Hanuman Chalisa

    (The Hanuman-Forty)

                                                           By Saint Thulasi das ( Translated by P.R.Ramachander)

Hanuman Chalisa, the boon of Tulsidas to all the Hindus in the world, will find a place in every home where it can act as a panacea for all problems, be they physical, mental or spiritual. It is a prayer addressed To Hanuman, possibly the greatest character Of Ramayana, next only to Rama and Sita.

God Hanuman was born to Anjana, a monkey. His father is considered to be Lord Shiva and/or Lord Vayu.  As a baby, when his mother advised to him to eat any fruit which is purple, he jumped towards the rising Sun God.  Indra hit him with his Vajra to save the sun. Hanuman fell down in a coma. Vayu his father took his child away and hid in a cave. Because of this all beings on the earth, who were depending on Vayu to breath started dying. All the gods entreated Lord Vayu, not to be angry and gave Baby Hanuman, several boons. Later in life Hanuman became a friend of Sugreeva, the younger brother of Vali. Vali started tormenting Sugreeva due to some misunderstanding. Because of this Sugreeva was forced to hide in Rishya mooka mountains. Sri Rama and Lakshmana reached this mountain in search of Sita who was stolen by Ravana. Hanuman met them and was instrumental in getting a treaty signed between Sri Rama and Sugreeva. Sri Rama killed Vali and made Sugreeva the king of monkeys. Even at the first meeting Lord Hanuman became charmed by the personality of Sri Rama and became his devotee. As per the treaty, he went in search of Sita, to the south along with a big army of monkeys. He crossed the sea and brought back the news of Sita’s well being to Rama. Later before the war, he requested Rama to have a treaty with Vibheeshana the brother of Ravana.  During the war between Rama and Ravana he played a very major role. When Indrajit, the son of Ravana, killed Lakshmana, he brought the Sanjivini Mountain and saved Lakshmana. He was considered as a brother by Lord Rama and son by Goddess Sita .It is believed that he is a Chiranjeevi, and lives with all of us even today. It is also believed that wherever, the story of Ramayana is told, he would be present in his invisible form to listen to the story.

    Sage Valmiki wrote the story of Rama in Sanskrit. Though the story became very popular among scholars , there was a need to write it in the several regional languages , It was written in Hindi by Sage Thulasi Das , Instead of adopting the scholar’s Hindi to do the translation, Sage Thulasi Das adopted the very popular colloquial form of Hindi called Vraja Bhasha . Because of this, even the very common man could understand it easily. Among the Hindi knowing Hindus, even today, it is the number one book.

     Saint Thulasi Das who was a great admirer of Hanuman, also wrote these forty verses praising Hanuman and called it “Hanuman Chalisa”. This is possibly the most popular Hindu prayer written in Hindi even today.. Its extreme simplicity makes it dear to every one’s heart.

Hanuman Chalisa With Meaning

Sri Guru charana saroja raj,

Nija mana mukura sudhar,

Varanau Raghuvara vimala yasa,

Jo dayaka phala char.

Having cleaned the mirror of my mind,

With the lotus like feet of my teacher,

I describe the unsullied fame of Lord Rama,

Which would give me the four fold wealth.
 

Budhi heena thanu jaani ke,

Sumeerou pavana kumar,

Bala budhi vidhya dehu moheem,

Harau klesa vikar.

Though I am one without any brain,

I place in my mind, the son of wind,

And pray to him earnestly to give me,

Wisdom, knowledge and strength,

And steal away from me all my miseries.
 

Jaya Hanuman gnan guna sagara,

Jaya kapeesa thihu loka ujagara.                         1

Victory to Hanuman, the sea of wisdom and character,

Victory to the lord of Monkeys,

Whose fame echoes in all the three worlds.

 

Rama dhootha , athulitha bala dhama,

Anjani puthra pavana sutha nama,                           2

You are the emissary of lord Rama,

You are the storehouse of incomparable strength,

You are the son of  monkey called Anjani,

And you are also the son of God of wind.

 

Maha veera vikrama bhaja rangi,

Kumathi nivara sumathi ke sangi.                              3

You are the a great valorous hero who worships Rama,

You cure bad characters and is the friend of those who do good,

 

Kaanchan varna viraja suvesha,

Kannan kundala kunchitha kesa.                                   4

You are the of golden colour and dress yourself well,

You wear golden ear rings and have curly hair.

 

 

Hatha bajra aur thwajaa virajai,

Kanthe munja janehu sajai.                                            5

You have a flag and thunderbolt in your hands,

You wear sacred thread made of Munja grass,

 

Shankara suvana ,kesari nandana,

Theja prathapa  maha jaga vandana.                             6

You are the son of Lord Shiva as well as Kesari,

You  with your glowing self  are saluted by the entire world.

 

Vidhyavan, gunee athi chathura,

Ram kaaja karibe ko aathura.                                       7

You are the wise , good  and very sharp witted,

You are the anxious to do the work of Rama.

 

Prabhu charitha sunibhe ko rasiya,

Rama Lakshmana Sita mana basiya.                           8

You are ecstasic  to hear the history of Rama,

In your  mind resides Rama, Lakshmana and Sita.

 

Sookshma roopa dhari siya him dikhava,

Vikata roopa dhari Lanka jarava.                                 9

You took a micro form and saved Sita,

You took a fearful form and burnt Lanka.

 

Bheema roopa dhari asura samhare,

Ramachandra ke  kaj sanvare,                                     10

You took a big macro form for killing asuras,

And completed the task of Ramachandra,

 

Laaya sanjeevan lashana jiyaye,

Sri Raghuveera harashi ura laye,                                  11

You saved Lakshmana’s life by Bringing Sanjeevini,

And brought happiness to the hero of Raghu clan,

 

Raghupathi keeni bahuth badayi,

Thum mama priya hee Bharatha sama bhayi.               12

You were greatly praised by Lord Rama,

And were told, “you too are my brother like Bharatha.”.

 

Sahasra vadana thumharo yasha gavaim,

Aaha kahavai Sri pathi kantha lagavai,                              13

Embracing you, said Rama, the consort of Sita

“Even The thousand headed snake sang your praise.”

 

Sanakadhika brahmadhi muneesa,

Narada saradha sahitha aheesa,                                              14

Yama , Kubhera dikapala jahamthey,

Kavi kovidha kahi sakaim kahamthey,                                   15

The sanaka sages, the Lord Brahma,

Sage Narada, Goddess Saraswathi, the lord Shiva,

The god of death, god of wealth, the guardians of directions,

And great poets tried to explain your glory adequately  but failed.

 

Thum upakara sugreevaheem keenha,

Rama milaya rajapatha deenha,                                                 16

By making him meet Rama ,

And getting him again the  kingship,

You provided inestimable help to Sugreeva.

 

Thumharo manthra Vibheeshana maana,

Lankeswara bhaye saba jaga jaana.                                             19

All the world knows ,

That Vibheeshana became king of Lanka,

Because he obeyed your holy words.

 

Yuga sahasra yojana para Bhanu,

Leelayo thahi madura bala janu.                                                18

Thinking that he is but a sweet fruit,

You swallowed Lord sun,

Who is thousands of miles away.

 

Prabhu mudrika meli mukha maheem,

Jaladhi landhi gaye acharaja naaheem.                                         19

You crossed the ocean , holding the Lord’s ring,

In your mouth, and this is nothing surprising for you,

Durgama kaj jagat ke jethe,

Sugama anugraha thumhare dethe,                                                 20

You  provide victory in difficult times

To the people of the world and give your blessings

 

Rama dware thuma rakhawale,

Hotha na agyan bina paisare.                                                           21

You are the guard  to the door to the mind of Rama,

And without your permission, none can enter there.

 

 Sab sukha lihai thumhari sarana,

Thum rakshak kahu ko darna,                                                          22

All pleasures start from you,

And when you give protection,

Why is there a need to fear any one,

 

Aapana theja samarou aapai,

Theenom loka hankthe kaapain,                                                      23

You alone can control the burst of your energy,

Seeing which all the three worlds shiver,

 

Bhootha pisacha nikata nahi aavai,

Mahabeera Jap naama sunavai.                                                       24

Evil spirits and ghosts do not come near,

When they hear the name of  the great hero, Hanuman.

 

Nasai rog harai sab peera,

Japatha niranthara hanumath beera.                                                 25

Diseases and sufferings are destroyed,

When the Name of Hanuman is repeated always.

 

Sankata se Hanuman chudavai,

Mana karma vachana dhyana jo lavai.                                             26

Hanuman will save you from sorrow,

Who meditates on him with mind, action and words.

 

Sab par Ram thapasvi raja,

Tinake kaja sakala thum sanja.                                                          27

You fulfilled all jobs of  Rama,

Who fulfilled desires of all his devotees.

 

Aur manoradha jo koi lavai,

Soye amitha jeevan phala Pavai.                                                         28

And any of those who bring their desires to you

Would get them fulfilled and get a better life.

 

Charahu yuga prathap thumhara,

Hai parasidha jagatha ujiyara.                                                               29

In the four eons your name is famous,

And is famous all over the three worlds.

 

Sadu santh ke thum rakware,

Asura nikanddana rama dhulare.                                                           30

You protect  the sages  and devout,

You kill asuras as per wish of great Rama.

 

Ashta sidhi nava nidhi ke datha,

Aasa vara dheen Janaki matha.                                                                31

You were granted eight occult powers,

And nine types of wealth,

By the boon of mother Sita,

 

Ram rasayana thumhare pasa,

Sada rahow Raghupathi ke dasa,                                                                32

You have with you the essence of Rama,

And would always remain  his slave,

 

Thumhare bhajan ram ko pavai,

Janma janma ke dukha bisaravai,                                                               33

Antha kala Raghupati pura jayee,

Jahan janma Haribaktha kahayee,                                                               34 

By devotion to you, one gets Rama,

And get removed sorrows of several births,

And at death he goes to the place of Rama,

And all his life would be pointed to as devotee of Vishnu.

 

Aur devatha chitha na darayee,

Hanumath seyi sarva sukha karayee.                                                          35

He who does not think about gods other than him,

Would get all pleasures from Hanuman himself.

 

Sankata harai, mitai sab peera,

Jo sumirai Hanumath bala beera.                                                              36

All sorrows vanish and all obstacles are finished,

For him who always remembers the very strong Hanuman.

 

Jai jai jai Hanuman gosai

Krupa karahu Gurudeva kee nayi.                                                              37

Victory, victory, victory to the saint Hanuman,

Oh great teacher please show mercy on us.

 

Yah satha baar pata kara joyi,

Chootahi bandhi .maha sukha hoi.                                                               38

He who reads this one hundred times,

Would be freed from shackles and get great pleasure.

 

Jo yah pade Hanuman chaleesa,

Hoi sidhi sake goureesa.                                                                               39

Whoever reads this “Hanuman forty”,

Would get powers with Lord Shiva as witness.

 

Thulasidasa sada Hari Chera,

Keejai nada hrudaya maha dera.                                                                  40

Thulasi das who is always a devotee of Hari,

Requests Hari to reside in his mind always.