kalimaa-kalimahakalikalika

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌕𑌾𑌲𑍀 𑌚𑌾𑌲𑍀𑌸𑌾

Kali Chalisa in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Night, especially Amavasya and Kali Puja; Tuesdays and Saturdays·🎵 Audio included·📜 Traditional Hindi devotional chalisa

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Traditional Hindi devotional chalisa · Traditional · Devotional era

Kali is the fierce, dark aspect of the Mother Goddess, born of Durga's wrath to slay the demons that the gods could not. The Chalisa recalls her eight-armed form garlanded with skulls, her slaying of Mahishasura, Shumbha and Nishumbha, and the moment when, unstoppable in her battle-fury, she trod upon Shiva and bit her tongue, the form by which she is known to this day, at once the destroyer of all evil and the granter of fearlessness to her devotees.

✦ As told in scripture

It is told that Kali's battle-fury in slaying the demons could not be quelled until Shiva himself lay in her path; the touch of her own lord beneath her foot stilled her wrath, and the Mother who could not be stopped by all the gods was checked in an instant by love, a sign that she yields utterly to the devotion of those who take her name.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Doha 1

𑌜𑌯𑌕𑌾𑌲𑍀 𑌕𑌲𑌿𑌮𑌲𑌹𑌰𑌣, 𑌮𑌹𑌿𑌮𑌾 𑌅𑌗𑌮 𑌅𑌪𑌾𑌰 । 𑌮𑌹𑌿𑌷 𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌦𑌿𑌨𑍀 𑌕𑌾𑌲𑌿𑌕𑌾 , 𑌦𑍇𑌹𑍁 𑌅𑌭𑌯 𑌅𑌪𑌾𑌰 ॥

Jayakali kalimalaharana, mahima agama apara Mahisha mardini kalika , dehu abhaya apara

Meaning:Hail Kali, remover of the impurities of the dark age, whose glory is unfathomable and boundless! O Kalika, slayer of the buffalo-demon Mahisha, grant me boundless fearlessness.

Doha 2

𑌅𑌰𑌿 𑌮𑌦 𑌮𑌾𑌨 𑌮𑌿𑌟𑌾𑌵𑌨 𑌹𑌾𑌰𑍀 । 𑌮𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌮𑌾𑌲 𑌗𑌲 𑌸𑍋𑌹𑌤 𑌪𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌰𑍀 ॥

Ari mada mana mitavana hari Mundamala gala sohata pyari

Meaning:You who destroy the pride and arrogance of the foe; a garland of skulls adorns your neck, O beloved Mother.

Chaupai 1

𑌅𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌭𑍁𑌜𑍀 𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌦𑌾𑌯𑌕 𑌮𑌾𑌤𑌾 । 𑌦𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌦𑌲𑌨 𑌜𑌗 𑌮𑍇𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌖𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌤𑌾 ॥

Ashtabhuji sukhadayaka mata Dushtadalana jaga mem vikhyata

Meaning:Eight-armed Mother, giver of joy, renowned throughout the world as the crusher of the wicked.

Chaupai 2

𑌭𑌾𑌲 𑌵𑌿𑌶𑌾𑌲 𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍁𑌟 𑌛𑌵𑌿 𑌛𑌾𑌜𑍈 । 𑌕𑌰 𑌮𑍇𑌂 𑌶𑍀𑌶 𑌶𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍁 𑌕𑌾 𑌸𑌾𑌜𑍈 ॥

Bhala vishala mukuta chhavi chhajai Kara mem shisha shatru ka sajai

Meaning:Upon your broad brow a crown shines in beauty; in one hand you hold the severed head of the enemy.

Chaupai 3

𑌦𑍂𑌜𑍇 𑌹𑌾𑌥 𑌲𑌿𑌏 𑌮𑌧𑍁 𑌪𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌲𑌾 । 𑌹𑌾𑌥 𑌤𑍀𑌸𑌰𑍇 𑌸𑍋𑌹𑌤 𑌭𑌾𑌲𑌾 ॥

Duje hatha lie madhu pyala Hatha tisare sohata bhala

Meaning:In your second hand you hold a cup of wine; in your third hand gleams a spear.

Chaupai 4

𑌚𑍗𑌥𑍇 𑌖𑌪𑍍𑌪𑌰 𑌖𑌡𑍍𑌗 𑌕𑌰 𑌪𑌾𑌞𑍍𑌚𑍇 । 𑌛𑌠𑍇 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌶𑍂𑌲 𑌶𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍁 𑌬𑌲 𑌜𑌾𑌞𑍍𑌚𑍇 ॥

Chauthe khappara khadga kara panche Chhathe trishula shatru bala janche

Meaning:In the fourth a skull-bowl, in the fifth a sword; with the trident in the sixth you put the enemy's strength to the test.

Chaupai 5

𑌸𑌪𑍍𑌤𑌮 𑌕𑌰 𑌦𑌮𑌕𑌤 𑌅𑌸𑌿 𑌪𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌰𑍀 । 𑌶𑍋𑌭𑌾 𑌅𑌦𑍍𑌭𑍁𑌤 𑌮𑌾𑌤 𑌤𑍁𑌮𑍍𑌹𑌾𑌰𑍀 ॥

Saptama kara damakata asi pyari Shobha adbhuta mata tumhari

Meaning:In your seventh hand glitters the beloved sword; wondrous is your splendour, O Mother.

Chaupai 6

𑌅𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌮 𑌕𑌰 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌨 𑌵𑌰 𑌦𑌾𑌤𑌾 । 𑌜𑌗 𑌮𑌨𑌹𑌰𑌣 𑌰𑍂𑌪 𑌯𑍇 𑌮𑌾𑌤𑌾 ॥

Ashtama kara bhaktana vara data Jaga manaharana rupa ye mata

Meaning:Your eighth hand bestows boons upon your devotees; this form of yours, O Mother, enchants the whole world.

Chaupai 7

𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌨 𑌮𑍇𑌂 𑌅𑌨𑍁𑌰𑌕𑍍𑌤 𑌭𑌵𑌾𑌨𑍀 । 𑌨𑌿𑌶𑌦𑌿𑌨 𑌰𑌟𑍇𑌂 𑌋𑌷𑌿-𑌮𑍁𑌨𑌿 𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨𑍀 ॥

Bhaktana mem anurakta bhavani Nishadina ratem rishi-muni jnani

Meaning:O Bhavani, devoted to your devotees, whom the sages, seers and the wise repeat by day and night.

Chaupai 8

𑌮𑌹𑌶𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌅𑌤𑌿 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌬𑌲 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑍀𑌤𑌾 । 𑌤𑍂 𑌹𑍀 𑌕𑌾𑌲𑍀 𑌤𑍂 𑌹𑍀 𑌸𑍀𑌤𑌾 ॥

Mahashakti ati prabala punita Tu hi kali tu hi sita

Meaning:Great Power (Mahashakti), most mighty and holy, you alone are Kali and you alone are Sita.

Chaupai 9

𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌤 𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌿𑌣𑍀 𑌹𑍇 𑌜𑌗 𑌪𑌾𑌲𑌕 । 𑌕𑌲𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌣𑍀 𑌪𑌾𑌪𑍀𑌕𑍁𑌲 𑌘𑌾𑌲𑌕 ॥

Patita tarini he jaga palaka Kalyani papikula ghalaka

Meaning:Redeemer of the fallen, O sustainer of the world; auspicious Kalyani, destroyer of the whole brood of sinners.

Chaupai 10

𑌶𑍇𑌷 𑌸𑍁𑌰𑍇𑌶 𑌨 𑌪𑌾𑌵𑌤 𑌪𑌾𑌰𑌾 । 𑌗𑍗𑌰𑍀 𑌰𑍂𑌪 𑌧𑌰𑍍𑌯𑍋 𑌇𑌕 𑌬𑌾𑌰𑌾 ॥

Shesha suresha na pavata para Gauri rupa dharyo ika bara

Meaning:Neither Shesha nor Indra, lord of the gods, can find your limit; once you assumed the fair form of Gauri.

Chaupai 11

𑌤𑍁𑌮 𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌨 𑌦𑌾𑌤𑌾 𑌨𑌹𑌿𑌂 𑌦𑍂𑌜𑌾 । 𑌵𑌿𑌧𑌿𑌵𑌤 𑌕𑌰𑍇𑌂 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌜𑌨 𑌪𑍂𑌜𑌾 ॥

Tuma samana data nahim duja Vidhivata karem bhaktajana puja

Meaning:There is no other giver equal to you; your devotees worship you according to the sacred rites.

Chaupai 12

𑌰𑍂𑌪 𑌭𑌯𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌰 𑌜𑌬 𑌤𑍁𑌮 𑌧𑌾𑌰𑌾 । 𑌦𑍁𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌦𑌲𑌨 𑌕𑍀𑌨𑍍𑌹𑍇𑌹𑍁 𑌸𑌂𑌹𑌾𑌰𑌾 ॥

Rupa bhayankara jaba tuma dhara Dushtadalana kinhehu samhara

Meaning:When you assumed your terrifying form, you crushed the wicked and wrought their utter destruction.

Chaupai 13

𑌨𑌾𑌮 𑌅𑌨𑍇𑌕𑌨 𑌮𑌾𑌤 𑌤𑍁𑌮𑍍𑌹𑌾𑌰𑍇 । 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌜𑌨𑍋𑌂 𑌕𑍇 𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌟 𑌟𑌾𑌰𑍇 ॥

Nama anekana mata tumhare Bhaktajanom ke sankata tare

Meaning:Many are your names, O Mother; you ward off every calamity of your devotees.

Chaupai 14

𑌕𑌲𑌿 𑌕𑍇 𑌕𑌷𑍍𑌟 𑌕𑌲𑍇𑌶𑌨 𑌹𑌰𑌨𑍀 । 𑌭𑌵 𑌭𑌯 𑌮𑍋𑌚𑌨 𑌮𑌙𑍍𑌗𑌲 𑌕𑌰𑌨𑍀 ॥

Kali ke kashta kaleshana harani Bhava bhaya mochana mangala karani

Meaning:Remover of the troubles and afflictions of the Kali age; releaser from the fear of worldly existence, doer of all that is auspicious.

Chaupai 15

𑌮𑌹𑌿𑌮𑌾 𑌅𑌗𑌮 𑌵𑍇𑌦 𑌯𑌶 𑌗𑌾𑌵𑍈𑌂 । 𑌨𑌾𑌰𑌦 𑌶𑌾𑌰𑌦 𑌪𑌾𑌰 𑌨 𑌪𑌾𑌵𑍈𑌂 ॥

Mahima agama veda yasha gavaim Narada sharada para na pavaim

Meaning:Your glory is unfathomable; the Vedas sing your fame; even Narada and Sharada (Saraswati) cannot reach your far shore.

Chaupai 16

𑌭𑍂 𑌪𑌰 𑌭𑌾𑌰 𑌬𑌢𑍍𑌯𑍗 𑌜𑌬 𑌭𑌾𑌰𑍀 । 𑌤𑌬 𑌤𑌬 𑌤𑍁𑌮 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌕𑌟𑍀𑌂 𑌮𑌹𑌤𑌾𑌰𑍀 ॥

Bhu para bhara badhyau jaba bhari Taba taba tuma prakatim mahatari

Meaning:Whenever the burden upon the earth grew heavy, then and again you became manifest, O Mother.

Chaupai 17

𑌆𑌦𑌿 𑌅𑌨𑌾𑌦𑌿 𑌅𑌭𑌯 𑌵𑌰𑌦𑌾𑌤𑌾 । 𑌵𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌵𑌿𑌦𑌿𑌤 𑌭𑌵 𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌟 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌤𑌾 ॥

Adi anadi abhaya varadata Vishvavidita bhava sankata trata

Meaning:Beginning and beginningless, giver of the boon of fearlessness; known throughout the universe as the saviour from the perils of existence.

Chaupai 18

𑌕𑍁𑌸𑌮𑌯 𑌨𑌾𑌮 𑌤𑍁𑌮𑍍𑌹𑌾𑌰𑍗 𑌲𑍀𑌨𑍍𑌹𑌾 । 𑌉𑌸𑌕𑍋 𑌸𑌦𑌾 𑌅𑌭𑌯 𑌵𑌰 𑌦𑍀𑌨𑍍𑌹𑌾 ॥

Kusamaya nama tumharau linha Usako sada abhaya vara dinha

Meaning:Whoever took your name in a time of distress, to him you ever granted the boon of fearlessness.

Chaupai 19

𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌨 𑌧𑌰𑍇𑌂 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍁𑌤𑌿 𑌶𑍇𑌷 𑌸𑍁𑌰𑍇𑌶𑌾 । 𑌕𑌾𑌲 𑌰𑍂𑌪 𑌲𑌖𑌿 𑌤𑍁𑌮𑌰𑍋 𑌭𑍇𑌷𑌾 ॥

Dhyana dharem shruti shesha suresha Kala rupa lakhi tumaro bhesha

Meaning:The Vedas, Shesha and Indra meditate upon you, beholding your guise in the very form of Time (Kala).

Chaupai 20

𑌕𑌲𑍁𑌆 𑌭𑍈𑌂𑌰𑍋𑌂 𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌗 𑌤𑍁𑌮𑍍𑌹𑌾𑌰𑍇 । 𑌅𑌰𑌿 𑌹𑌿𑌤 𑌰𑍂𑌪 𑌭𑌯𑌾𑌨𑌕 𑌧𑌾𑌰𑍇 ॥

Kalua bhaimrom sanga tumhare Ari hita rupa bhayanaka dhare

Meaning:Kalua and Bhairava are your companions; to destroy the enemy you assume a fearsome form.

Chaupai 21

𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌕 𑌲𑌾𑌙𑍍𑌗𑍁𑌰 𑌰𑌹𑌤 𑌅𑌗𑌾𑌰𑍀 । 𑌚𑍗𑌸𑌠 𑌜𑍋𑌗𑌨 𑌆𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌕𑌾𑌰𑍀 ॥

Sevaka langura rahata agari Chausatha jogana ajnakari

Meaning:Your servant Langur (Hanuman) stands ever before you; the sixty-four Yoginis are obedient to your command.

Chaupai 22

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌤𑌾 𑌮𑍇𑌂 𑌰𑌘𑍁𑌵𑌰 𑌹𑌿𑌤 𑌆𑌈 । 𑌦𑌶𑌕𑌨𑍍𑌧𑌰 𑌕𑍀 𑌸𑍈𑌨 𑌨𑌸𑌾𑌈 ॥

Treta mem raghuvara hita ai Dashakandhara ki saina nasai

Meaning:In the Treta age you came for the sake of Raghuvara (Rama), and destroyed the army of the ten-headed Ravana.

Chaupai 23

𑌖𑍇𑌲𑌾 𑌰𑌣 𑌕𑌾 𑌖𑍇𑌲 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌲𑌾 । 𑌭𑌰𑌾 𑌮𑌾𑌂𑌸-𑌮𑌜𑍍𑌜𑌾 𑌸𑍇 𑌪𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌲𑌾 ॥

Khela rana ka khela nirala Bhara mamsa-majja se pyala

Meaning:You played the wondrous game of battle, and filled your bowl with flesh and marrow.

Chaupai 24

𑌰𑍗𑌦𑍍𑌰 𑌰𑍂𑌪 𑌲𑌖𑌿 𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌵 𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍇 । 𑌕𑌿𑌯𑍗 𑌗𑌵𑌨 𑌭𑌵𑌨 𑌨𑌿𑌜 𑌤𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌗𑍇 ॥

Raudra rupa lakhi danava bhage Kiyau gavana bhavana nija tyage

Meaning:Beholding your furious form, the demons fled, abandoning their own dwellings in flight.

Chaupai 25

𑌤𑌬 𑌐𑌸𑍗 𑌤𑌾𑌮𑌸 𑌚𑌢़ 𑌆𑌯𑍋 । 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌜𑌨 𑌵𑌿𑌜𑌨 𑌕𑍋 𑌭𑍇𑌦 𑌭𑍁𑌲𑌾𑌯𑍋 ॥

Taba aisau tamasa chadha़ ayo Svajana vijana ko bheda bhulayo

Meaning:Then such a dark fury rose up in you that you forgot the difference between your own people and strangers.

Chaupai 26

𑌯𑍇 𑌬𑌾𑌲𑌕 𑌲𑌖𑌿 𑌶𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌰 𑌆𑌏 । 𑌰𑌾𑌹 𑌰𑍋𑌕 𑌚𑌰𑌨𑌨 𑌮𑍇𑌂 𑌧𑌾𑌏 ॥

Ye balaka lakhi shankara ae Raha roka charanana mem dhae

Meaning:Seeing this, Shankara (Shiva) came and, blocking your path, threw himself down at your feet.

Chaupai 27

𑌤𑌬 𑌮𑍁𑌖 𑌜𑍀𑌭 𑌨𑌿𑌕𑌰 𑌜𑍋 𑌆𑌈 । 𑌯𑌹𑍀 𑌰𑍂𑌪 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌚𑌲𑌿𑌤 𑌹𑍈 𑌮𑌾𑌈 ॥

Taba mukha jibha nikara jo ai Yahi rupa prachalita hai mai

Meaning:Then your tongue shot out from your mouth (in startled shame at treading on Shiva); this is the form, O Mother, that is famed the world over.

Chaupai 28

𑌬𑌾𑌢𑍍𑌯𑍋 𑌮𑌹𑌿𑌷𑌾𑌸𑍁𑌰 𑌮𑌦 𑌭𑌾𑌰𑍀 । 𑌪𑍀𑌡़𑌇𑌤 𑌕𑌿𑌏 𑌸𑌕𑌲 𑌨𑌰-𑌨𑌾𑌰𑍀 ॥

Badhyo mahishasura mada bhari Pida़ita kie sakala nara-nari

Meaning:The buffalo-demon Mahishasura, swollen with great arrogance, tormented every man and woman.

Chaupai 29

𑌕𑌰𑍂𑌣 𑌪𑍁𑌕𑌾𑌰 𑌸𑍁𑌨𑍀 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌨 𑌕𑍀 । 𑌪𑍀𑌰 𑌮𑌿𑌟𑌾𑌵𑌨 𑌹𑌿𑌤 𑌜𑌨-𑌜𑌨 𑌕𑍀 ॥

Karuna pukara suni bhaktana ki Pira mitavana hita jana-jana ki

Meaning:You heard the piteous cry of your devotees, to wipe away the suffering of each and every soul.

Chaupai 30

𑌤𑌬 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌗𑌟𑍀 𑌨𑌿𑌜 𑌸𑍈𑌨 𑌸𑌮𑍇𑌤𑌾 । 𑌨𑌾𑌮 𑌪𑌡़𑌾 𑌮𑌾𑌂 𑌮𑌹𑌿𑌷 𑌵𑌿𑌜𑍇𑌤𑌾 ॥

Taba pragati nija saina sameta Nama pada़a mam mahisha vijeta

Meaning:Then you appeared together with your own host; and your name, O Mother, became 'Conqueror of Mahisha'.

Chaupai 31

𑌶𑍁𑌮𑍍𑌭 𑌨𑌿𑌶𑍁𑌮𑍍𑌭 𑌹𑌨𑍇 𑌛𑌨 𑌮𑌾𑌹𑍀𑌂 । 𑌤𑍁𑌮 𑌸𑌮 𑌜𑌗 𑌦𑍂𑌸𑌰 𑌕𑍗 𑌨𑌾𑌹𑍀𑌂 ॥

Shumbha nishumbha hane chhana mahim Tuma sama jaga dusara kau nahim

Meaning:You slew Shumbha and Nishumbha in an instant; there is no other in the world equal to you.

Chaupai 32

𑌮𑌾𑌨 𑌮𑌥𑌨𑌹𑌾𑌰𑍀 𑌖𑌲 𑌦𑌲 𑌕𑍇 । 𑌸𑌦𑌾 𑌸𑌹𑌾𑌯𑌕 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤 𑌵𑌿𑌕𑌲 𑌕𑍇 ॥

Mana mathanahari khala dala ke Sada sahayaka bhakta vikala ke

Meaning:Crusher of the pride of the hosts of the wicked; ever the helper of the devotee in distress.

Chaupai 33

𑌦𑍀𑌨 𑌵𑌿𑌹𑍀𑌨 𑌕𑌰𑍈𑌂 𑌨𑌿𑌤 𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌾 । 𑌪𑌾𑌵𑍈𑌂 𑌮𑌨𑌵𑌾𑌞𑍍𑌛𑌿𑌤 𑌫𑌲 𑌮𑍇𑌵𑌾 ॥

Dina vihina karaim nita seva Pavaim manavanchhita phala meva

Meaning:The humble and destitute who serve you daily obtain the cherished fruit of their heart's desire.

Chaupai 34

𑌸𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌟 𑌮𑍇𑌂 𑌜𑍋 𑌸𑍁𑌮𑌿𑌰𑌨 𑌕𑌰𑌹𑍀𑌂 । 𑌉𑌨𑌕𑍇 𑌕𑌷𑍍𑌟 𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍁 𑌤𑍁𑌮 𑌹𑌰𑌹𑍀𑌂 ॥

Sankata mem jo sumirana karahim Unake kashta matu tuma harahim

Meaning:Those who remember you in calamity, their sufferings, O Mother, you take away.

Chaupai 35

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌮 𑌸𑌹𑌿𑌤 𑌜𑍋 𑌕𑍀𑌰𑌤𑌿𑌗𑌾𑌵𑍈𑌂 । 𑌭𑌵 𑌬𑌨𑍍𑌧𑌨 𑌸𑍋𑌂 𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤𑍀 𑌪𑌾𑌵𑍈𑌂 ॥

Prema sahita jo kiratigavaim Bhava bandhana som mukti pavaim

Meaning:Those who sing your glory with love attain release from the bonds of worldly existence.

Chaupai 36

𑌕𑌾𑌲𑍀 𑌚𑌾𑌲𑍀𑌸𑌾 𑌜𑍋 𑌪𑌢़𑌹𑍀𑌂 । 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌗𑌲𑍋𑌕 𑌬𑌿𑌨𑍁 𑌬𑌨𑍍𑌧𑌨 𑌚𑌢़𑌹𑍀𑌂 ॥

Kali chalisa jo padha़him Svargaloka binu bandhana chadha़him

Meaning:Those who read the Kali Chalisa ascend to the heavenly realm, free of all bondage.

Chaupai 37

𑌦𑌯𑌾 𑌦𑍃𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌿 𑌹𑍇𑌰𑍗 𑌜𑌗𑌦𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌾 । 𑌕𑍇𑌹𑌿 𑌕𑌾𑌰𑌣𑌮𑌾𑌂 𑌕𑌿𑌯𑍗 𑌵𑌿𑌲𑌮𑍍𑌬𑌾 ॥

Daya drishti herau jagadamba Kehi karanamam kiyau vilamba

Meaning:Cast your glance of compassion upon me, O Jagadamba; for what reason, O Mother, do you delay?

Chaupai 38

𑌕𑌰𑌹𑍁 𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍁 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌨 𑌰𑌖𑌵𑌾𑌲𑍀 । 𑌜𑌯𑌤𑌿 𑌜𑌯𑌤𑌿 𑌕𑌾𑌲𑍀 𑌕𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌾𑌲𑍀 ॥

Karahu matu bhaktana rakhavali Jayati jayati kali kankali

Meaning:Protect your devotees, O Mother; victory, victory to Kali, the skeletal one (Kankali)!

Chaupai 39

𑌸𑍇𑌵𑌕 𑌦𑍀𑌨 𑌅𑌨𑌾𑌥 𑌅𑌨𑌾𑌰𑍀। 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌭𑌾𑌵 𑌯𑍁𑌤𑌿 𑌶𑌰𑌣 𑌤𑍁𑌮𑍍𑌹𑌾𑌰𑍀 ॥

Sevaka dina anatha anari Bhaktibhava yuti sharana tumhari

Meaning:Your servant is humble, orphaned and helpless; with a heart full of devotion he takes refuge in you.

Closing Doha

𑌪𑍍𑌰𑍇𑌮 𑌸𑌹𑌿𑌤 𑌜𑍋 𑌕𑌰𑍇, 𑌕𑌾𑌲𑍀 𑌚𑌾𑌲𑍀𑌸𑌾 𑌪𑌾𑌠 । 𑌤𑌿𑌨𑌕𑍀 𑌪𑍂𑌰𑌨 𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌨𑌾, 𑌹𑍋𑌯 𑌸𑌕𑌲 𑌜𑌗 𑌠𑌾𑌠 ॥

Prema sahita jo kare, kali chalisa patha Tinaki purana kamana, hoya sakala jaga thatha

Meaning:Whoever recites the Kali Chalisa with love, all their desires are fulfilled, and the whole splendour of the world is theirs.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

𑌕𑌾𑌲𑍀🔊KaliThe fierce, dark form of the Goddess (Shakti), destroyer of evil and of the ego, a manifestation of Durga

𑌮𑌹𑌿𑌷 𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌦𑌿𑌨𑍀🔊Mahisha Mardini'Slayer of the buffalo-demon Mahishasura', a title the Goddess won by destroying him

𑌮𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌮𑌾𑌲🔊MundamalaThe garland of severed heads (skulls) worn by Kali, symbolising the destruction of ego

𑌅𑌷𑍍𑌟𑌭𑍁𑌜𑍀🔊Ashtabhuji'Eight-armed', describing Kali bearing weapons and the boon-giving gesture in her hands

𑌕𑌙𑍍𑌕𑌾𑌲𑍀🔊KankaliA fierce name of Kali, the skeletal or bony one, the form of Time that consumes all

Benefits of Chanting Kali Chalisa

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Recited to invoke Maa Kali, the fierce protective form of the Goddess, for the destruction of fear, enemies, negativity and the ego.

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Describes Kali's eight-armed form, her companions and her deeds (the slaying of Mahishasura, Shumbha and Nishumbha, and the episode of treading on Shiva), strengthening courage and surrender.

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Believed to remove the troubles and afflictions of the Kali age, to shield devotees in danger, and to grant the heart's desire to those who serve her with devotion.

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Especially recited on Kali Puja and the Amavasya nights, during Navratri (the night of Kali / Maha Ashtami), and on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

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Chanted with the Durga Chalisa, Durga Kavach and Mahishasura Mardini Stotra to complete the worship of the Mother.

How to Chant Kali Chalisa

Repetitions1times

Best TimeNight, especially Amavasya and Kali Puja; Tuesdays and Saturdays

FaceNorth or East, facing the deity

After bathing, sit before an image of Maa Kali, light a lamp (and incense) and offer red flowers (hibiscus) and prasad. Recite the Chalisa with a calm, fearless and devoted mind, dwelling on the Mother as the destroyer of all evil, and conclude with 'Jai Maa Kali'. It is recited with special power on Kali Puja and Amavasya nights.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Kali Chalisa written in the Grantha script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It is a forty-verse Hindi hymn in praise of Maa Kali, the fierce form of the Mother Goddess. It describes her eight-armed form and her deeds and is recited for protection, courage, and the destruction of fear, enemies and negativity.

Maa Kali is the fierce, dark manifestation of the Goddess (Shakti, a form of Durga / Parvati) who destroys demons, evil and the ego. Garlanded with skulls and bearing weapons, she is at once terrifying to evil and infinitely compassionate to her devotees, the Mother who grants fearlessness.

It is especially recited at night, on the Amavasya (new-moon) nights and on Kali Puja, during Navratri (notably the night of Kali on Maha Ashtami), and on Tuesdays and Saturdays. It may also be recited daily for protection.

The Chalisa recalls that in her battle-fury Kali could not be stopped until Shiva lay in her path; when her foot touched her own lord, she bit her tongue in startled reverence. This is the famous form of Kali with her tongue out, expressing the check of her fury by devotion.

Both praise the Mother Goddess, but the Kali Chalisa is devoted to her fierce form, Maa Kali, the destroyer of evil and fear, while the Durga Chalisa praises Durga in her many forms. Devotees of Shakti often recite both, especially during Navratri and Kali Puja.