Original text
॥ दोहा॥ देवि पूजित, नर्मदा, महिमा बड़ी अपार । चालीसा वर्णन करत, कवि अरु भक्त उदार॥ इनकी सेवा से सदा, मिटते पाप महान । तट पर कर जप दान नर, पाते हैं नित ज्ञान ॥ ॥ चौपाई ॥ जय-जय-जय नर्मदा भवानी, तुम्हरी महिमा सब जग जानी । अमरकण्ठ से निकली माता, सर्व सिद्धि नव निधि की दाता । कन्या रूप सकल गुण खानी, जब प्रकटीं नर्मदा भवानी । सप्तमी सुर्य मकर रविवारा, अश्वनि माघ मास अवतारा ॥4 वाहन मकर आपको साजैं, कमल पुष्प पर आप विराजैं । ब्रह्मा हरि हर तुमको ध्यावैं, तब ही मनवांछित फल पावैं । दर्शन करत पाप कटि जाते, कोटि भक्त गण नित्य नहाते । जो नर तुमको नित ही ध्यावै, वह नर रुद्र लोक को जावैं ॥8 मगरमच्छा तुम में सुख पावैं, अंतिम समय परमपद पावैं । मस्तक मुकुट सदा ही साजैं, पांव पैंजनी नित ही राजैं । कल-कल ध्वनि करती हो माता, पाप ताप हरती हो माता । पूरब से पश्चिम की ओरा, बहतीं माता नाचत मोरा ॥12 शौनक ऋषि तुम्हरौ गुण गावैं, सूत आदि तुम्हरौं यश गावैं । शिव गणेश भी तेरे गुण गवैं, सकल देव गण तुमको ध्यावैं । कोटि तीर्थ नर्मदा किनारे, ये सब कहलाते दु:ख हारे । मनोकमना पूरण करती, सर्व दु:ख माँ नित ही हरतीं ॥16 कनखल में गंगा की महिमा, कुरुक्षेत्र में सरस्वती महिमा । पर नर्मदा ग्राम जंगल में, नित रहती माता मंगल में । एक बार कर के स्नाना, तरत पिढ़ी है नर नारा । मेकल कन्या तुम ही रेवा, तुम्हरी भजन करें नित देवा ॥20 जटा शंकरी नाम तुम्हारा, तुमने कोटि जनों को है तारा । समोद्भवा नर्मदा तुम हो, पाप मोचनी रेवा तुम हो । तुम्हरी महिमा कहि नहीं जाई, करत न बनती मातु बड़ाई । जल प्रताप तुममें अति माता, जो रमणीय तथा सुख दाता ॥24 चाल सर्पिणी सम है तुम्हारी, महिमा अति अपार है तुम्हारी । तुम में पड़ी अस्थि भी भारी, छुवत पाषाण होत वर वारि । यमुना मे जो मनुज नहाता, सात दिनों में वह फल पाता । सरस्वती तीन दीनों में देती, गंगा तुरत बाद हीं देती ॥28 पर रेवा का दर्शन करके मानव फल पाता मन भर के । तुम्हरी महिमा है अति भारी, जिसको गाते हैं नर-नारी । जो नर तुम में नित्य नहाता, रुद्र लोक मे पूजा जाता । जड़ी बूटियां तट पर राजें, मोहक दृश्य सदा हीं साजें ॥32 वायु सुगंधित चलती तीरा, जो हरती नर तन की पीरा । घाट-घाट की महिमा भारी, कवि भी गा नहिं सकते सारी । नहिं जानूँ मैं तुम्हरी पूजा, और सहारा नहीं मम दूजा । हो प्रसन्न ऊपर मम माता, तुम ही मातु मोक्ष की दाता ॥35 जो मानव यह नित है पढ़ता, उसका मान सदा ही बढ़ता । जो शत बार इसे है गाता, वह विद्या धन दौलत पाता । अगणित बार पढ़ै जो कोई, पूरण मनोकामना होई । सबके उर में बसत नर्मदा, यहां वहां सर्वत्र नर्मदा ॥40 ॥ दोहा ॥ भक्ति भाव उर आनि के, जो करता है जाप । माता जी की कृपा से, दूर होत संताप॥ ॥ इति श्री नर्मदा चालीसा ॥
Transliteration
Doha: Devi Pujit, Narmada Mahima Bari Apar Chalisa Varnan Karat Kavi Aru Bhakta Udar Inaki Seva Se Sada Mitate Pap Mahan Tat Par Kar Jap Dan Nar Pate Hain Nit Gyan Chaupai: Jai-jai-jai Narmada Bhavani Tumhari Mahima Sab Jag Jani Amarakantha Se Nikali Mata Sarva Siddhi Nav Nidhi Ki Data Kanya Rup Sakal Gun Khani Jab Prakatin Narmada Bhavani Saptami Surya Makar Ravivara Ashvani Magh Mas Avatara 4 Vahan Makar Apako Sajain Kamal Pushpa Par Ap Virajain Brahma Hari Har Tumako Dhyavain Tab Hi Manavanchhit Phal Pavain Darshan Karat Pap Kati Jate Koti Bhakta Gan Nitya Nahate Jo Nar Tumako Nit Hi Dhyavai Vah Nar Rudra Lok Ko Javain 8 Magaramachchha Tum Men Sukh Pavain Antim Samay Paramapad Pavain Mastak Mukut Sada Hi Sajain Panv Painjani Nit Hi Rajain Kal-kal Dhvani Karati Ho Mata Pap Tap Harati Ho Mata Purab Se Pashchim Ki Ora Bahatin Mata Nachat Mora 12 Shaunak Rishi Tumharau Gun Gavain Sut Adi Tumharaun Yash Gavain Shiv Ganesh Bhi Tere Gun Gavain Sakal Dev Gan Tumako Dhyavain Koti Tirtha Narmada Kinare Ye Sab Kahalate Du:kha Hare Manokamana Puran Karati Sarva Du:kha Man Nit Hi Haratin 16 Kanakhal Men Ganga Ki Mahima Kurukshetra Men Sarasvati Mahima Par Narmada Gram Jangal Men Nit Rahati Mata Mangal Men Ek Bar Kar Ke Snana Tarat Pirhi Hai Nar Nara Mekal Kanya Tum Hi Reva Tumhari Bhajan Karen Nit Deva 20 Jata Shankari Nam Tumhara Tumane Koti Janon Ko Hai Tara Samodbhava Narmada Tum Ho Pap Mochani Reva Tum Ho Tumhari Mahima Kahi Nahin Jai Karat Na Banati Matu Barai Jal Pratap Tumamen Ati Mata Jo Ramaniy Tatha Sukh Data 24 Chal Sarpini Sam Hai Tumhari Mahima Ati Apar Hai Tumhari Tum Men Pari Asthi Bhi Bhari Chhuvat Pashan Hot Var Vari Yamuna Me Jo Manuj Nahata Sat Dinon Men Vah Phal Pata Sarasvati Tin Dinon Men Deti Ganga Turat Bad Hin Deti 28 Par Reva Ka Darshan Karake Manav Phal Pata Man Bhar Ke Tumhari Mahima Hai Ati Bhari Jisako Gate Hain Nar-nari Jo Nar Tum Men Nitya Nahata Rudra Lok Me Puja Jata Jari Butiyan Tat Par Rajen Mohak Drishya Sada Hin Sajen 32 Vayu Sugandhit Chalati Tira Jo Harati Nar Tan Ki Pira Ghat-ghat Ki Mahima Bhari Kavi Bhi Ga Nahin Sakate Sari Nahin Janun Main Tumhari Puja Aur Sahara Nahin Mam Duja Ho Prasanna Upar Mam Mata Tum Hi Matu Moksha Ki Data 35 Jo Manav Yah Nit Hai Parhata Usaka Man Sada Hi Barhata Jo Shat Bar Ise Hai Gata Vah Vidya Dhan Daulat Pata Aganit Bar Parhai Jo Koi Puran Manokamana Hoi Sabake Ur Men Basat Narmada Yahan Vahan Sarvatra Narmada 40 Doha: Bhakti Bhav Ur Ani Ke Jo Karata Hai Jap Mata Ji Ki Kripa Se Dur Hot Santap Iti Shri Narmada Chalisa
The river as goddess
The Narmada rises at Amarkantak in the Maikal hills of Madhya Pradesh and flows west, unlike most great Indian rivers, about 1,300 km to the Gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat. In the Puranas she is born from Shiva, which is why she is called Shankari and Jata Shankari, and the smooth stones of her bed are worshipped as Narmadeshwar Shivalingas. She is also Reva, for her leaping, noisy flow, and Mekal-kanya, daughter of the Maikal range. Walking the full length of both banks, the Narmada parikrama, is one of the great pilgrimages of India.
What the chalisa says
- Her birth: "from Amarkantak the Mother came forth", appearing as a girl full of virtues on a Sunday saptami in the month of Magh, which is why Narmada Jayanti is kept on Magh shukla saptami.
- Her form: her vehicle is the makar (crocodile), she sits on a lotus, with a crown and anklets, and Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva meditate on her.
- Her course: "from east to west the Mother flows, while peacocks dance", with millions of tirthas on her banks, healing herbs and fragrant breezes along her ghats.
- Her names: Mekal-kanya, Reva, Jata Shankari, Samodbhava, Papamochani.
- Darshan alone: Kankhal has the Ganga's glory and Kurukshetra the Saraswati's, but Narmada blesses village and forest alike. Bathing in the Yamuna bears fruit in seven days, the Saraswati in three, the Ganga immediately, but Reva by darshan alone, an idea drawn from the Puranic Reva Khand.
- Her listeners: Shaunak and Suta sing her glory, the narrators of the Puranas.
The closing verses promise honour to those who read it daily and learning and wealth to those who read it a hundred times, and end: "Narmada dwells in every heart, here, there, everywhere".
When to recite it
- Narmada Jayanti, Magh shukla saptami (January–February), celebrated at Amarkantak, Jabalpur's Gwarighat, Hoshangabad and Omkareshwar with deepdaan on the river.
- At the start and during a Narmada parikrama, and on any visit to her ghats.
- At home, with a Narmadeshwar lingam or a bowl of water as her symbol, after the morning bath.
Frequently asked questions
When is Narmada Jayanti?
On Magh shukla saptami, usually in late January or February.
Why is Narmada called Shankari?
Puranic tradition says she was born from Shiva's body (the chalisa calls her Jata Shankari, from his matted hair), so she is Shiva's daughter.
What is the Narmada parikrama?
A circumambulation on foot of the whole river: up one bank to the sea and back along the other, traditionally without crossing the river, taking months to complete.
Why does the Narmada flow west?
Geologically it runs along a rift valley between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges. The chalisa simply notes that she flows east to west.
What are Narmadeshwar lingas?
Naturally smooth, egg-shaped stones from the Narmada's bed, worshipped as Shivalingas without needing pran-pratishtha.
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