Original text
॥ दोहा ॥ जय काली जगदम्ब जय, हरनि ओघ अघ पुंज । वास करहु निज दास के, निशदिन हृदय निकुंज ॥ जयति कपाली कालिका, कंकाली सुख दानि । कृपा करहु वरदायिनी, निज सेवक अनुमानि ॥ ॥ चौपाई ॥ जय जय जय काली कंकाली । जय कपालिनी, जयति कराली ॥1॥ शंकर प्रिया, अपर्णा, अम्बा । जय कपर्दिनी, जय जगदम्बा ॥2॥ आर्या, हला, अम्बिका, माया । कात्यायनी उमा जगजाया ॥3॥ गिरिजा गौरी दुर्गा चण्डी । दाक्षाणायिनी शाम्भवी प्रचंडी ॥4॥ पार्वती मंगला भवानी । विश्वकारिणी सती मृडानी ॥5॥ सर्वमंगला शैल नन्दिनी । हेमवती तुम जगत वन्दिनी ॥6॥ ब्रह्मचारिणी कालरात्रि जय । महारात्रि जय मोहरात्रि जय ॥7॥ तुम त्रिमूर्ति रोहिणी कालिका । कूष्माण्डा कार्तिका चण्डिका ॥8॥ तारा भुवनेश्वरी अनन्या । तुम्हीं छिन्नमस्ता शुचिधन्या ॥9॥ धूमावती षोडशी माता । बगला मातंगी विख्याता ॥10॥ तुम भैरवी मातु तुम कमला । रक्तदन्तिका कीरति अमला ॥11॥ शाकम्भरी कौशिकी भीमा । महातमा अग जग की सीमा ॥12॥ चन्द्रघण्टिका तुम सावित्री । ब्रह्मवादिनी मां गायत्री ॥13॥ रूद्राणी तुम कृष्ण पिंगला । अग्निज्वाला तुम सर्वमंगला ॥14॥ मेघस्वना तपस्विनि योगिनी । सहस्राक्षि तुम अगजग भोगिनी ॥15॥ जलोदरी सरस्वती डाकिनी । त्रिदशेश्वरी अजेय लाकिनी ॥16॥ पुष्टि तुष्टि धृति स्मृति शिव दूती । कामाक्षी लज्जा आहूती ॥17॥ महोदरी कामाक्षि हारिणी । विनायकी श्रुति महा शाकिनी ॥18॥ अजा कर्ममोही ब्रह्माणी । धात्री वाराही शर्वाणी ॥19॥ स्कन्द मातु तुम सिंह वाहिनी । मातु सुभद्रा रहहु दाहिनी ॥20॥ नाम रूप गुण अमित तुम्हारे । शेष शारदा बरणत हारे ॥21॥ तनु छवि श्यामवर्ण तव माता । नाम कालिका जग विख्याता ॥22॥ अष्टादश तब भुजा मनोहर । तिनमहँ अस्त्र विराजत सुन्दर ॥23॥ शंख चक्र अरू गदा सुहावन । परिघ भुशण्डी घण्टा पावन ॥24॥ शूल बज्र धनुबाण उठाए । निशिचर कुल सब मारि गिराए ॥25॥ शुंभ निशुंभ दैत्य संहारे । रक्तबीज के प्राण निकारे ॥26॥ चौंसठ योगिनी नाचत संगा । मद्यपान कीन्हैउ रण गंगा ॥27॥ कटि किंकिणी मधुर नूपुर धुनि । दैत्यवंश कांपत जेहि सुनि-सुनि ॥28॥ कर खप्पर त्रिशूल भयकारी । अहै सदा सन्तन सुखकारी ॥29॥ शव आरूढ़ नृत्य तुम साजा । बजत मृदंग भेरी के बाजा ॥30॥ रक्त पान अरिदल को कीन्हा । प्राण तजेउ जो तुम्हिं न चीन्हा ॥31॥ लपलपाति जिव्हा तव माता । भक्तन सुख दुष्टन दुःख दाता ॥32॥ लसत भाल सेंदुर को टीको । बिखरे केश रूप अति नीको ॥33॥ मुंडमाल गल अतिशय सोहत । भुजामल किंकण मनमोहन ॥34॥ प्रलय नृत्य तुम करहु भवानी । जगदम्बा कहि वेद बखानी ॥35॥ तुम मशान वासिनी कराला । भजत तुरत काटहु भवजाला ॥36॥ बावन शक्ति पीठ तव सुन्दर । जहाँ बिराजत विविध रूप धर ॥37॥ विन्धवासिनी कहूँ बड़ाई । कहँ कालिका रूप सुहाई ॥38॥ शाकम्भरी बनी कहँ ज्वाला । महिषासुर मर्दिनी कराला ॥39॥ कामाख्या तव नाम मनोहर । पुजवहिं मनोकामना द्रुततर ॥40॥ चंड मुंड वध छिन महं करेउ । देवन के उर आनन्द भरेउ ॥41॥ सर्व व्यापिनी तुम माँ तारा । अरिदल दलन लेहु अवतारा ॥42॥ खलबल मचत सुनत हुँकारी । अगजग व्यापक देह तुम्हारी ॥43॥ तुम विराट रूपा गुणखानी । विश्व स्वरूपा तुम महारानी ॥44॥ उत्पत्ति स्थिति लय तुम्हरे कारण । करहु दास के दोष निवारण ॥45॥ माँ उर वास करहू तुम अंबा । सदा दीन जन की अवलंबा ॥46॥ तुम्हारो ध्यान धरै जो कोई । ता कहँ भीति कतहुँ नहिं होई ॥47॥ विश्वरूप तुम आदि भवानी । महिमा वेद पुराण बखानी ॥48॥ अति अपार तव नाम प्रभावा । जपत न रहन रंच दुःख दावा ॥49॥ महाकालिका जय कल्याणी । जयति सदा सेवक सुखदानी ॥50॥ तुम अनन्त औदार्य विभूषण । कीजिए कृपा क्षमिये सब दूषण ॥51॥ दास जानि निज दया दिखावहु । सुत अनुमानित सहित अपनावहु ॥52॥ जननी तुम सेवक प्रति पाली । करहु कृपा सब विधि माँ काली ॥53॥ पाठ करै चालीसा जोई । तापर कृपा तुम्हारी होई ॥54॥ ॥ दोहा ॥ जय तारा, जय दक्षिणा, कलावती सुखमूल । शरणागत 'भक्त' है, रहहु सदा अनुकूल ॥
Transliteration
Doha: Jai Kali Jagdamb Jai, Harani Ogh Agh Punj. Vaas Karahu Nij Daas Ke, Nishdin Hriday Nikunj. Jayati Kapali Kalika, Kankali Sukh Dani. Kripa Karahu Varadayini, Nij Sevak Anumani. Chaupai: 1. Jai Jai Jai Kali Kankali, Jai Kapalini, Jayati Karali. 2. Shankar Priya, Aparna, Amba, Jai Kapardini, Jai Jagdamba. 3. Arya, Hala, Ambika, Maya, Katyayani Uma Jagjaya. 4. Girija Gauri Durga Chandi, Dakshayani Shambhavi Prachandi. 5. Parvati Mangala Bhavani, Vishvakarini Sati Mridani. 6. Sarvamangala Shail Nandini, Hemvati Tum Jagat Vandini. 7. Brahmacharini Kalratri Jai, Maharatri Jai Moharatri Jai. 8. Tum Trimurti Rohini Kalika, Kushmanda Kartika Chandika. 9. Tara Bhuvaneshvari Ananya, Tumhin Chhinnamasta Shuchidhanya. 10. Dhumavati Shodashi Mata, Bagala Matangi Vikhyata. 11. Tum Bhairavi Matu Tum Kamala, Raktadantika Kirati Amala. 12. Shakambhari Kaushiki Bhima, Mahatama Ag Jag Ki Seema. 13. Chandraghantika Tum Savitri, Brahmavadini Maa Gayatri. 14. Rudrani Tum Krishna Pingala, Agnijvala Tum Sarvamangala. 15. Meghsvana Tapasvini Yogini, Sahasrakshi Tum Agjag Bhogini. 16. Jalodari Saraswati Dakini, Tridasheshvari Ajey Lakini. 17. Pushti Tushti Dhriti Smriti Shiv Duti, Kamakshi Lajja Aahuti. 18. Mahodari Kamakshi Harini, Vinayaki Shruti Maha Shakini. 19. Aja Karmamohi Brahmani, Dhatri Varahi Sharvani. 20. Skanda Matu Tum Singh Vahini, Matu Subhadra Rahahu Dahini. 21. Naam Roop Gun Amit Tumhare, Shesh Sharada Baranat Haare. 22. Tanu Chhavi Shyamvarn Tav Mata, Naam Kalika Jag Vikhyata. 23. Ashtadash Tab Bhuja Manohar, Tinmahan Astra Virajat Sundar. 24. Shankh Chakra Aru Gada Suhavan, Parigh Bhushundi Ghanta Pavan. 25. Shool Bajra Dhanuban Uthaye, Nishichar Kul Sab Mari Giraye. 26. Shumbh Nishumbh Daitya Sanhare, Raktabeej Ke Pran Nikare. 27. Chaunsath Yogini Nachat Sanga, Madyapan Kinheu Ran Ganga. 28. Kati Kinkini Madhur Nupur Dhuni, Daityavansh Kanpat Jehi Suni-Suni. 29. Kar Khappar Trishul Bhayakari, Ahai Sada Santan Sukhkari. 30. Shav Aroodh Nritya Tum Saja, Bajat Mridang Bheri Ke Baja. 31. Rakt Paan Aridal Ko Kinha, Pran Tajeu Jo Tumhin Na Chinha. 32. Laplapati Jivha Tav Mata, Bhaktan Sukh Dushtan Dukh Data. 33. Lasat Bhaal Sendur Ko Tiko, Bikhre Kesh Roop Ati Niko. 34. Mundmaal Gal Atishay Sohat, Bhujamal Kinkan Manmohan. 35. Pralay Nritya Tum Karahu Bhavani, Jagdamba Kahi Ved Bakhani. 36. Tum Mashan Vasini Karala, Bhajat Turat Katahu Bhavjala. 37. Bavan Shakti Peeth Tav Sundar, Jahan Birajat Vividh Roop Dhar. 38. Vindhvasini Kahun Badai, Kahan Kalika Roop Suhai. 39. Shakambhari Bani Kahan Jvala, Mahishasur Mardini Karala. 40. Kamakhya Tav Naam Manohar, Pujavahin Manokamna Drutatar. 41. Chand Mund Vadh Chhin Mahan Kareu, Devan Ke Ur Anand Bhareu. 42. Sarva Vyapini Tum Maa Tara, Aridal Dalan Lehu Avatara. 43. Khalbal Machat Sunat Hunkari, Agjag Vyapak Deh Tumhari. 44. Tum Virat Roopa Gunkhani, Vishva Svaroopa Tum Maharani. 45. Utpatti Sthiti Lay Tumhare Karan, Karahu Daas Ke Dosh Nivaran. 46. Maa Ur Vaas Karahu Tum Amba, Sada Deen Jan Ki Avalamba. 47. Tumharo Dhyan Dharai Jo Koi, Ta Kahan Bheeti Katahun Nahin Hoi. 48. Vishvaroop Tum Aadi Bhavani, Mahima Ved Puran Bakhani. 49. Ati Apaar Tav Naam Prabhava, Japat Na Rahan Ranch Dukh Dava. 50. Mahakalika Jai Kalyani, Jayati Sada Sevak Sukhdani. 51. Tum Anant Audarya Vibhushan, Kijiye Kripa Kshamiye Sab Dushan. 52. Daas Jani Nij Daya Dikhavahu, Sut Anumanit Sahit Apnavahu. 53. Janani Tum Sevak Prati Pali, Karahu Kripa Sab Vidhi Maa Kali. 54. Paath Karai Chalisa Joi, Tapar Kripa Tumhari Hoi. Doha: Jai Tara, Jai Dakshina, Kalavati Sukhmool. Sharanagat 'Bhakt' Hai, Rahahu Sada Anukool.
A chalisa that begins with names
Most chalisas start with a story. This one starts with a roll-call. After the opening dohas ask Kali to live in the "grove of the heart" (hriday nikunj) and destroy "the heap of sins", the first twenty chaupais are almost nothing but her names. Read slowly, they show what the poet is claiming: every goddess is Kali.
- The Navadurga: seven of the nine forms worshipped on the nine days of Navratri are named: Shailnandini (Shailputri), Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta (Chandraghantika), Kushmanda, Skandamata (Skanda matu), Katyayani and Kalratri.
- The ten Mahavidyas: Tara, Bhuvaneshwari, Chhinnamasta, Dhumavati, Shodashi, Bagala, Matangi, Bhairavi and Kamala appear within four chaupais (9 to 11), with Kali herself as the tenth. That is the complete set of the tantric wisdom-goddesses.
- Shiva's consort and the Saptashati goddesses: Aparna, Girija, Gauri, Uma, Parvati, Sati and Mridani, alongside Chandi, Kaushiki, Shakambhari and Bhima from the Devi Mahatmya tradition, and the Matrika goddesses Brahmani, Varahi and Vinayaki.
Chaupai 21 sums it up: her names, forms and qualities are beyond counting, and even Shesha and Sharada (Saraswati) grow tired of describing them.
Her fierce form
From chaupai 22 the chalisa describes Kali herself. She is dark-complexioned, with eighteen arms holding the conch, discus, mace, parigha (iron club), bhushundi, bell, trident, vajra, bow and arrows. She killed Shumbha and Nishumbha and took the life of Raktabija. She dances on the battlefield with the sixty-four yoginis. Her girdle bells and anklets make the demon clans tremble. She dances mounted on a corpse (shav aroodh), her tongue lolling, sindoor on her forehead, hair loose, a garland of heads at her neck. She lives in the cremation ground (mashan vasini).
The imagery is meant to be frightening to adharma, not to the devotee. The same lines keep saying so: she is "always the giver of happiness to the saints" and brings "happiness to devotees, pain to the wicked". In the familiar image of Dakshina Kali, the "corpse" beneath her feet is Shiva, lying still as pure consciousness while she acts as its power. The drinking of blood recalls the Saptashati episode in which Kali drinks Raktabija's blood before it can touch the ground, so no new demons can spring from it.
Where she is worshipped
Chaupais 37 to 41 turn to the fifty-two Shakti Peethas, where she "sits in many forms": Vindhyavasini, Kalika, Shakambhari, Jwala, Mahishasuramardini and Kamakhya. They also recall that she killed Chanda and Munda "in an instant", which is how she came to be called Chamunda. The last part rises to the cosmic: she is Tara who pervades everything, the virat roopa whose body fills the moving and unmoving world, and the cause of creation, preservation and dissolution. Then it comes back to the devotee: "know me as your servant, accept me as your child, forgive all my faults."
The text and its length
Despite the name, this chalisa has fifty-four chaupais, not forty. The "forty" in chalisa is a convention, and several popular chalisas run longer or shorter. The closing doha praises her as Tara, Dakshina (Dakshina Kali) and Kalavati. It then says sharanagat 'bhakt' hai, "the devotee has taken refuge". Printed editions put 'bhakt' in quotation marks, which suggests it may double as the poet's signature, though no author is otherwise recorded. There is a different Kali Chalisa that begins "Jai Kali Kankal Malini", so check the opening if you are following along with a recording.
When and how to recite it
Kali Chalisa is recited on Amavasya (especially the Kartik Amavasya of Diwali, which is Kali Puja night in Bengal), and on the seventh night of Navratri, dedicated to Kalratri. A mustard-oil or ghee lamp, red hibiscus (her favourite flower) and a simple offering are enough. It pairs with the Jai Ambe Gauri aarti, the Durga Chalisa and the Navarna mantra, whose deity is Chamunda.
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