Shiv Chalisa is a devotional song based on Lord Shiva. It is a popular prayer composed of 40 verses and recited daily or on special festivals dedicated to Lord Shiva.

The word chalisa is derived from the word ‘chalis’ or 40, because it has 40 verses excluding the beginning end ending couplets.

Shiv Chalisa Lyrics

I have included the Shiva Chalisa lyrics in the Devanagari script with phonetic English spelling and also the actual English meaning.

There are, as is common with chalisas, 2 couplets before the start of the 40-verse chalisa.

जय गणेश गिरिजा सुवन।
मंगल मूल सुजान॥

Jai Ganesh Girija Suvan।
Mangal Mul Sujan॥

Glory to Lord Ganesh, the Divine Son of Goddess Girija, the cause of all auspiciousness and intelligence.

कहत अयोध्यादास तुम।
देहु अभय वरदान॥

Kahat Ayodhya Das।
Tum Dey Abhaya Varadan॥

Ayodha Dass (the composer) requests that everyone be blessed with fearlessness.

Then we begin the main part of the Shiv Chalisa

जय गिरिजा पति दीन दयाला। सदा करत सन्तन प्रतिपाला॥

Jai Girija Pati Dinadayala,
Sada Karat Santan Pratipala ॥ 1 ॥

O Glorious Lord, consort of Parvati You are most merciful. You always bless the poor and pious devotees.

भाल चन्द्रमा सोहत नीके। कानन कुण्डल नागफनी के॥

Bhala Chandrama Sohat Nike,
Kanan Kundal Nagaphani Ke॥ 2 ॥

Your beautiful form is adorned with the moon on Your forehead and on your ears are earrings of snakes′ hood.

अंग गौर शिर गंग बहाये। मुण्डमाल तन क्षार लगाए॥

Anga Gaur Shira Ganga Bahaye,
Mundamala Tan Chhara Lagaye॥ 3 ॥

The holy Ganges flows from your matted hair. The saints and sages are attracted by Your splendid appearance.

वस्त्र खाल बाघम्बर सोहे। छवि को देखि नाग मन मोहे॥

Vastra Khala Baghambar Sohain,
Chhavi Ko Dekha Naga Muni Mohain॥ 4 ॥

Around Your neck is a garland of skulls. White ash beautifies Your Divine form and clothing of lion′s skin adorns Your body.

मैना मातु की हवे दुलारी। बाम अंग सोहत छवि न्यारी॥

Maina Matu Ki Havai Dulari,
Vama Anga Sohat Chhavi Nyari॥ 5 ॥

O Lord, the beloved daughter of Maina on Your left adds to Your splendid appearance.

कर त्रिशूल सोहत छवि भारी।करत सदा शत्रुन क्षयकारी॥

Kara Trishul Sohat Chhavi Bhari,
Karat Sada Shatrun Chhayakari॥ 6 ॥

O Wearer of the lion′s skin, the trishul in Your hand destroys all enemies.

नन्दि गणेश सोहै तहँ कैसे। सागर मध्य कमल हैं जैसे॥

Nandi Ganesh Sohain Tahan Kaise,
Sagar Madhya Kamal Hain Jaise॥ 7 ॥

Nandi and Shri Ganesh along with Lord Shiva appear as beautiful as two lotuses in the middle of an ocean.

कार्तिक श्याम और गणराऊ। या छवि को कहि जात न काऊ॥

Kartik Shyam Aur Gana rauo,
Ya Chhavi Ko Kahi Jata Na Kauo॥ 8 ॥

Poets and philosophers cannot describe the wonderful appearance of Lord Kartikeya and the dark complexioned Ganas (attendants).

देवन जबहीं जाय पुकारा। तब ही दुख प्रभु आप निवारा॥

Devan Jabahi Jaya Pukara,
Tabahi Dukha Prabhu Apa Nivara॥ 9 ॥

O Lord, whenever the Deities humbly sought Your assistance, You kindly and graciously uprooted all their problems.

किया उपद्रव तारक भारी। देवन सब मिलि तुमहिं जुहारी॥

Kiya Upadrav Tarak Bhari,
Devan Sab Mili Tumahi Juhari॥ 10 ॥

You blessed the Deities with Your generous help when the demon Tarak outraged them and You destroyed him.

तुरत षडानन आप पठायउ। लवनिमेष महँ मारि गिरायउ॥

Turata Shadanana Apa Pathayau,
Luv nimesh Mahi Mari Girayau॥ 11 ॥

O Lord, You sent Shadanan without delay and thus destroyed the evil ones Lava and Nimesh.

आप जलंधर असुर संहारा। सुयश तुम्हार विदित संसारा॥

Apa Jalandhara Asura Sanhara,
Suyash Tumhara Vidit Sansara॥ 12 ॥

You also destroyed the demon Jalandhara. Your renown is known throughout the world.

त्रिपुरासुर सन युद्ध मचाई। सबहिं कृपा कर लीन बचाई॥

Tripurasur Sana Yudha Machai,
Sabhi Kripakar Lina Bachai॥ 13 ॥

O Lord, Purari, You saved all Deities and mankind by defeating and destroying the demons Tripurasura.

किया तपहिं भागीरथ भारी। पुरब प्रतिज्ञा तासु पुरारी॥

Kiya Tapahin Bhagiratha Bhari,
Purahi Pratigya Tasu Purari॥ 14 ॥

You blessed Your devotee Bhagirath and he was able to accomplish his vow after rigorous penance.

दानिन महँ तुम सम कोउ नाहीं। सेवक स्तुति करत सदाहीं॥

Darpa chod Ganga thabb Aayee
Sevak Astuti Karat Sadahin॥ 15 ॥

O Gracious One, devotees always sings Your glory.

वेद माहि महिमा तुम गाई। अकथ अनादि भेद नहिं पाई॥

Veda Nam Mahima Tav Gai,
Akatha Anandi Bhed Nahin Pai॥ 16 ॥

Even the Vedas are unable to describe Your greatness. No one is as generous as You are

प्रकटी उदधि मंथन में ज्वाला। जरत सुरासुर भए विहाला॥

Pragati Udadhi Mantan te Jvala,
Jarae Sura-Sur Bhaye bihala॥ 17 ॥

Even the Vedas are unable to describe Your greatness. No one is as generous as You are

कीन्ही दया तहं करी सहाई। नीलकण्ठ तब नाम कहाई॥

Mahadev thab Kari Sahayee,
Nilakantha Tab Nam Kahai॥ 18 ॥

You drank the poison and saved the world from destruction. Your throat became blue, thus You are known as Nilakantha.

पूजन रामचन्द्र जब कीन्हा। जीत के लंक विभीषण दीन्हा॥

Pujan Ramchandra Jab Kinha,
Jiti Ke Lanka Vibhishan Dinhi॥ 19 ॥

When Lord Rama worshipped You, He became victorious over the king of demons, Ravana.

सहस कमल में हो रहे धारी। कीन्ह परीक्षा तबहिं पुरारी॥

Sahas Kamal Men Ho Rahe Dhari,
Kinha Pariksha Tabahin Purari॥ 20 ॥

When Lord Rama wished to worship Thee with one thousand lotus flowers, the Divine Mother, to test the devotion of Shri Ram, hid all the flowers at Your request.

एक कमल प्रभु राखेउ जोई। कमल नयन पूजन चहं सोई॥

Ek Kamal Prabhu Rakheu goyee,
Kushal-Nain Pujan Chahain Soi॥ 21 ॥

O Lord, You kept on looking at Shri Ram, who wished to offer His lotus-like eyes to worship Thee.

कठिन भक्ति देखी प्रभु शंकर। भए प्रसन्न दिए इच्छित वर॥

Kathin Bhakti Dekhi Prabhu Shankar,
Bhaye Prasanna Diye-Ichchhit Var॥ 22 ॥

When You observed such intense devotion, You were delighted and blessed Him. You granted His heart′s desire.

जय जय जय अनन्त अविनाशी। करत कृपा सब के घटवासी॥

Jai Jai Jai Anant Avinashi,
Karat Kripa Sabake Ghat Vasi॥ 23 ॥

Glory be unto You O Gracious, Infinite, Immortal, All-pervading Lord.

दुष्ट सकल नित मोहि सतावै। भ्रमत रहौं मोहि चैन न आवै॥

Dushta Sakal Nit Mohin Satavai,
Bhramat Rahe Man Chain Na Avai॥ 24 ॥

Evil thought torture me and I keep on travelling aimlessly in this world of mundane existence. No relief seems to be coming my way.

त्राहि त्राहि मैं नाथ पुकारो। येहि अवसर मोहि आन उबारो॥

Trahi-Trahi Main Nath Pukaro,
Yahi Avasar Mohi Ana Ubaro॥ 25 ॥

O Lord! I beseech Your help and seek your divine blessing at this very moment. Save and protect me.

लै त्रिशूल शत्रुन को मारो। संकट ते मोहि आन उबारो॥

Lai Trishul Shatrun Ko Maro,
Sankat Se Mohin Ana Ubaro॥ 26 ॥

Destroy my enemies with Your Trishul. Release me from the torture of evil thoughts.

मात-पिता भ्राता सब होई। संकट में पूछत नहिं कोई॥

Mata Pita Bhrata Sab Hoi,
Sankat Men Puchhat Nahin Koi॥ 27 ॥

O Lord, when I am in distress, neither my parents, brothers, sisters nor loved ones can relieve my suffering. I depend only on You.

स्वामी एक है आस तुम्हारी। आय हरहु मम संकट भारी॥

Swami Ek Hai Asha Tumhari,
Ai Harahu Ab Sankat Bhari॥ 28 ॥

You are my hope. Eliminate the cause of this tremendous torture and bless me with Your compassion.

धन निर्धन को देत सदा हीं। जो कोई जांचे सो फल पाहीं॥

Dhan Nirdhan Ko Deta Sadahin,
Arat jan ko peer mitaee,॥ 29 ॥

O Lord, You bless the downtrodden with prosperity and grant wisdom to the ignorant.

अस्तुति केहि विधि करैं तुम्हारी। क्षमहु नाथ अब चूक हमारी॥

Astuti Kehi Vidhi Karai Tumhari,
Shambhunath ab tek tumhari॥ 30 ॥

Lord, due to my limited knowledge, I omitted to worship Thee. Please forgive me and shower Your grace upon me.

शंकर हो संकट के नाशन। मंगल कारण विघ्न विनाशन॥

Shankar Ho Sankat Ke Nashan,
Vighna Vinashan Mangal Karan॥ 31 ॥

O Lord Sankar, You are the destroyer of all miseries. You remove the cause of all obstacles and grant Your devotees eternal bliss.

योगी यति मुनि ध्यान लगावैं। शारद नारद शीश नवावैं॥

Yogi Yati Muni Dhyan Lagavan,
Sharad Narad Shisha Navavain॥ 32 ॥

The saints and sages meditate upon Thy most beautiful form. Even celestial beings like Sharad and Narad bow in reverence to You.

नमो नमो जय नमः शिवाय। सुर ब्रह्मादिक पार न पाय॥

Namo Namo Jai Namah Shivaya,
Sura Brahmadik Par Na Paya॥ 33 ॥

O Lord, prostration to You. Even Brahma is unable to describe Thy greatness.

जो यह पाठ करे मन लाई। ता पर होत है शम्भु सहाई॥

Jo Yah Patha Karai Man Lai
To kon Hota Hai Shambhu Sahai॥ 34 ॥

Whosoever recites these verses with faith and devotion receives Your infinite blessings.

ॠनियां जो कोई हो अधिकारी। पाठ करे सो पावन हारी॥

Riniyan Jo Koi Ho Adhikari,
Patha Karai So Pavan Hari॥ 35 ॥

Devotees who chant these verses with intense love become prosperous by the grace of Lord Shiva

पुत्र होन कर इच्छा जोई। निश्चय शिव प्रसाद तेहि होई॥

Putra-hin Ichchha Kar Koi,
Nischaya Shiva Prasad Tehin Hoi॥ 36 ॥

Even the childless wishing to have children, have their desires fulfilled after partaking of Shiva-prasad with faith and devotion.

पण्डित त्रयोदशी को लावे। ध्यान पूर्वक होम करावे॥

Pandit Trayodashi Ko Lavai
Dhyan-Purvak Homa Karavai॥ 37 ॥

On Trayodashi (13th day of the dark and bright fortnights) one should invite a pandit and devotedly make offerings to Lord Shiva.

त्रयोदशी व्रत करै हमेशा। ताके तन नहीं रहै कलेशा॥

Trayodashi Vrat Kare Hamesha
Tan Nahin Take Rahe Kalesha॥ 38 ॥

Those who fast and pray to Lord Shiva on Trayodashi are always healthy and prosperous

धूप दीप नैवेद्य चढ़ावे। शंकर सम्मुख पाठ सुनावे॥

Dhuupa Diipa Naivedya Chadhaave,
Shankara Sammukha Paatha Sunaave॥ 39 ॥

Whosoever offers incense, prasad and performs arti to Lord Shiva, with love and devotion, enjoys material happiness and spiritual bliss in this world and hereafter ascends to the abode of Lord Shiva.

जन्म जन्म के पाप नसावे। अन्त धाम शिवपुर में पावे॥

Janma Janma Ke Paapa Nasaave,
Anta Dhaama Shivapura Men Paave॥ 40 ॥

The poet prays that Lord Shiva removed the suffering of all and grants them eternal bliss.

And The Closing Couplets Of The Shiv Chalisa Lyrics

नित्त नेम उठि प्रातः ही, पाठ करो चालीसा।
तुम मेरी मनोकामना, पूर्ण करो जगदीश॥

Nitya Nema kari Pratahi, Patha karau Chalis।
Tum Meri Man Kamana, Purna Karahu Jagadisha॥

O Universal Lord, every morning as a rule I recite this Chalisa with devotion. Please bless me so that I may be able to accomplish my material and spiritual desires.

So there you have it the full Shiv Chalisa lyrics, pronunciation, translation and meaning.