Tulsi Chalisa
तुलसी चालीसा
Also known as: tulsi chalisa · tulsi mata chalisa · tulasi chalisa · jai jai tulsi bhagavati · shri tulsi chalisa
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✦ Meaning
The Tulsi Chalisa is a forty-verse Hindi hymn glorifying Tulsi (Holy Basil), revered as the goddess Vrinda and the most beloved of Lord Vishnu. It narrates her three sacred births, the legend of Vrinda and Jalandhar, and why a Tulsi leaf is essential to Vishnu worship. Daily recitation, especially while tending a Tulsi plant, is believed to grant health, progeny, prosperity and liberation.
Origin & Story
Traditional Hindi devotional literature (Tulsi worship tradition) · Traditional (attributed in the closing verse to Tulsidas / 'Sundar' kavi) · Medieval to early-modern Bhakti era
The Tulsi Chalisa belongs to the popular tradition of forty-verse Hindi praise-hymns. It weaves together the Puranic legends of Tulsi found in the Padma Purana and Devi Bhagavata: the curse of Lakshmi, Tulsi's birth as a Gopi, and the well-known account of Vrinda, the chaste wife of the demon Jalandhar, whose devotion made her husband invincible until Vishnu intervened. As a consequence of the events, Vrinda became the eternally sacred Tulsi plant, ever united with the Lord as Shaligram, and worshipped in every Vaishnava home.
✦ As told in scripture
Tradition holds that no worship of Vishnu is accepted without a Tulsi leaf, and that a single Tulsi leaf placed on the Lord's head equals the offering of a thousand pots of nectar. Devotees believe that keeping and daily worshipping a Tulsi plant while reciting this chalisa wards off disease and misfortune and brings the unfailing protection of Lord Hari upon the household.
Complete Text with Meaning
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॥ दोहा ॥ जय जय तुलसी भगवती, सत्यवती सुखदानी। नमो नमो हरि प्रेयसी, श्री वृन्दा गुन खानी॥ श्री हरि शीश बिरजिनी, देहु अमर वर अम्ब। जनहित हे वृन्दावनी, अब न करहु विलम्ब॥
|| Doha || Jaya Jaya Tulsi Bhagavati, Satyavati Sukhadani. Namo Namo Hari Preyasi, Shri Vrinda Guna Khani. Shri Hari Shisha Birajini, Dehu Amara Vara Amba. Janahita He Vrindavani, Aba Na Karahu Vilamba.
Meaning:Victory, victory to Goddess Tulsi, ever-truthful bestower of joy; salutations again and again to the beloved of Hari, the radiant Vrinda, a treasure-store of virtues. O Mother who rests on Hari's head, grant the boon of immortality; O presiding deity of Vrindavan, do not delay in blessing your devotees.
॥ चौपाई ॥ धन्य धन्य श्री तुलसी माता। महिमा अगम सदा श्रुति गाता॥ हरि के प्राणहु से तुम प्यारी। हरि हित कीन्हो तप तुम भारी॥
|| Chaupai || Dhanya Dhanya Shri Tulsi Mata. Mahima Agama Sada Shruti Gata. Hari Ke Pranahu Se Tum Pyari. Hari Hita Kinho Tapa Tum Bhari.
Meaning:The chalisa praises Tulsi as dearer than life to Lord Vishnu, recounting how, through three births as Tulsi/Vrinda, she became eternally united with the Lord. It tells the legend of Vrinda and the demon Jalandhar, her great chastity, and how she became both the sacred Tulsi plant and the Shaligram stone worshipped together. It declares that worship of Vishnu is incomplete without a Tulsi leaf, that Tulsi removes disease, sin and sorrow, that she equals Radha in Hari's heart, and that under her shade all pilgrimage-merit and liberation are attained. Whoever recites this chalisa daily, keeping a Tulsi plant at home, gains children, health, wealth, the dispelling of poverty and the fullness of joy.
जब प्रसन्न हरि दर्शन दीन्ह्यो। तब कर जोरि विनय उस कीन्ह्यो॥ हे भगवन्त कन्त मम होहू। दीन जानि जनि छाड़हु छोहू॥
Jaba Prasanna Hari Darshana Dinhyo. Taba Kara Jori Vinaya Usa Kinhyo. He Bhagavanta Kanta Mama Hohu. Dina Jani Jani Chhadahu Chhohu.
सुनि लक्ष्मी तुलसी की बानी। दीन्हो श्राप कोप मन आनी॥ उस अयोग्य वर मांगन हारी। होहु विटप तुम जड़ तनु धारी॥
Suni Lakshmi Tulsi Ki Bani. Dinho Shrapa Kopa Mana Ani. Usa Ayogya Vara Mangana Hari. Hohu Vitapa Tum Jada Tanu Dhari.
सुनि तुलसी हिं श्राप्यो तेहिं ठामा। करहु वास तुहुं नीचन धामा॥ दियो वचन हरि तब तत्काला। सुनहु सुमुखि जनि होहु बिहाला॥
Suni Tulsi Hin Shrapyo Tehin Thama. Karahu Vasa Tuhun Nichana Dhama. Diyo Vachana Hari Taba Tatkala. Sunahu Sumukhi Jani Hohu Bihala.
समय पाय व्हैहौ पुनि नारी। पुजिहौ आस वचन सत मोरा॥ तब गोकुल में गोप सुदामा। तासु भई तुलसी तू बामा॥
Samaya Paya Vhaihau Puni Nari. Pujihau Asa Vachana Sata Mora. Taba Gokula Men Gopa Sudama. Tasu Bhai Tulsi Tu Bama.
कृष्ण रास लीला के माहीं। राधे शक्यो प्रेम लखि नाहीं॥ दियो श्राप तुलसिहिं तत्काला। नर लोकहिं तुम जन्महु बाला॥
Krishna Rasa Lila Ke Mahin. Radhe Shakyo Prema Lakhi Nahin. Diyo Shrapa Tulsihin Tatkala. Nara Lokahin Tum Janmahu Bala.
भयो गोप सोइ दानव राजा। शंखचूड़ नामक शिर ताजा॥ तुलसी भई तासु की नारी। परम सती गुण रूप अगारी॥
Bhayo Gopa Soi Danava Raja. Shankhachuda Namaka Shira Taja. Tulsi Bhai Tasu Ki Nari. Parama Sati Guna Rupa Agari.
अस द्वै कल्प बीत जब गयऊ। कल्प तृतीय जन्म तब भयऊ॥ वृन्दा नाम भयो तुलसी को। असुर जलन्धर नाम पति को॥
Asa Dvai Kalpa Bita Jaba Gayau. Kalpa Tritiya Janma Taba Bhayau. Vrinda Nama Bhayo Tulsi Ko. Asura Jalandhara Nama Pati Ko.
करि अति द्वन्द्व अतुल बलधामा। लीन्ह शंकर सों संग्रामा॥ जब निज सैन्य सहित शिव हारे। मरहिं न तब हर हरिहिं पुकारे॥
Kari Ati Dvandva Atula Baladhama. Linha Shankara Son Sangrama. Jaba Nija Sainya Sahita Shiva Hare. Marahin Na Taba Hara Harihin Pukare.
पतिव्रता वृन्दा थी नारी। कोऊ न सके पतिहिं संहारी॥ तब जलन्धर हि भेष बनाई। वृन्दा ढिग हरि पहुंच्यो जाई॥
Pativrata Vrinda Thi Nari. Kou Na Sake Patihin Sanhari. Taba Jalandhara Hi Bhesha Banai. Vrinda Dhiga Hari Pahunchyo Jai.
शिव हित लगि करि कपट प्रसंगा। कियो सतीत्व धर्म तोहि भंगा॥ भयो जलन्धर कर संहारा। सुनि उर शोक विकल भै नारा॥
Shiva Hita Lagi Kari Kapata Prasanga. Kiyo Satitva Dharma Tohi Bhanga. Bhayo Jalandhara Kara Sanhara. Suni Ura Shoka Vikala Bhai Nara.
तिहि क्षण दियो कपट हरि टारी। लखि वृन्दा दुख गिरा उचारी॥ जलन्धर जस हत्यो अभीता। सोइ रावन तस हरिहिं सीता॥
Tihi Kshana Diyo Kapata Hari Tari. Lakhi Vrinda Dukha Gira Uchari. Jalandhara Jasa Hatyo Abhita. Soi Ravana Tasa Harihin Sita.
अस प्रस्तर सम हृदय तुम्हारा। धर्म नष्ट कर पतिहिं संहारा॥ यहि कारण लहि श्राप हमारा। होवे तनु पाषाण तुम्हारा॥
Asa Prastara Sama Hridaya Tumhara. Dharma Nashta Kara Patihin Sanhara. Yahi Karana Lahi Shrapa Hamara. Hove Tanu Pashana Tumhara.
सुनि हरि तुरतहिं वचन उचारे। दियो श्राप बिनु सोच विचारे॥ लख्यो न निज करतूति पति को। छलन चह्यो जब पारवती को॥
Suni Hari Turatahin Vachana Uchare. Diyo Shrapa Binu Socha Vichare. Lakhyo Na Nija Karatuti Pati Ko. Chhalana Chahyo Jaba Parvati Ko.
जड़मति तुहुं अस होहु जड़रूपा। जग मह तुलसी विटप अनूपा॥ ध्रुव रूप हम शालिग्रामा। नदी गण्डकी बीच ललामा॥
Jadamati Tuhun Asa Hohu Jadarupa. Jaga Maha Tulsi Vitapa Anupa. Dhruva Rupa Hama Shaligrama. Nadi Gandaki Bicha Lalama.
जो तुलसी दल हमहिं चढ़ैहैं। सब सुख भोगि परम पद पैहैं॥ बिनु तुलसी हरि जलत शरीरा। अति शय उठत शीश उर पीरा॥
Jo Tulsi Dala Hamahin Chadhaihain. Saba Sukha Bhogi Parama Pada Paihain. Binu Tulsi Hari Jalata Sharira. Ati Shaya Uthata Shisha Ura Pira.
जो तुलसी दल हरि शिर धारत। सो सहस्त्र घट अमृत डारत॥ तुलसी हरि मन रंजनहारी। रोग दोष दुख भंजनहारी॥
Jo Tulsi Dala Hari Shira Dharata. So Sahastra Ghata Amrita Darata. Tulsi Hari Mana Ranjanahari. Roga Dosha Dukha Bhanjanahari.
प्रेम सहित हरि भजन निरन्तर। तुलसी राधा में नहिं अन्तर॥ व्यंजन हो छप्पन हु प्रकारा। बिनु तुलसी दल न हरिहिं प्यारा॥
Prema Sahita Hari Bhajana Nirantara. Tulsi Radha Men Nahin Antara. Vyanjana Ho Chhappana Hu Prakara. Binu Tulsi Dala Na Harihin Pyara.
सकल तीर्थ तुलसी तरु छाहीं। लहत मुक्ति जन संशय नाहीं॥ कवि सुन्दर इक हरि गुण गावत। तुलसिहिं निकट सहस गुण पावत॥
Sakala Tirtha Tulsi Taru Chhahin. Lahata Mukti Jana Sanshaya Nahin. Kavi Sundara Ika Hari Guna Gavata. Tulsihin Nikata Sahasa Guna Pavata.
बसत निकट दुर्बासा धामा। जो प्रयास ते पूरन कामा॥ पाठ करहिं जो नित नर नारी। होहिं सुखी भाषहिं त्रिपुरारी॥
Basata Nikata Durbasa Dhama. Jo Prayasa Te Purana Kama. Patha Karahin Jo Nita Nara Nari. Hohin Sukhi Bhashahin Tripurari.
॥ दोहा ॥ तुलसी चालीसा पढ़ै, तुलसी तरु गृह धारि। दीपदान करि पुत्र फल, पावहिं बन्ध्या नारि॥ सकल दुख दरिद्र हरि, होय परम सुख रासि। आयु धन जन लहहिं, गृह बसहिं पूर्ण उल्लासि॥
|| Doha || Tulsi Chalisa Padhai, Tulsi Taru Griha Dhari. Dipadana Kari Putra Phala, Pavahin Bandhya Nari. Sakala Dukha Daridra Hari, Hoya Parama Sukha Rasi. Ayu Dhana Jana Lahahin, Griha Basahin Purna Ullasi.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Tulsi Chalisa
Invokes the grace of Tulsi Mata and Lord Vishnu together, as Tulsi is his most beloved
Believed to bring health and longevity, reflecting Tulsi's revered medicinal sanctity
Traditionally recited by women desiring children and family well-being
Removes sins, sorrows and the threefold afflictions through the merit of Tulsi worship
Brings peace, prosperity and dispels poverty (daridrya) from the home
Deepens Vaishnava devotion, since worship of Vishnu is incomplete without a Tulsi leaf
Sanctifies the home where a Tulsi plant is kept and worshipped daily
How to Chant Tulsi Chalisa
Recite before a Tulsi plant (Tulsi Vrindavan) after offering water, a lamp (deepdaan) and circumambulation. Begin with the opening doha, recite the forty chaupais with devotion, and close with the concluding dohas. Lighting a ghee lamp before Tulsi at dusk and reciting the chalisa is considered especially auspicious for the household. Keeping a healthy Tulsi plant at home is part of the practice.