Original text
॥ दोहा ॥ गरुड़ वाहिनी वैष्णवी,त्रिकुटा पर्वत धाम । काली, लक्ष्मी, सरस्वती,शक्ति तुम्हें प्रणाम ॥ ॥ चौपाई ॥ नमो: नमो: वैष्णो वरदानी । कलि काल मे शुभ कल्याणी ॥1॥ मणि पर्वत पर ज्योति तुम्हारी । पिंडी रूप में हो अवतारी ॥2॥ देवी देवता अंश दियो है । रत्नाकर घर जन्म लियो है ॥3॥ करी तपस्या राम को पाऊँ । त्रेता की शक्ति कहलाऊँ ॥4॥ कहा राम मणि पर्वत जाओ । कलियुग की देवी कहलाओ ॥5॥ विष्णु रूप से कल्की बनकर । लूंगा शक्ति रूप बदलकर ॥6॥ तब तक त्रिकुटा घाटी जाओ । गुफा अंधेरी जाकर पाओ ॥7॥ काली-लक्ष्मी-सरस्वती माँ । करेंगी पोषण पार्वती माँ ॥8॥ ब्रह्मा, विष्णु, शंकर द्वारे । हनुमत भैरों प्रहरी प्यारे ॥9॥ रिद्धि, सिद्धि चंवर डुलावें । कलियुग-वासी पूजत आवें ॥10॥ पान सुपारी ध्वजा नारियल । चरणामृत चरणों का निर्मल ॥11॥ दिया फलित वर माँ मुस्काई । करन तपस्या पर्वत आई ॥12॥ कलि कालकी भड़की ज्वाला । इक दिन अपना रूप निकाला ॥13॥ कन्या बन नगरोटा आई । योगी भैरों दिया दिखाई ॥14॥ रूप देख सुन्दर ललचाया । पीछे-पीछे भागा आया ॥15॥ कन्याओं के साथ मिली माँ । कौल-कंदौली तभी चली माँ ॥16॥ देवा माई दर्शन दीना । पवन रूप हो गई प्रवीणा ॥17॥ नवरात्रों में लीला रचाई । भक्त श्रीधर के घर आई ॥18॥ योगिन को भण्डारा दीना । सबने रूचिकर भोजन कीना ॥19॥ मांस, मदिरा भैरों मांगी । रूप पवन कर इच्छा त्यागी ॥20॥ बाण मारकर गंगा निकाली । पर्वत भागी हो मतवाली ॥21॥ चरण रखे आ एक शिला जब । चरण-पादुका नाम पड़ा तब ॥22॥ पीछे भैरों था बलकारी । छोटी गुफा में जाय पधारी ॥23॥ नौ माह तक किया निवासा । चली फोड़कर किया प्रकाशा ॥24॥ आद्या शक्ति-ब्रह्म कुमारी । कहलाई माँ आद कुंवारी ॥25॥ गुफा द्वार पहुँची मुस्काई । लांगुर वीर ने आज्ञा पाई ॥26॥ भागा-भागा भैरों आया । रक्षा हित निज शस्त्र चलाया ॥27॥ पड़ा शीश जा पर्वत ऊपर । किया क्षमा जा दिया उसे वर ॥28॥ अपने संग में पुजवाऊंगी । भैरों घाटी बनवाऊंगी ॥29॥ पहले मेरा दर्शन होगा । पीछे तेरा सुमरन होगा ॥30॥ बैठ गई माँ पिण्डी होकर । चरणों में बहता जल झर-झर ॥31॥ चौंसठ योगिनी-भैंरो बरवन । सप्तऋषि आ करते सुमरन ॥32॥ घंटा ध्वनि पर्वत पर बाजे । गुफा निराली सुन्दर लागे ॥33॥ भक्त श्रीधर पूजन कीना । भक्ति सेवा का वर लीना ॥34॥ सेवक ध्यानूं तुमको ध्याया । ध्वजा व चोला आन चढ़ाया ॥35॥ सिंह सदा दर पहरा देता । पंजा शेर का दु:ख हर लेता ॥36॥ जम्बू द्वीप महाराज मनाया । सर सोने का छत्र चढ़ाया ॥37॥ हीरे की मूरत संग प्यारी । जगे अखंड इक जोत तुम्हारी ॥38॥ आश्विन चैत्र नवराते आऊँ । पिण्डी रानी दर्शन पाऊँ ॥39॥ सेवक 'शर्मा' शरण तिहारी । हरो वैष्णो विपत हमारी ॥40॥ ॥ दोहा ॥ कलियुग में महिमा तेरी,है माँ अपरम्पार । धर्म की हानि हो रही,प्रगट हो अवतार ॥
Transliteration
Doha: Garud Vahini Vaishnavi, Trikuta Parvat Dhaam. Kali, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Shakti Tumhen Pranam. Chaupai: 1. Namo Namo Vaishno Vardani, Kali Kaal Me Shubh Kalyani. 2. Mani Parvat Par Jyoti Tumhari, Pindi Roop Mein Ho Avatari. 3. Devi Devta Ansh Diyo Hai, Ratnakar Ghar Janm Liyo Hai. 4. Kari Tapasya Ram Ko Paun, Treta Ki Shakti Kahlaun. 5. Kaha Ram Mani Parvat Jao, Kaliyug Ki Devi Kahlao. 6. Vishnu Roop Se Kalki Bankar, Loonga Shakti Roop Badalkar. 7. Tab Tak Trikuta Ghati Jao, Gufa Andheri Jakar Pao. 8. Kali-Lakshmi-Saraswati Maa, Karengi Poshan Parvati Maa. 9. Brahma, Vishnu, Shankar Dware, Hanumat Bhairon Prahari Pyare. 10. Riddhi, Siddhi Chanvar Dulaven, Kaliyug-Vasi Poojat Aaven. 11. Paan Supari Dhvaja Nariyal, Charanamrit Charanon Ka Nirmal. 12. Diya Phalit Var Maa Muskai, Karan Tapasya Parvat Aai. 13. Kali Kaal Ki Bhadki Jvala, Ik Din Apna Roop Nikala. 14. Kanya Ban Nagrota Aai, Yogi Bhairon Diya Dikhai. 15. Roop Dekh Sundar Lalchaya, Peechhe-Peechhe Bhaga Aaya. 16. Kanyaon Ke Saath Mili Maa, Kaul-Kandauli Tabhi Chali Maa. 17. Deva Mai Darshan Dina, Pavan Roop Ho Gai Pravina. 18. Navratron Mein Leela Rachai, Bhakt Shridhar Ke Ghar Aai. 19. Yogin Ko Bhandara Dina, Sabne Ruchikar Bhojan Kina. 20. Maans, Madira Bhairon Maangi, Roop Pavan Kar Ichchha Tyagi. 21. Baan Maarkar Ganga Nikali, Parvat Bhagi Ho Matvali. 22. Charan Rakhe Aa Ek Shila Jab, Charan-Paduka Naam Pada Tab. 23. Peechhe Bhairon Tha Balkari, Chhoti Gufa Mein Jaay Padhari. 24. Nau Maah Tak Kiya Nivasa, Chali Phodkar Kiya Prakasha. 25. Aadya Shakti-Brahm Kumari, Kahlai Maa Aad Kunwari. 26. Gufa Dwar Pahunchi Muskai, Langur Veer Ne Aagya Pai. 27. Bhaga-Bhaga Bhairon Aaya, Raksha Hit Nij Shastra Chalaya. 28. Pada Sheesh Ja Parvat Oopar, Kiya Kshama Ja Diya Use Var. 29. Apne Sang Mein Pujvaungi, Bhairon Ghati Banvaungi. 30. Pahle Mera Darshan Hoga, Peechhe Tera Sumran Hoga. 31. Baith Gai Maa Pindi Hokar, Charanon Mein Bahta Jal Jhar-Jhar. 32. Chaunsath Yogini-Bhairon Barvan, Saptrishi Aa Karte Sumran. 33. Ghanta Dhvani Parvat Par Baaje, Gufa Nirali Sundar Laage. 34. Bhakt Shridhar Poojan Kina, Bhakti Seva Ka Var Lina. 35. Sevak Dhyanu Tumko Dhyaya, Dhvaja Va Chola Aan Chadhaya. 36. Singh Sada Dar Pahra Deta, Panja Sher Ka Dukh Har Leta. 37. Jambu Dweep Maharaj Manaya, Sar Sone Ka Chhatra Chadhaya. 38. Heere Ki Moorat Sang Pyari, Jage Akhand Ik Jot Tumhari. 39. Ashvin Chaitra Navrate Aaun, Pindi Rani Darshan Paun. 40. Sevak 'Sharma' Sharan Tihari, Haro Vaishno Vipat Hamari. Doha: Kaliyug Mein Mahima Teri, Hai Maa Aprampar. Dharm Ki Haani Ho Rahi, Pragat Ho Avatar.
Three goddesses in one cave
The opening doha says who Vaishno Devi is before the story begins. She is Vaishnavi, carried by Garuda, whose home is the Trikuta mountain, and she is bowed to as "Kali, Lakshmi, Saraswati" together. That is exactly what pilgrims see at the end of the climb above Katra in Jammu: three natural rock forms, the pindis of Mahakali, Mahalakshmi and Mahasaraswati, in a cave with water flowing at their feet. Chaupai 31 describes that sight: she sat down as the pindi, and water pours past her feet.
Her birth and Rama's promise
Chaupais 3 to 8 give her origin. The gods and goddesses each gave a portion of their power, and she was born in the house of Ratnakar. She did penance to win Rama and became known as the Shakti of the Treta age. Rama told her to go to the Mani mountain and become the goddess of the Kali age. He would come again as Kalki, Vishnu's last avatar, and take her as his Shakti then. Until that time she was to go to the Trikuta valley and find a dark cave. Kali, Lakshmi and Saraswati would be with her, and Parvati would nourish her. Chaupais 9 to 11 then describe her court: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva at her door, Hanuman and Bhairon as guards, Riddhi and Siddhi waving the chanvar, and pilgrims bringing paan, betel nut, flags and coconuts.
Bhairon's pursuit, step by step along the route
The middle of the chalisa (13–30) tells the story every pilgrim hears on the path, and many of its verses name places the yatra still passes:
- Nagrota and Kol Kandoli: she comes as a young girl, the yogi Bhairon sees her and is drawn by her beauty, and she slips away among other girls to Kol Kandoli (14–16).
- Shridhar's bhandara: in Navratri she visits her devotee Shridhar and feeds a crowd of yogis. Bhairon demands meat and wine instead, and she vanishes like the wind (18–20).
- Banganga: she shoots an arrow into the ground and brings out a stream of Ganga, the Banganga that pilgrims bathe in near the start of the climb (21).
- Charan Paduka: where she rests her feet on a rock, the place gets that name (22).
- Adhkuwari: with Bhairon close behind, she enters a small cave and stays there nine months, then breaks out the far side. As the primal Shakti and eternal maiden she is called Aad Kunwari. Pilgrims crawl through this narrow cave, Garbh Joon, "the womb", today (23–25).
- The holy cave and Bhairon Ghati: at the cave mouth she sets the Langur Veer (Hanuman) on guard. When Bhairon arrives she strikes, and his head falls on a ridge higher up the mountain (26–28).
The ending is surprising. She forgives him. Chaupais 29 and 30 give her words: "I will have you worshipped with me; I will make the Bhairon Ghati. First will come darshan of me, and after it, remembrance of you." That is why the yatra is considered complete only after pilgrims climb on from the Bhawan to the Bhairon temple.
Devotees, gifts and the eternal flame
Chaupais 34 to 38 recall those who served her: Shridhar, who received the boon of serving her and to whom, in the shrine's tradition, the cave was later revealed; Dhyanu, who offered a flag and her chola; the lion that guards her door, whose paw takes away sorrow; and a "Maharaj" who offered a golden canopy. The last verse before the signature mentions a diamond image and an undying flame.
When it is read
Chaupai 39 gives its own answer: in the Navratris of Ashwin and Chaitra, when the poet longs to come for darshan of the "Pindi Rani". The chalisa is also read on the yatra itself, at home on Tuesdays and Fridays, and before setting out for Katra. The poet signs himself "Sharma" in chaupai 40 and asks her to remove his troubles. The closing doha turns to the present: in the Kali age her glory is boundless; dharma is declining, so let her appear again.
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