Original text
॥ दोहा ॥ बन्दौं सन्तोषी चरण रिद्धि-सिद्धि दातार । ध्यान धरत ही होत नर दुःख सागर से पार ॥ भक्तन को सन्तोष दे सन्तोषी तव नाम । कृपा करहु जगदम्ब अब आया तेरे धाम ॥ ॥ चौपाई ॥ जय सन्तोषी मात अनूपम । शान्ति दायिनी रूप मनोरम ॥1॥ सुन्दर वरण चतुर्भुज रूपा । वेश मनोहर ललित अनुपा ॥2॥ श्वेताम्बर रूप मनहारी । माँ तुम्हारी छवि जग से न्यारी ॥3॥ दिव्य स्वरूपा आयत लोचन । दर्शन से हो संकट मोचन ॥4॥ जय गणेश की सुता भवानी । रिद्धि- सिद्धि की पुत्री ज्ञानी ॥5॥ अगम अगोचर तुम्हरी माया । सब पर करो कृपा की छाया ॥6॥ नाम अनेक तुम्हारे माता । अखिल विश्व है तुमको ध्याता ॥7॥ तुमने रूप अनेकों धारे । को कहि सके चरित्र तुम्हारे ॥8॥ धाम अनेक कहाँ तक कहिये । सुमिरन तब करके सुख लहिये ॥9॥ विन्ध्याचल में विन्ध्यवासिनी । कोटेश्वर सरस्वती सुहासिनी ॥10॥ कलकत्ते में तू ही काली । दुष्ट नाशिनी महाकराली ॥11॥ सम्बल पुर बहुचरा कहाती । भक्तजनों का दुःख मिटाती ॥12॥ ज्वाला जी में ज्वाला देवी । पूजत नित्य भक्त जन सेवी ॥13॥ नगर बम्बई की महारानी । महा लक्ष्मी तुम कल्याणी ॥14॥ मदुरा में मीनाक्षी तुम हो । सुख दुख सबकी साक्षी तुम हो ॥15॥ राजनगर में तुम जगदम्बे । बनी भद्रकाली तुम अम्बे ॥16॥ पावागढ़ में दुर्गा माता । अखिल विश्व तेरा यश गाता ॥17॥ काशी पुराधीश्वरी माता । अन्नपूर्णा नाम सुहाता ॥18॥ सर्वानन्द करो कल्याणी । तुम्हीं शारदा अमृत वाणी ॥19॥ तुम्हरी महिमा जल में थल में । दुःख दारिद्र सब मेटो पल में ॥20॥ जेते ऋषि और मुनीशा । नारद देव और देवेशा ॥21॥ इस जगती के नर और नारी । ध्यान धरत हैं मात तुम्हारी ॥22॥ जापर कृपा तुम्हारी होती । वह पाता भक्ति का मोती ॥23॥ दुःख दारिद्र संकट मिट जाता । ध्यान तुम्हारा जो जन ध्याता ॥24॥ जो जन तुम्हरी महिमा गावै । ध्यान तुम्हारा कर सुख पावै ॥25॥ जो मन राखे शुद्ध भावना । ताकी पूरण करो कामना ॥26॥ कुमति निवारि सुमति की दात्री । जयति जयति माता जगधात्री ॥27॥ शुक्रवार का दिवस सुहावन । जो व्रत करे तुम्हारा पावन ॥28॥ गुड़ छोले का भोग लगावै । कथा तुम्हारी सुने सुनावै ॥29॥ विधिवत पूजा करे तुम्हारी । फिर प्रसाद पावे शुभकारी ॥30॥ शक्ति-सामरथ हो जो धनको । दान-दक्षिणा दे विप्रन को ॥31॥ वे जगती के नर औ नारी । मनवांछित फल पावें भारी ॥32॥ जो जन शरण तुम्हारी जावे । सो निश्चय भव से तर जावे ॥33॥ तुम्हरो ध्यान कुमारी ध्यावे । निश्चय मनवांछित वर पावै ॥34॥ सधवा पूजा करे तुम्हारी । अमर सुहागिन हो वह नारी ॥35॥ विधवा धर के ध्यान तुम्हारा । भवसागर से उतरे पारा ॥36॥ जयति जयति जय संकट हरणी । विघ्न विनाशन मंगल करनी ॥37॥ हम पर संकट है अति भारी । वेगि खबर लो मात हमारी ॥38॥ निशिदिन ध्यान तुम्हारो ध्याता । देह भक्ति वर हम को माता ॥39॥ यह चालीसा जो नित गावे । सो भवसागर से तर जावे ॥40॥ ॥ दोहा ॥ संतोषी माँ के सदा बंदहूँ पग निश वास । पूर्ण मनोरथ हो सकल मात हरौ भव त्रास ॥ ॥ इति श्री संतोषी माता चालीसा ॥
Transliteration
Doha: Bandaun Santoshi Charan Riddhi-Siddhi Datar. Dhyan Dharat Hi Hot Nar Dukh Sagar Se Paar. Bhaktan Ko Santosh De Santoshi Tav Naam. Kripa Karahu Jagdamb Ab Aaya Tere Dhaam. Chaupai: 1. Jai Santoshi Maat Anupam, Shanti Dayini Roop Manoram. 2. Sundar Varan Chaturbhuj Roopa, Vesh Manohar Lalit Anupa. 3. Shwetambar Roop Manhari, Maa Tumhari Chhavi Jag Se Nyari. 4. Divya Swaroopa Aayat Lochan, Darshan Se Ho Sankat Mochan. 5. Jai Ganesh Ki Suta Bhavani, Riddhi-Siddhi Ki Putri Gyani. 6. Agam Agochar Tumhari Maya, Sab Par Karo Kripa Ki Chhaya. 7. Naam Anek Tumhare Mata, Akhil Vishwa Hai Tumko Dhyata. 8. Tumne Roop Anekon Dhare, Ko Kahi Sake Charitra Tumhare. 9. Dhaam Anek Kahan Tak Kahiye, Sumiran Tab Karke Sukh Lahiye. 10. Vindhyachal Mein Vindhyavasini, Koteshwar Saraswati Suhasini. 11. Kalkatte Mein Tu Hi Kali, Dusht Nashini Mahakarali. 12. Sambal Pur Bahuchara Kahati, Bhaktjanon Ka Dukh Mitati. 13. Jwala Ji Mein Jwala Devi, Poojat Nitya Bhakt Jan Sevi. 14. Nagar Bambai Ki Maharani, Maha Lakshmi Tum Kalyani. 15. Madura Mein Meenakshi Tum Ho, Sukh Dukh Sabki Sakshi Tum Ho. 16. Rajnagar Mein Tum Jagdambe, Bani Bhadrakali Tum Ambe. 17. Pavagadh Mein Durga Mata, Akhil Vishwa Tera Yash Gata. 18. Kashi Puradhishwari Mata, Annapurna Naam Suhata. 19. Sarvanand Karo Kalyani, Tumhin Sharada Amrit Vani. 20. Tumhari Mahima Jal Mein Thal Mein, Dukh Daridra Sab Meto Pal Mein. 21. Jete Rishi Aur Munisha, Narad Dev Aur Devesha. 22. Is Jagati Ke Nar Aur Nari, Dhyan Dharat Hain Maat Tumhari. 23. Japar Kripa Tumhari Hoti, Vah Pata Bhakti Ka Moti. 24. Dukh Daridra Sankat Mit Jata, Dhyan Tumhara Jo Jan Dhyata. 25. Jo Jan Tumhari Mahima Gavai, Dhyan Tumhara Kar Sukh Pavai. 26. Jo Man Rakhe Shuddh Bhavana, Taki Puran Karo Kamana. 27. Kumati Nivari Sumati Ki Datri, Jayati Jayati Mata Jagdhatri. 28. Shukravar Ka Divas Suhavan, Jo Vrat Kare Tumhara Pavan. 29. Gud Chhole Ka Bhog Lagavai, Katha Tumhari Sune Sunavai. 30. Vidhivat Pooja Kare Tumhari, Phir Prasad Pave Shubhkari. 31. Shakti-Samarath Ho Jo Dhanko, Daan-Dakshina De Vipran Ko. 32. Ve Jagati Ke Nar Au Nari, Manvanchhit Phal Paven Bhari. 33. Jo Jan Sharan Tumhari Jave, So Nishchay Bhav Se Tar Jave. 34. Tumharo Dhyan Kumari Dhyave, Nishchay Manvanchhit Var Pavai. 35. Sadhava Pooja Kare Tumhari, Amar Suhagin Ho Vah Nari. 36. Vidhava Dhar Ke Dhyan Tumhara, Bhavsagar Se Utare Para. 37. Jayati Jayati Jai Sankat Harani, Vighna Vinashan Mangal Karani. 38. Ham Par Sankat Hai Ati Bhari, Vegi Khabar Lo Maat Hamari. 39. Nishidin Dhyan Tumharo Dhyata, Deh Bhakti Var Ham Ko Mata. 40. Yah Chalisa Jo Nit Gave, So Bhavsagar Se Tar Jave. Doha: Santoshi Maa Ke Sada Bandahun Pag Nish Vaas. Poorn Manorath Ho Sakal Maat Harau Bhav Traas.
The goddess of contentment
Santoshi Mata is a young goddess in the most literal sense. Her worship spread across north and west India in the twentieth century, and it grew enormously after the 1975 film Jai Santoshi Maa. The chalisa gives her the family tradition gives her: she is Ganesh ki suta, Ganesha's daughter, born of Riddhi and Siddhi (chaupai 5). Her name is her promise. The first doha says she gives santosh, contentment, to her devotees, and it asks for nothing grander than relief: "have mercy, Jagadamba, I have come to your door".
Her image in the opening chaupais is calm rather than fierce. She is four-armed, beautiful and dressed in white (shwetambar), with wide eyes, and the sight of her removes trouble.
One goddess, many shrines
The most unusual part of this chalisa is chaupais 9 to 18. Instead of telling a myth, it takes a pilgrimage tour and claims that the goddess of each shrine is Santoshi Mata herself:
- Vindhyavasini at Vindhyachal
- Saraswati at Koteshwar
- Kali in Kolkata
- Bahuchara, "in Sambalpur" as the chalisa has it
- Jwala Devi at Jwalaji
- Mahalakshmi, "queen of the city of Bombay"
- Meenakshi at Madurai
- Bhadrakali at Rajnagar (the old name of Ahmedabad)
- Durga at Pavagadh
- Annapurna, ruler of Kashi
This is how a new goddess finds a place in an old tradition: by being shown to be the Devi people already know. Chaupai 19 adds Sharada (Saraswati) for good measure, and the chalisa ends the section by saying her glory fills water and land alike.
The Friday vrat in the chalisa
Chaupais 28 to 32 describe the Friday fast in a few lines. Friday is her lovely day. Whoever keeps her pure vrat offers jaggery and chickpeas (gud chhole ka bhog), hears or tells her katha, worships her properly, and then takes the prasad. Those who can afford it give charity and dakshina to Brahmins. The chalisa does not mention the vrat's best-known rule, that nothing sour may be eaten or served that day, but households that keep the fast follow it strictly. Many complete sixteen Fridays and then hold an udyapan, feeding eight boys a meal with no sour food in it.
Blessings by circumstance
Chaupais 33 to 36 address different devotees in turn, which is part of why the chalisa is so widely read in homes. An unmarried girl who meditates on her gains the husband she wishes for (34). A married woman who worships her stays amar suhagin, never widowed (35). A widow who meditates on her crosses the ocean of worldly existence (36). The closing chaupais turn personal and urgent: "a very heavy trouble is upon us; Mother, look to us quickly."
How it is read
The chalisa is usually read on Friday mornings as part of the vrat, together with the Santoshi Mata katha and the aarti "Jai Santoshi Mata". A small dish of jaggery and roasted chickpeas is placed in front of her picture. Some people read it daily during any difficult stretch, keeping the vrat's spirit of contentment: asking for enough, not for more. The closing doha bows at her feet "day and night" and asks that every wish be fulfilled and the fear of worldly existence removed.
Spotted a mistake?
If you find any grammatical, Hindi, English, mantra-text or other mistake on this page, tell us — we will correct it within 24 hours.