gangaganga-maiyariver-gangachalisa

𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌗𑌂𑌗𑌾 𑌚𑌾𑌲𑍀𑌸𑌾

Ganga Chalisa in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Sunrise; Ganga Dussehra and Ganga Jayanti; while bathing in or honouring the river·🎵 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 · Sundardas (as named in the closing verse) · Devotional era

Ganga is the sacred river worshipped as a goddess who flows through the three worlds: as Mandakini in heaven, as Bhagirathi-Jahnavi on earth, and as Bhagavati in the netherworld. The Chalisa recalls how, through the penance of Bhagiratha, she descended from heaven and was caught in Shiva's matted locks to spare the earth her force, then flowed on to liberate the ancestors of Sagara, becoming the eternal purifier of all who come to her.

✦ As told in scripture

It is held that even uttering 'Ganga, Ganga' from afar, or a single drop of her water at life's end, washes away the sins of many births, for at her name Yama himself turns away; the river that liberated the sixty thousand sons of Sagara liberates her devotees still.

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Doha 1

𑌜𑌯 𑌜𑌯 𑌜𑌯 𑌜𑌗 𑌪𑌾𑌵𑌨𑍀 𑌜𑌯𑌤𑌿 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌸𑌰𑌿 𑌗𑌂𑌗 । 𑌜𑌯 𑌶𑌿𑌵 𑌜𑌟𑌾 𑌨𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌸𑌿𑌨𑍀 𑌅𑌨𑍁𑌪𑌮 𑌤𑍁𑌂𑌗 𑌤𑌰𑌂𑌗 ॥

Jaya jaya jaya jaga pavani jayati devasari gamga Jaya shiva jata nivasini anupama tumga taramga

Meaning:Victory, victory, victory to Ganga, purifier of the world, the river of the gods! Hail to her who dwells in Shiva's matted locks, with her peerless, soaring waves.

Doha 2

𑌜𑌯 𑌜𑌗 𑌜𑌨𑌨𑌿 𑌅𑌘 𑌖𑌾𑌨𑍀, 𑌆𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌦 𑌕𑌰𑌨𑌿 𑌗𑌂𑌗 𑌮𑌹𑌰𑌾𑌨𑍀 । 𑌜𑌯 𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍀𑌰𑌥𑌿 𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌸𑌰𑌿 𑌮𑌾𑌤𑌾, 𑌕𑌲𑌿𑌮𑌲 𑌮𑍂𑌲 𑌦𑌲𑌨𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌖𑌯𑌾𑌤𑌾 ।।

Jaya jaga janani agha khani, ananda karani gamga maharani Jaya bhagirathi surasari mata, kalimala mula dalani vikhayata

Meaning:Hail, Mother of the world, devourer of sins, Ganga the great queen who bestows bliss! Hail Bhagirathi, mother river of the gods, renowned as the destroyer of the very root of the sins of Kali.

Chaupai 1

𑌜𑌯 𑌜𑌯 𑌜𑌯 𑌹𑌨𑍁 𑌸𑍁𑌤𑌾 𑌅𑌘 𑌅𑌨𑌨𑍀, 𑌭𑍀𑌷𑌮 𑌕𑍀 𑌮𑌾𑌤𑌾 𑌜𑌗 𑌜𑌨𑌨𑍀 । 𑌧𑌵𑌲 𑌕𑌮𑌲 𑌦𑌲 𑌮𑌮 𑌤𑌨𑍁 𑌸𑌾𑌜𑍇, 𑌲𑌖𑌿 𑌶𑌤 𑌶𑌰𑌦 𑌚𑌨𑍍𑌦𑍍𑌰 𑌛𑌵𑌿 𑌲𑌾𑌜𑍇 ।।

Jaya jaya jaya hanu suta agha anani, bhishama ki mata jaga janani Dhavala kamala dala mama tanu saje, lakhi shata sharada chandra chhavi laje

Meaning:Hail, daughter of Jahnu, slayer of sin, mother of Bhishma and Mother of the world! Your form shines white as a cluster of lotuses; beholding it, the beauty of a hundred autumn moons is put to shame.

Chaupai 2

𑌵𑌾𑌹𑌨 𑌮𑌕𑌰 𑌵𑌿𑌮𑌲 𑌶𑍁𑌚𑌿 𑌸𑍋𑌹𑍈, 𑌅𑌮𑌿𑌯 𑌕𑌲𑌶 𑌕𑌰 𑌲𑌖𑌿 𑌮𑌨 𑌮𑍋𑌹𑍈 । 𑌜𑌡𑌿𑌤 𑌰𑌤𑍍𑌨 𑌕𑌂𑌚𑌨 𑌆𑌭𑍂𑌷𑌣, 𑌹𑌿𑌯 𑌮𑌣𑌿 𑌹𑌾𑌰, 𑌹𑌰𑌣𑌿𑌤𑌮 𑌦𑍂𑌷𑌣 ।।

Vahana makara vimala shuchi sohai, amiya kalasha kara lakhi mana mohai Jadita ratna kamchana abhushana, hiya mani hara, haranitama dushana

Meaning:Your pure, bright crocodile-mount (makara) is resplendent; the nectar-pot in your hand entrances the mind. Adorned with gold and inlaid jewels, a gem-necklace upon your breast, you remove every blemish and the darkness of sin.

Chaupai 3

𑌜𑌗 𑌪𑌾𑌵𑌨𑌿 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯 𑌤𑌾𑌪 𑌨𑌸𑌾𑌵𑌨𑌿, 𑌤𑌰𑌲 𑌤𑌰𑌂𑌗 𑌤𑌂𑌗 𑌮𑌨 𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌨𑌿 । 𑌜𑍋 𑌗𑌣𑌪𑌤𑌿 𑌅𑌤𑌿 𑌪𑍂𑌜𑍍𑌯 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌧𑌾𑌨𑌾, 𑌤𑌿𑌹𑍁𑌂 𑌤𑍇 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌥𑌮 𑌗𑌂𑌗 𑌅𑌸𑍍𑌨𑌾𑌨𑌾 ।।

Jaga pavani traya tapa nasavani, tarala taramga tamga mana bhavani Jo ganapati ati pujya pradhana, tihum te prathama gamga asnana

Meaning:Purifier of the world, destroyer of the three torments, your rippling, surging waves delight the heart. Even Ganapati, who is most worshipful and is honoured first of all, before him too comes the holy bath in the Ganga.

Chaupai 4

𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮 𑌕𑌮𑌣𑍍𑌡𑌲 𑌵𑌾𑌸𑌿𑌨𑍀 𑌦𑍇𑌵𑍀 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑍀 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌭𑍁 𑌪𑌦 𑌪𑌂𑌕𑌜 𑌸𑍁𑌖 𑌸𑍇𑌵𑍀 । 𑌸𑌾𑌠𑌿 𑌸𑌹𑌤𑍍𑌰 𑌸𑌗𑌰 𑌸𑍁𑌤 𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌯𑍋, 𑌗𑌂𑌗𑌾 𑌸𑌾𑌗𑌰 𑌤𑍀𑌰𑌥 𑌧𑌾𑌰𑌯𑍋 ।।

Brahma kamandala vasini devi shri prabhu pada pamkaja sukha sevi Sathi sahatra sagara suta tarayo, gamga sagara tiratha dharayo

Meaning:O Goddess who once dwelt in Brahma's water-pot, who blissfully served the lotus-feet of the Lord! You delivered the sixty thousand sons of Sagara and established the holy place of Gangasagar.

Chaupai 5

𑌅𑌗𑌮 𑌤𑌰𑌂𑌗 𑌉𑌠𑌯𑍋 𑌮𑌨 𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌨, 𑌲𑌖𑌿 𑌤𑍀𑌰𑌥 𑌹𑌰𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌰 𑌸𑍁𑌹𑌾𑌵𑌨 । 𑌤𑍀𑌰𑌥 𑌰𑌾𑌜 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌯𑌾𑌗 𑌅𑌕𑍍𑌷𑍈𑌵𑌟, 𑌧𑌰𑌯𑍗 𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍁 𑌪𑍁𑌨𑌿 𑌕𑌾𑌶𑍀 𑌕𑌰𑌵𑌟 ।।

Agama taramga uthayo mana bhavana, lakhi tiratha haridvara suhavana Tiratha raja prayaga akshaivata, dharayau matu puni kashi karavata

Meaning:Your fathomless waves rise, delighting the heart; behold the lovely sacred town of Haridwar. The king of holy places, Prayag with its undying banyan (Akshayavat), and then, O Mother, you turned toward Kashi (Varanasi).

Chaupai 6

𑌧𑌨𑌿 𑌧𑌨𑌿 𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌸𑌰𑌿 𑌸𑍍𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌗 𑌕𑍀 𑌸𑍀𑌢़𑍀, 𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌣𑌿 𑌅𑌮𑌿𑌤 𑌪𑌿𑌤𑍃 𑌪𑌦 𑌪𑍀𑌢𑍀 । 𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍀𑌰𑌥 𑌤𑌪 𑌕𑌿𑌯𑍋 𑌅𑌪𑌾𑌰𑌾, 𑌦𑌿𑌯𑍋 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮 𑌤𑌬 𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌸𑌰𑌿 𑌧𑌾𑌰𑌾 ।।

Dhani dhani surasari svarga ki sidha़i, tarani amita pitri pada pidhi Bhagiratha tapa kiyo apara, diyo brahma taba surasari dhara

Meaning:Blessed, blessed are you, river of the gods, the very stairway to heaven, who deliver countless generations of ancestors! Bhagiratha performed boundless penance, and then Brahma released the stream of the heavenly river.

Chaupai 7

𑌜𑌬 𑌜𑌗 𑌜𑌨𑌨𑍀 𑌚𑌲𑍍𑌯𑍋 𑌲𑌹𑌰𑌾𑌈, 𑌶𑌂𑌭𑍁 𑌜𑌟𑌾 𑌮𑌹𑌂 𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌯𑍋 𑌸𑌮𑌾𑌈 । 𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌷 𑌪𑌰𑍍𑌯𑌨𑍍𑌤 𑌗𑌂𑌗 𑌮𑌹𑌰𑌾𑌨𑍀, 𑌰𑌹𑍀𑌂 𑌶𑌂𑌭𑍁 𑌕𑍇 𑌜𑌟𑌾 𑌭𑍁𑌲𑌾𑌨𑍀 ।।

Jaba jaga janani chalyo laharai, shambhu jata maham rahyo samai Varsha paryanta gamga maharani, rahim shambhu ke jata bhulani

Meaning:When the Mother of the world flowed forth surging, she was held absorbed within Shambhu's (Shiva's) matted locks. For a whole year Ganga the great queen remained lost, forgotten, in Shiva's hair.

Chaupai 8

𑌮𑍁𑌨𑌿 𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍀𑌰𑌥 𑌶𑌂𑌭𑍁𑌹𑌿𑌂 𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌯𑍋, 𑌤𑌬 𑌇𑌕 𑌬𑍂𑌂𑌦 𑌜𑌟𑌾 𑌸𑍇 𑌪𑌾𑌯𑍋 । 𑌤𑌾𑌤𑍇 𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍁 𑌭𑌈 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌯 𑌧𑌾𑌰𑌾, 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁 𑌲𑍋𑌕, 𑌨𑌭 𑌅𑌰𑍁 𑌪𑌾𑌤𑌾𑌰𑌾 ।।

Muni bhagiratha shambhuhim dhyayo, taba ika bumda jata se payo Tate matu bhai traya dhara, mrityu loka, nabha aru patara

Meaning:The sage Bhagiratha meditated upon Shambhu, and then won a single drop from his locks. From that, O Mother, you became three streams, for the mortal world, the heavens, and the netherworld (Patala).

Chaupai 9

𑌗𑌈 𑌪𑌾𑌤𑌾𑌲 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌤𑌿 𑌨𑌾𑌮𑌾, 𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌾𑌕𑌿𑌨𑍀 𑌗𑌈 𑌗𑌗𑌨 𑌲𑌲𑌾𑌮𑌾 । 𑌮𑍃𑌤𑍍𑌯𑍁 𑌲𑍋𑌕 𑌜𑌾𑌹𑍍𑌨𑌵𑍀 𑌸𑍁𑌹𑌾𑌵𑌨𑌿, 𑌕𑌲𑌿𑌮𑌲 𑌹𑌰𑌣𑌿 𑌅𑌗𑌮 𑌜𑌗 𑌪𑌾𑌵𑌨𑌿 ।।

Gai patala prabhavati nama, mandakini gai gagana lalama Mrityu loka jahnavi suhavani, kalimala harani agama jaga pavani

Meaning:To Patala you went by the name Bhagavati; to the heavens you went as Mandakini, the ornament of the sky. In the mortal world you are lovely Jahnavi, remover of the impurities of Kali, the fathomless purifier of the world.

Chaupai 10

𑌧𑌨𑌿 𑌮𑌇𑌯𑌾 𑌤𑌵 𑌮𑌹𑌿𑌮𑌾 𑌭𑌾𑌰𑍀, 𑌧𑌰𑍍𑌮 𑌧𑍁𑌰𑌿 𑌕𑌲𑌿 𑌕𑌲𑍁𑌷 𑌕𑍁𑌠𑌾𑌰𑍀 । 𑌮𑌾𑌤𑍁 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌭𑌾𑌵𑌤𑌿 𑌧𑌨𑌿 𑌮𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌾𑌕𑌿𑌨𑍀, 𑌧𑌨𑌿 𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌸𑌰𑌿𑌤 𑌸𑌕𑌲 𑌭𑌯𑌨𑌾𑌸𑌿𑌨𑍀 ।।

Dhani maiya tava mahima bhari, dharma dhuri kali kalusha kuthari Matu prabhavati dhani mandakini, dhani surasarita sakala bhayanasini

Meaning:Blessed Mother, great is your glory, the axle of dharma, the axe that cleaves the sins of the Kali age. Blessed Bhagavati, blessed Mandakini; blessed river of the gods, destroyer of every fear.

Chaupai 11

𑌪𑌾𑌨 𑌕𑌰𑌤 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌮𑌲 𑌗𑌂𑌗𑌾𑌜𑌲, 𑌪𑌾𑌵𑌤 𑌮𑌨 𑌇𑌚𑍍𑌛𑌿𑌤 𑌅𑌨𑌨𑍍𑌤 𑌫𑌲 । 𑌪𑍂𑌰𑌬 𑌜𑌨𑍍𑌮 𑌪𑍁𑌣𑍍𑌯 𑌜𑌬 𑌜𑌾𑌗𑌤, 𑌤𑌬𑌹𑌿𑌂 𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌨 𑌗𑌂𑌗𑌾 𑌮𑌹𑌂 𑌲𑌾𑌗𑌤 ।।

Pana karata nirmala gamgajala, pavata mana ichchhita ananta phala Puraba janma punya jaba jagata, tabahim dhyana gamga maham lagata

Meaning:Drinking the pure water of Ganga, one gains endless fruit, the heart's every desire. Only when the merit of past births awakens does the mind become fixed in meditation upon Ganga.

Chaupai 12

𑌜𑌈 𑌪𑌗𑍁 𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌸𑌰𑌿 𑌹𑍇𑌤𑍁 𑌉𑌠𑌾𑌵𑌹𑌿𑌂, 𑌤𑌇 𑌜𑌗𑌿 𑌅𑌶𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍇𑌧 𑌫𑌲 𑌪𑌾𑌵𑌹𑌿𑌂 । 𑌮𑌹𑌾 𑌪𑌤𑌿𑌤 𑌜𑌿𑌨 𑌕𑌾𑌹𑍁 𑌨 𑌤𑌾𑌰𑍇, 𑌤𑌿𑌨 𑌤𑌾𑌰𑍇 𑌇𑌕 𑌨𑌾𑌮 𑌤𑌿𑌹𑌾𑌰𑍇 ।।

Jai pagu surasari hetu uthavahim, tai jagi ashvamedha phala pavahim Maha patita jina kahu na tare, tina tare ika nama tihare

Meaning:Whatever steps one takes for the sake of the heavenly river, by them one gains in this world the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice. The greatest sinners, whom none could deliver, even those your single name has delivered.

Chaupai 13

𑌶𑌤 𑌯𑍋𑌜𑌨𑌹𑍂 𑌸𑍇 𑌜𑍋 𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌵𑌹𑌿𑌂, 𑌨𑌿𑌶𑍍𑌚𑌯 𑌵𑌿𑌷𑍍𑌣𑍁 𑌲𑍋𑌕 𑌪𑌦 𑌪𑌾𑌵𑌹𑌿𑌂 । 𑌨𑌾𑌮 𑌭𑌜𑌤 𑌅𑌗𑌣𑌿𑌤 𑌅𑌘 𑌨𑌾𑌶𑍈, 𑌵𑌿𑌮𑌲 𑌜𑍍𑌞𑌾𑌨 𑌬𑌲 𑌬𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿 𑌪𑍍𑌰𑌕𑌾𑌶𑍈 ।।

Shata yojanahu se jo dhyavahim, nishchaya vishnu loka pada pavahim Nama bhajata aganita agha nashai, vimala jnana bala buddhi prakashai

Meaning:Those who meditate upon you even from a hundred yojanas away surely attain the abode of Vishnu. Chanting your name destroys countless sins and kindles pure knowledge, strength and intellect.

Chaupai 14

𑌜𑌿𑌮𑌿 𑌧𑌨 𑌮𑍂𑌲 𑌧𑌰𑍍𑌮 𑌅𑌰𑍁 𑌦𑌾𑌨𑌾, 𑌧𑌰𑍍𑌮 𑌮𑍂𑌲 𑌗𑌂𑌗𑌾𑌜𑌲 𑌪𑌾𑌨𑌾 । 𑌤𑌵 𑌗𑍁𑌣 𑌗𑍁𑌣𑌨 𑌕𑌰𑌤 𑌸𑍁𑌖 𑌭𑌾𑌜𑌤, 𑌗𑍃𑌹 𑌗𑍃𑌹 𑌸𑌮𑍍𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌸𑍁𑌮𑌤𑌿 𑌵𑌿𑌰𑌾𑌜𑌤 ।।

Jimi dhana mula dharma aru dana, dharma mula gamgajala pana Tava guna gunana karata sukha bhajata, griha griha sampatti sumati virajata

Meaning:As wealth is the root of dharma and charity, so the drinking of Ganga's water is the root of dharma. Reciting your virtues, sorrow takes flight; in home after home prosperity and good sense abide.

Chaupai 15

𑌗𑌂𑌗𑌹𑌿𑌂 𑌨𑍇𑌮 𑌸𑌹𑌿𑌤 𑌨𑌿𑌜 𑌧𑍍𑌯𑌾𑌵𑌤, 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌜𑌨𑌹𑍂𑌂 𑌸𑌜𑍍𑌜𑌨 𑌪𑌦 𑌪𑌾𑌵𑌤 । 𑌬𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿𑌹𑍀𑌨 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌾 𑌬𑌲 𑌪𑌾𑌵𑍈, 𑌰𑍋𑌗𑍀 𑌰𑍋𑌗 𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌤 𑌹𑍍𑌵𑍈 𑌜𑌾𑌵𑍈 ।।

Gamgahim nema sahita nija dhyavata, durjanahum sajjana pada pavata Buddhihina vidya bala pavai, rogi roga mukta hvai javai

Meaning:Whoever meditates upon Ganga with a steadfast vow, even the wicked attain the state of the virtuous. The witless gain the power of learning, and the sick are freed from their disease.

Chaupai 16

𑌗𑌂𑌗𑌾 𑌗𑌂𑌗𑌾 𑌜𑍋 𑌨𑌰 𑌕𑌹𑌹𑍀𑌂, 𑌭𑍂𑌖𑍇 𑌨𑌂𑌗𑍇 𑌕𑌬𑌹𑍂𑌂 𑌨 𑌰𑌹𑌹𑍀𑌂 । 𑌨𑌿𑌕𑌸𑌤 𑌕𑍀 𑌮𑍁𑌖 𑌗𑌂𑌗𑌾 𑌮𑌾𑌈, 𑌶𑍍𑌰𑌵𑌣 𑌦𑌾𑌬𑌿 𑌯𑌮 𑌚𑌲𑌹𑌿𑌂 𑌪𑌰𑌾𑌈 ।।

Gamga gamga jo nara kahahim, bhukhe namge kabahum na rahahim Nikasata ki mukha gamga mai, shravana dabi yama chalahim parai

Meaning:Those who say 'Ganga, Ganga' never remain hungry or destitute. The very moment 'Mother Ganga' leaves the lips, Yama (death) flees away, pressing his ears shut.

Chaupai 17

𑌮𑌹𑌾𑌂 𑌅𑌧𑌿𑌨 𑌅𑌧𑌮𑌨 𑌕𑌹𑌂 𑌤𑌾𑌰𑍇𑌂, 𑌭𑌏 𑌨𑌰𑍍𑌕 𑌕𑍇 𑌬𑌨𑍍𑌦 𑌕𑌿𑌵𑌾𑌰𑍇 । 𑌜𑍋 𑌨𑌰 𑌜𑌪𑍈 𑌗𑌂𑌗 𑌶𑌤 𑌨𑌾𑌮𑌾, 𑌸𑌕𑌲 𑌸𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧 𑌪𑍂𑌰𑌣 𑌹𑍍𑌵𑍈 𑌕𑌾𑌮𑌾 ।।

Maham adhina adhamana kaham tarem, bhae narka ke banda kivare Jo nara japai gamga shata nama, sakala siddha purana hvai kama

Meaning:You deliver even the lowest of the low and the most fallen; for them the doors of hell are shut fast. Whoever recites the hundred names of Ganga finds all his aims fulfilled and perfected.

Chaupai 18

𑌸𑌬 𑌸𑍁𑌖 𑌭𑍋𑌗 𑌪𑌰𑌮 𑌪𑌦 𑌪𑌾𑌵𑌹𑌿𑌂, 𑌆𑌵𑌾𑌗𑌮𑌨 𑌰𑌹𑌿𑌤 𑌹𑍍𑌵𑍈 𑌜𑌾𑌵𑌹𑌿𑌂 । 𑌧𑌨𑌿 𑌮𑌇𑌯𑌾 𑌸𑍁𑌰𑌸𑌰𑌿 𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌦𑍈𑌨𑍀, 𑌧𑌨𑌿 𑌧𑌨𑌿 𑌤𑍀𑌰𑌥 𑌰𑌾𑌜 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌵𑍇𑌣𑍀 ।।

Saba sukha bhoga parama pada pavahim, avagamana rahita hvai javahim Dhani maiya surasari sukhadaini, dhani dhani tiratha raja triveni

Meaning:They enjoy every happiness and attain the supreme state, becoming free from the round of birth and death. Blessed Mother, river of the gods, giver of joy; blessed, blessed is the king of holy places, the Triveni confluence.

Closing Doha

𑌕𑌕𑌰𑌾 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌾𑌮 𑌋𑌷𑌿 𑌦𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌸𑌾, 𑌸𑍁𑌨𑍍𑌦𑌰𑌦𑌾𑌸 𑌗𑌂𑌗𑌾 𑌕𑌰 𑌦𑌾𑌸𑌾 । 𑌜𑍋 𑌯𑌹 𑌪𑌢़𑍈 𑌗𑌂𑌗𑌾 𑌚𑌾𑌲𑍀𑌸𑌾, 𑌮𑌿𑌲𑍈 𑌭𑌕𑍍𑌤𑌿 𑌅𑌵𑌿𑌰𑌲 𑌵𑌾𑌗𑍀𑌸𑌾 ।।

Kakara grama rishi durvasa, sundaradasa gamga kara dasa Jo yaha padha़ai gamga chalisa, milai bhakti avirala vagisa

Meaning:In the village of Kakra, by the seat of the sage Durvasa, Sundardas is the servant of Ganga. Whoever reads this Ganga Chalisa gains unbroken devotion and the grace of the Lord of eloquence.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

𑌦𑍇𑌵𑌸𑌰𑌿🔊DevasariThe river (sari) of the gods (deva), a name of Ganga who flows in heaven, earth and the netherworld

𑌭𑌾𑌗𑍀𑌰𑌥𑍀🔊BhagirathiGanga as 'brought down by Bhagiratha', whose penance won her descent to earth to liberate his ancestors

𑌜𑌾𑌹𑍍𑌨𑌵𑍀🔊Jahnavi'Daughter of Jahnu', the sage who drank and then released Ganga, giving her this name

𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌵𑍇𑌣𑍀🔊TriveniThe confluence at Prayag (Prayagraj) of the Ganga, Yamuna and the unseen Saraswati

𑌸𑌗𑌰 𑌸𑍁𑌤🔊Sagara-sutaThe sixty thousand sons of King Sagara, liberated when Ganga's waters reached their ashes

Benefits of Chanting Ganga Chalisa

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Recited to invoke Maa Ganga, the sacred river-goddess, for the washing away of sins, inner purification and peace of mind.

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Narrates Ganga's descent (the penance of Bhagiratha, her passage through Shiva's locks, and the liberation of Sagara's sons), deepening faith and devotion.

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Believed to grant the fruit of bathing in the Ganga even to those far from her banks, and to bring health, prosperity and freedom from fear to the devotee.

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Especially recited on Ganga Dussehra, Ganga Jayanti, Kartik Purnima and Makar Sankranti, and when bathing in or offering to the Ganga.

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Chanted with the Ganga Aarti ('Om Jai Gange Mata') to complete the worship of Mother Ganga.

How to Chant Ganga Chalisa

Repetitions1times

Best TimeSunrise; Ganga Dussehra and Ganga Jayanti; while bathing in or honouring the river

FaceFacing the river, or East

After bathing, sit facing the Ganga or her image, light a lamp and offer flowers, and if possible keep Gangajal (Ganga water) before you. Recite the Chalisa with devotion, remembering her descent to earth, and conclude with the Ganga Aarti. It is offered with special faith on Ganga Dussehra and while taking a holy dip.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Ganga 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 devotional Hindi hymn in praise of Maa Ganga, the sacred river worshipped as a goddess. It tells of her descent to earth and her power to wash away sin, and is recited for purification, blessings and peace.

Ganga is revered as a living goddess who descended from heaven through Shiva's locks to liberate the ancestors of King Bhagiratha. Her waters are held to be supremely pure, washing away sin, and so she is honoured as 'Ganga Maiya', Mother Ganga.

It may be recited daily at sunrise, and is especially auspicious on Ganga Dussehra and Ganga Jayanti (her descent and appearance days), on Kartik Purnima and Makar Sankranti, and while bathing in or making offerings to the Ganga.

King Bhagiratha performed great penance so that the heavenly Ganga would come down and liberate the sixty thousand sons of Sagara, reduced to ashes by a sage's curse. To break her mighty fall, Shiva caught Ganga in his matted hair and released her gently, and so she flowed to earth as Bhagirathi.

The Ganga Chalisa is a longer hymn of verses narrating Ganga's glory and story, while the Ganga Aarti ('Om Jai Gange Mata') is the shorter song of lamp-offering sung at the riverside aarti. Devotees often recite the Chalisa and then perform the Aarti.