा कर दासा । जो यह पढ़ै गंगा चालीसा, मिलै भक्ति अविरल वागीसा ।।
Kakara grama rishi durvasa, sundaradasa gamga kara dasa Jo yaha padha़ai gamga chalisa, milai bhakti avirala vagisa
Meaning:In the village of Kakra, by the seat of the sage Durvasa, Sundardas is the servant of Ganga. Whoever reads this Ganga Chalisa gains unbroken devotion and the grace of the Lord of eloquence.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting श्री गंगा चालीसा
Recited to invoke Maa Ganga, the sacred river-goddess, for the washing away of sins, inner purification and peace of mind.
Narrates Ganga's descent (the penance of Bhagiratha, her passage through Shiva's locks, and the liberation of Sagara's sons), deepening faith and devotion.
Believed to grant the fruit of bathing in the Ganga even to those far from her banks, and to bring health, prosperity and freedom from fear to the devotee.
Especially recited on Ganga Dussehra, Ganga Jayanti, Kartik Purnima and Makar Sankranti, and when bathing in or offering to the Ganga.
Chanted with the Ganga Aarti ('Om Jai Gange Mata') to complete the worship of Mother Ganga.
How to Chant श्री गंगा चालीसा
After bathing, sit facing the Ganga or her image, light a lamp and offer flowers, and if possible keep Gangajal (Ganga water) before you. Recite the Chalisa with devotion, remembering her descent to earth, and conclude with the Ganga Aarti. It is offered with special faith on Ganga Dussehra and while taking a holy dip.