Tripuraasur san yuddh machaai. Sabahi kripa kar leen bachaai.
Kiya tapahi Bhaagirath bhaari. Purab pratigya taasu Puraari.
Daanin mah tum sam kou naahi. Sevak stuti karat sadaahi.
Ved maahi mahima tum gaai. Akath anaadi bhed nahi paai.
Prakate udadhi manthan me jwaala. Jarat suraasur bhaye vihaala.
Keenh daya tah kari sahaai. Neelkanth tab naam kahaai.
Poojan Ramchandra jab keenha. Jeet ke Lank Vibhishan deenha.
Sahas kamal me ho rahe dhaari. Keenh pareeksha tabahi Puraari.
Ek kamal Prabhu raakheu joi. Kamal nayan poojan chah soi.
Kathin bhakti dekhi Prabhu Shankar. Bhaye prasann diye ichchhit var.
Jai jai jai anant avinaashi. Karat kripa sab ke ghatvaasi.
Dusht sakal nit mohi sataavai. Bhramat rahau mohe chain na aavai.
Traahi traahi main naath pukaaro. Yehi avsar mohi aan ubaaro.
Le trishool shatrun ko maaro. Sankat se mohi aan ubaaro.
Maat-pita bhraata sab hoi. Sankat me poochhat nahi koi.
Swami ek hai aas tumhaari. Aay harahu mam sankat bhaari.
Dhan nirdhan ko det sadaahi. Jo koi jaanche so phal paahi.
Astuti kehi vidhi karau tumhaari. Kshamahu naath ab chook hamaari.
Shankar ho sankat ke naashan. Mangal kaaran vighna vinaashan.
Yogi yati muni dhyaan lagaavai. Shaarad Naarad sheesh navaavai.
Namo namo jai namah Shivaay. Sur Brahmaadik paar na paay.
Jo yah paath kare man laai. Ta par hot hai Shambhu sahaai.
Riniya jo koi ho adhikaari. Paath kare so paavan haari.
Putra heen kar ichchha koi. Nishchay Shiv prasaad tehi hoi.
Pandit trayodashi ko laave. Dhyaan poorvak hom karaave.
Trayodashi vrat karai hamesha. Tan nahi taake rahai kalesha.
Dhoop deep naivedya chadhaave. Shankar sammukh paath sunaave.
Janm janm ke paap nasaave. Ant dhaam Shivpur me paave.
Kahai Ayodhyadaas aas tumhaari. Jaani sakal dukh harahu hamaari.
Nitt nem kar praatah hi, paath karau chalees.
Tum meri manokaamna, poorn karo Jagdish.
Magsar chhathi hemant ritu, samvat chausath jaan.
Astuti chalisa Shivahi, poorn keen kalyaan.
Frequently asked questions about Shiv Chalisa
Who composed the Shiv Chalisa?
It is attributed to Ayodhyadas, who names himself in the opening doha - kahat Ayodhyadaas tum, deu abhay vardaan. Beyond that name the tradition tells us little about him.
When should it be recited?
Mondays, the two monthly Pradosh evenings, the month of Shravan, and Maha Shivaratri, when many recite it in each of the four night watches. Morning after a bath, or at dusk before the lamp, both suit.
What is offered to Shiva with it?
Bel patra, water or milk on the linga, white flowers, bhang and dhatura, akshat and a ghee lamp. Tulsi, ketaki flowers and haldi are the three things traditionally not offered to him - the Shiva puja samagri page explains why.
What do the images in the early verses mean?
The moon on his brow, serpent earrings, the Ganga in his hair, the garland of skulls, ash on the body, a tiger skin for clothing. Each is a renunciate's mark: the Lord of the universe wearing what the world discards, which is the whole theology of Shiva in a few lines.
Is the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra recited with it?
Often, yes - the Maha Mrityunjaya japa first in a set count, then the Chalisa, then the Jai Shiv Omkara aarti. Reciting the Chalisa alone is complete in itself.
About the Shiv Chalisa
The Shiv Chalisa - the forty-verse hymn to Bhagwan Shiva (Mahadev, Bholenath), recited for strength, peace and the fulfilment of wishes.
A chalisa is a devotional hymn of forty (chalis) verses (chaupais), framed by opening and closing dohas (couplets). The Shiv Chalisa above is given in both Hindi (Devanagari) and English (Hinglish, Roman script) so you can read it in whichever script you are most comfortable with - switch between the two using the buttons above. It is traditionally recited with devotion, often after a bath and before the deity, especially on the day associated with the deity.
A chalisa is forty verses. It is not the short lamp-song (that is an aarti) and not a longer Sanskrit stotram. Other forty-verse hymns are on the Chalisa index. For japa of a compact formula use a mantra. If you are keeping a fast, the story is under Vrat Katha.