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Doha 1 — Shri Ganesh Vandana
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Jai Ganesh Girija suvan, mangal mool sujaan.
Kahat Ayodhyaadas tum, dehu abhay vardaan.
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Victory to Lord Ganesha, the wise and auspicious son of Goddess Girija (Parvati). The poet Ayodhyadasa says — O Lord, please grant us the boon of fearlessness and protection from all that troubles us.
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Jai Girija pati deen dayaalaa.
Sadaa karat santan pratipaalaa.
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Victory to the Lord of Girija (Parvati’s husband, Lord Shiva), the compassionate one who is merciful to the poor and humble. You always protect, nurture, and care for your saints and devotees with a father’s love.
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Bhaal chandramaa sohat neeke.
Kaanan kundal naagphani ke.
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The crescent moon adorns your forehead beautifully, shining with gentle radiance. In your ears hang earrings fashioned from the hood of a serpent — a mark of your fearless mastery over all that others dread.
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Ang gaur shir Gang bahaaye.
Mundamaal tan kshaar lagaaye.
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Your body is fair and radiant, and the sacred River Ganga flows from your matted locks. You wear a garland of skulls (mundamaal) and your body is smeared with sacred ash (vibhuti) — symbols of your transcendence beyond birth and death.
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Vastra khaal baaghambar sohe.
Chhavi ko dekhi naag man mohe.
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You wear the skin of a tiger as your garment — simple yet awe-inspiring. Even the serpents, seeing your divine and captivating form, are enchanted and charmed. Your appearance is simultaneously terrifying and irresistibly beautiful.
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Mainaa maatu ki have dulaaari.
Baam ang sohat chhavi nyaari.
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Goddess Parvati, the beloved daughter of Mother Maina (Himalaya’s wife), adorns your left side. The vision of her resting against your left form creates a uniquely divine and incomparable beauty — Ardhanarishvara, the union of Shiva and Shakti.
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Kar trishool sohat chhavi bhaari.
Karat sadaa shatrun kshaykaari.
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In your hand shines the mighty trident (trishool), creating an immensely powerful and awe-inspiring image. With it you always bring about the destruction of all enemies — evil, ignorance, ego, and all forces that oppose righteousness.
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Nandi Ganesh sohain tahaan kaise.
Saagar madhya kamal hain jaise.
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Nandi (your sacred bull) and Ganesha (your beloved son) attend you beautifully — just as a lotus flower blooms in the midst of the ocean. Your divine court is a vision of pure beauty, grace, and auspiciousness.
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Kaartik shyaam aur Ganraau.
Yaa chhavi ko kahi jaat na kaau.
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Lord Kartikeya (your son, dark and radiant) and the great Ganesha, king of the ganas — the beauty of this divine family scene cannot be expressed by anyone in words. No poet or sage has ever fully captured this vision.
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Devan jabaheen jaay pukaaraa.
Tab hi dukh Prabhu aap nivaaraa.
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Whenever the gods (devas) have gone to you crying out in distress and fear, you O Lord have instantly removed their suffering and sorrows. You are the refuge of the divine and the destroyer of all darkness and pain.
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Kiyaa upadrav taarak bhaari.
Devan sab mili tumhein juhaaari.
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The demon Tarakasura created tremendous chaos and upheaval, tormenting all the gods with his unbearable tyranny. All the gods together came to you with folded hands and bowed before you seeking your divine intervention and help.
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Turat Shadaanan aap pathaayu.
Lavanimesh mahan maari giraayau.
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You immediately sent forth the six-faced Lord Kartikeya (Shadanana) to deal with the demon. In the blink of an eye, Kartikeya struck down and destroyed Tarakasura — demonstrating the swift and absolute power of your divine grace.
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Aap Jalandhar asur sanhaaraa.
Suyash tumhaar vidit sansaaraa.
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You yourself destroyed the fearsome demon Jalandhara, who had become a great threat to the gods and to righteousness. Your glorious victory and fame from this deed are known throughout the entire world and across all ages.
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Tripuraasur san yuddh machaayi.
Sabaheen kripa kar leen bachaayi.
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You waged the great war against Tripurasura (the three-city demon) and, through your grace and supreme power, saved all the gods and righteous beings. With a single arrow you destroyed the three demon cities and restored peace.
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Kiyaa tapaheen Bhaageerath bhaari.
Purab pratigyaa taasu puraaari.
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King Bhagirath performed tremendous and extraordinary austerities (tapasya) to bring the sacred River Ganga to earth. You, O Purari (destroyer of the three cities), fulfilled his ancient vow by catching the mighty Ganga in your matted locks.
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Daanin mahan tum sam kou naaheen.
Sevak stuti karat sadaaheen.
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Among all givers and benefactors in the universe, there is none equal to you in generosity. Your devotees and servants praise you constantly — for you give freely and completely to all who come to you with a sincere heart.
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Ved naam mahimaa tav gaayi.
Akath anaadi bhed nahin paayi.
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The Vedas themselves sing the glory of your sacred name. Yet your mystery is beyond description and without beginning — the Vedas too have not been able to fully fathom your depths or reveal your complete nature. You are infinite.
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Prakati udadhi manthan mein jwaalaa.
Jarat suraasur bhaye vihaalaa.
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When the great ocean was churned by gods and demons together, a terrible flame arose along with the deadly poison Halahala. Both gods and demons were burning and becoming distressed, overwhelmed by its unbearable heat and toxicity.
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Keenhi dayaa tahaan kari sahaayi.
Neelkanth tab naam kahaayi.
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Out of infinite compassion, you came to the rescue of all. You consumed the terrible poison (Halahala) and held it in your throat — from which it turned blue. From that act of supreme sacrifice, you came to be called Neelkanth (the blue-throated one).
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Poojan Ramachandra jab keenhaa.
Jeet ke Lank Vibheeshan deenhaa.
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When Lord Ramachandra worshipped you with great devotion before going to battle, you blessed him with victory. Through your grace, Rama conquered Lanka and gave the kingdom to the righteous Vibhishana — justice was restored.
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Sahas kamal mein ho rahe dhaaari.
Keenh pareekshaa tabaheen Puraaari.
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Rama was offering one thousand lotus flowers in your worship. At that moment you, O Purari, put him to a test — you secretly removed one lotus to see the depth of his devotion and the sincerity of his surrender to you.
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Ek kamal Prabhu raakheu joi.
Kamal nayan poojan chahaan soi.
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When one lotus was found missing, the lotus-eyed Lord Rama (kama-nayan) was determined to offer it regardless. Rama, knowing his own eyes are compared to lotuses, immediately resolved to offer his own eye to complete the worship.
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Kathin bhakti dekhi Prabhu Shankar.
Bhaye prasann die ichchhit var.
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Lord Shankar, witnessing this profound and unshakeable devotion of Rama, became greatly pleased. Moved by his devotee’s boundless faith and selfless offering, you joyfully granted him the boon he desired — victory over Ravana.
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Jai jai jai anant avinaashi.
Karat kripa sab ke ghatvasi.
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Victory, victory, victory to the infinite and indestructible one! You who dwell in the hearts of all beings (ghatvasi) shower your grace equally upon every living creature. You are the inner witness, the eternal presence within all.
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Dusht sakal nit mohi sataavai.
Bhramat rahon mohi chain na aavai.
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All evil forces constantly torment me every day without rest. I wander in confusion and restlessness — no peace comes to me, no stillness settles in my mind. O Lord, I am exhausted and I come to you as my only refuge.
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Traahi traahi main naath pukaaro.
Yehi avasar mohi aan ubaaro.
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“Save me, save me!” — I cry out to you, O Lord! At this very moment, in this hour of my greatest need, please come and rescue me. I have nowhere else to turn and no one else to call upon. You are my only hope.
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Lai trishool shatrun ko maaro.
Sankat se mohi aan ubaaro.
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Take up your trident and destroy all my enemies — the inner enemies of ego, greed, and anger, and the outer forces that seek my harm. Come and deliver me from this crisis, O compassionate Lord. I surrender completely to your will.
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Maat-pita bhraata sab hoi.
Sankat mein poochhat nahin koi.
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Though I have a mother, a father, and brothers — when the hour of real crisis comes, no one comes forward to ask after me or help me. In the end, even those closest to us cannot protect us. You alone, O Lord, are the true family.
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Swami ek hai aas tumhaari.
Aay harahu mam sankat bhaari.
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O Master, you alone are my hope — my only refuge and my final anchor. Please come now and remove my great burden and suffering. I place everything — my fears, my pain, my future — entirely in your merciful hands.
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Dhan nirdhan ko det sadaa heen.
Jo koi jaanche so phal paaheen.
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You always give wealth to the poor and needy without hesitation or condition. Whoever comes to you asking for anything — with a genuine and humble heart — receives the fruit of their prayer. No sincere seeker ever leaves your door empty-handed.
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Astuti kehi vidhi karain tumhaari.
Kshamahu naath ab chook hamaari.
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In what way are we capable of praising you adequately, O Lord? Our words and intellect are far too limited to capture your glory. O Master, please forgive all our mistakes, shortcomings, and omissions — known and unknown. Accept this humble offering.
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Shankar ho sankat ke nashan.
Mangal kaaran vighn vinashan.
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O Shankar, you are the destroyer of all crises and difficulties! You are the cause and source of all that is auspicious, and the destroyer of all obstacles and impediments. When you are with us, no barrier can stand.
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Yogi yati muni dhyaan lagaavain.
Saarad Narad sheesh navaavain.
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Yogis, ascetics, and great sages all meditate deeply upon your divine form. Goddess Saraswati (Sharad) and the divine sage Narada both bow their heads in reverence before you — for even the highest of the high acknowledge your supreme greatness.
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Namo namo jai namah Shivaay.
Sur Brahmaadik paar na paay.
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Salutations, salutations — victory and eternal salutations to Shiva! Even the gods, even Lord Brahma himself and all the divine beings — none of them have been able to find the full extent and limits of your infinite greatness. You are boundless.
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Jo yah paath kare man laayi.
Taa par hot hai Shambhu sahaayi.
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Whoever recites this Chalisa with focused mind and sincere devotion — upon that person Lord Shambhu (Shiva) becomes a helper and protector. His divine assistance and grace flow freely to all who chant this with a pure and devoted heart.
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Rineeyaa jo koi ho adhikaari.
Paath kare so paavan haari.
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If any person is burdened by debt and qualifies for relief through sincere devotion, let them recite this Chalisa with faith. They shall be freed and purified from the burden of their debts — both material and karmic — through Shiva’s grace.
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Putra heen kar ichchhaa joi.
Nishchay Shiv prasaad tehi hoi.
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Whoever desires the blessing of a child but has none — let them pray to Lord Shiva through this Chalisa with sincerity and faith. Without doubt, Shiva’s divine grace will fulfil their heart’s deepest longing and bless their home with new life.
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Pandit trayodashi ko laave.
Dhyaan poorvak hom karaave.
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On the auspicious Trayodashi (thirteenth day of the lunar fortnight, Pradosh), invite a learned pandit and perform the sacred homa (fire ritual) with deep meditation and sincere focus. This is the most powerful practice for Shiva’s blessings.
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Trayodashi vrat karai hameshaa.
Taake tan nahin rahai kaleshaa.
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Whoever observes the Trayodashi (Pradosh) fast regularly and consistently — in that person’s body no disease, pain, or affliction shall remain. Their physical, mental, and spiritual health is protected and sustained by Shiva’s boundless compassion.
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Dhoop deep naivedya chadhaaave.
Shankar sammukh paath sunaave.
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Offer incense (dhoop), a lamp (deep), and food (naivedya) to the Lord, and then recite this Chalisa in front of Lord Shankar’s image or Shivalinga with devotion. This complete act of worship brings the fullest fruit and blessings.
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Janam janam ke paap nasaave.
Ant dhaam Shivpur mein paave.
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All the sins and karmic burdens accumulated across countless past lifetimes are completely destroyed through sincere devotion to Lord Shiva. And at the time of final liberation, the devotee attains the supreme abode of Shivpur — Kailash — the realm of eternal peace.
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Doha — Ending
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Kahain Ayodhyaadas aas tumhaari.
Jaani sakal duhkh harahu hamaari.
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Nitta nem kar praatah hi, paath karaun chaaleesaa.
Tum meri manokaamanaa, poorn karo Jagadeesh.
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Every day as a sacred morning discipline I chant the Shiv Chalisa. O Jagadeesh (Lord of the Universe), please fulfil all my heartfelt desires and longings. Let this daily practice be my offering and may your grace be my reward.
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Magasar chhathi hemant ritu, samvat chausath jaan.
Astuti chaaleesaa Shivahi, poorn keen kalyaan.
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On the sixth day of the month of Margashirsha, in the winter season (Hemant Ritu), in Samvat sixty-four — on this auspicious occasion this Shiv Chalisa was completed and offered for the welfare and blessing of all devotees.
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What is Shiv Chalisa?
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Shiv Chalisa is a devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Shiva, consisting of 40 verses that praise his power, compassion, and divine qualities. It is widely recited by devotees to seek blessings, peace, and protection.
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What are the benefits of chanting Shiv Chalisa daily?
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Chanting Shiv Chalisa regularly is believed to bring mental peace, remove negativity, increase focus, and help overcome life’s challenges. It also strengthens devotion and inner stability.
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When is the best time to read Shiv Chalisa?
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The best time to chant Shiv Chalisa is early morning or during evening prayers. Mondays and occasions like Pradosh Vrat are considered especially auspicious for Lord Shiva worship.
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Can I listen to Shiv Chalisa instead of reading it?
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Yes, listening to Shiv Chalisa with focus and devotion is also considered beneficial. Many devotees prefer listening along with lyrics for a better and more immersive experience.
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How many times should I chant Shiv Chalisa for best results?
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You can chant Shiv Chalisa once daily or multiple times depending on your practice. Some devotees chant it 11 or 21 times for specific intentions, but consistency matters more than count.