Chalisa
Forty-verse hymns to a deity, among the most widely recited devotional texts in Hindu homes.
Shri Surya Chalisa
The forty-verse hymn "Jai Savita Jai Jayati Divakar" to Surya Dev — his names, his seven-horsed chariot, a protective kavach of his names, and his names for each month, recited on Sundays and Ratha Saptami.
Read more →ChalisaShri Ram Chalisa
A hymn to Shri Ram that opens with the one-verse Ramayana and dwells on the power of his name — recited on Ram Navami and over a seven-day niyam.
Read more →ChalisaShri Krishna Chalisa
A forty-verse hymn to Shri Krishna that runs from his Braj childhood to the Gita and Meera, recited on Janmashtami and in daily Krishna worship.
Read more →ChalisaVishnu Chalisa
A forty-verse hymn to Lord Vishnu that walks through his avatars and rescues of devotees, recited on Thursdays and Ekadashi.
Read more →ChalisaSaraswati Chalisa
A hymn to Maa Saraswati asking for wisdom, strength and learning — recited on Vasant Panchami and by students before study and exams.
Read more →ChalisaShri Durga Chalisa
The forty-verse hymn beginning "Namo Namo Durge Sukh Karani," sung through Navratri, at Durga Ashtami and at every mata ki chauki and jagrata.
Read more →ChalisaShani Dev Chalisa
A forty-verse hymn to Shani Dev, recited to ease the difficulty of a harsh Saturn period and seek his fair judgement.
Read more →ChalisaLakshmi Chalisa
A forty-verse hymn to Goddess Lakshmi, recited for prosperity and wellbeing, especially on Fridays and during Diwali.
Read more →ChalisaGanesh Chalisa
A forty-verse hymn to Lord Ganesha, recited for wisdom and the removal of obstacles.
Read more →ChalisaShiva Chalisa
A forty-verse hymn of praise to Lord Shiva, popular on Mondays and during Shivratri.
Read more →ChalisaHanuman Chalisa
A forty-verse devotional hymn to Lord Hanuman composed by the poet-saint Tulsidas, among the most widely recited texts in Hindu devotion.
Read more →Why forty verses
A chalisa (from "chalis," forty) is a devotional composition of roughly forty verses praising a specific deity's qualities, deeds and power, typically ending with a phalashruti — a closing statement describing the benefit of reciting it. The most recited example by far is the Hanuman Chalisa, composed by Tulsidas, but chalisas exist for most major deities, including Shiva, Ganesh, Lakshmi, Durga, Saraswati, Vishnu, Krishna, Ram and Surya.
Verified, complete text
Every chalisa on this site is checked against established published sources and given here in full — not summarised or trimmed to the opening lines — because a chalisa is typically recited start to finish as a single unbroken practice, not read in excerpts.
How it's typically recited
Most devotees recite a chalisa once daily, often paired with a fast or a particular day of the week associated with that deity — Hanuman's chalisa on Tuesdays and Saturdays, for instance, as explained in our Tuesday Hanuman Bhakti guide.