#220 The powerful blessing and meaning of Hanuman Chalisa

If there is a devata who can be present with you and for you, more instantly than anything instant,  he is none other than Hanuman. The greatest devotee of Bhagavan Sri Rama, Hanuman blesses with his bhakti and shakti, much required by all, particularly Vedanta students., After you listen to this episode, you will notice something different and this is not an auto-suggestion. Also, Hanuman ji is one of the seven Chiranjeevis meaning immortal beings, who will live among humanity until the end of Kali Yuga to bless us. Different words are added as a suffix to indicate our respect like ji, in Northern India and many other parts, ‘avare’ in Kannada language or garu in Telegu language or San in Japanese. Hence, I will say the name Hanuman with all reverence.    

Millions of Hindus recite the Hanuman Chalisa every day. One of the renditions on youtube has passed 3 billion views and is the most watched Indian music video as of Nov 2022.

Hanuman Chalisa is s super powerful stotra in praise of Hanuman. Authored by Goswami Tulsidas in the Awadhi language, it occurs in the Ramcharitmanas written in the 16^th century, which is a retelling of Valmiki Ramayana. Tulsidas ji also established the Sankat Mochan mandir in the place in Varanasi where he saw Hanuman ji. I fondly remember the sweet blessing of being in the house of Goswami Tulsidas, on Tulsi ghat on the banks of the Ganga in Kashi, gazing at the Ganga from its small windows with bars. The two storeyed house with steep steps stands tall at Tulsi ghat. Perhaps you can visit one day.

Hanuman Chalisa, consists of forty-three verses – two dohas, rhyming couplets which serve as the introductory verses, 40 chaupais, where each chaupai is a stanza with four lines and one doha in the end. 

The first introductory doha begins with the word shrī, which refers to Shiva, who is considered the guru of Hanuman.

In the first ten Chaupais, the auspicious form, knowledge, virtues, powers and bravery of Hanuman are described.

The 11-20 chaupais describe the acts of Hanuman in his service to Rama.

From the twenty-first Chaupai, Tulsidas describes the need of Hanuman’s krpa or grace. At the end, Tulsidas greets Hanuman with devotion and requests him to reside in his heart and in the heart of devotees. The concluding doha again requests Hanuman to reside in the heart, along with Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita.

श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज निज मनु मुकुरु सुधारि ।

बरनउँ रघुबर बिमल जसु जो दायकु फल चारि ॥

After purifying the mirror of my mind with the dust of the lotus feet of Sri Guru, I begin the description of the spotless glories of Lord Rama that bestow the four human ends in life.

बुद्धिहीन तनु जानिके,

सुमिरौं पवन कुमार

बल बुधि विद्या देहु मोहि,

हरहु कलेश विकार।।

O Lord Hanuman! The son of Wind God! You know me with the shortcomings of my intellect. Please remove all afflictions and defects in me and grant me the strength of the body, intelligence and knowledge.

चौपाई

जय हनुमान ज्ञान गुन सागर जय कपीस तिहुँ लोक उजागर॥१॥

Victory unto you O Hanuman! The ocean of wisdom and virtue! O Lord of the monkeys! The illuminator of the three worlds!

राम दूत अतुलित बल धामा अंजनि पुत्र पवनसुत नामा॥२॥

O Messenger of Lord Rama, the abode of incomparable strength! O Son of Anjana, having the name Pavanasuta, son of Pavan, Deity of Air!

महाबीर बिक्रम बजरंगी कुमति निवार सुमति के संगी॥३॥

You are a great warrior with a body having the power of a thunderbolt. You are the remover of wrong tendencies and the companion of noble thoughts.

कंचन बरन बिराज सुबेसा कानन कुंडल कुँचित केसा॥४॥

You have golden hue and you shine in beautiful clothes. You wear ornamental earrings. You have fine curly hair.

हाथ बज्र औ ध्वजा बिराजे काँधे मूँज जनेऊ साजे॥५॥

You shine with flag and thunderbolt in your hands and the sacred thread made of munja grass across your shoulders.

शंकर सुवन केसरी नंदन तेज प्रताप महा जगवंदन॥६॥

The one, who is the incarnation of Lord Siva and son of Kesari! You are adored by the entire universe for your radiance and valour.

विद्यावान गुनी अति चातुर राम काज करिबे को आतुर॥७॥

You are learned, virtuous and extremely skilled and eager to carry out the work of Sri Rama.

प्रभु चरित्र सुनिबे को रसिया राम लखन सीता मनबसिया॥८॥

You enjoy listening to the glories of your master. You have Rama, Lakshmana and Sita abiding in your mind.

सूक्ष्म रूप धरि सियहि दिखावा बिकट रूप धरि लंक जरावा॥९॥

Assuming a tiny form you showed yourself to Sita. Assuming a difficult form, you burnt the city of Lanka

भीम रूप धरि असुर सँहारे रामचंद्र के काज सवाँरे॥१०॥

Assuming a gigantic form you destroyed the asuras and fulfilled the tasks of Sri Rama.

लाय सजीवन लखन जियाए श्री रघुबीर हरषि उर लाए॥११॥

Bringing the sanjivani herb (along with the hill) when you saved Lakshmana, Sri Rama embraced you with joy.

रघुपति कीन्ही बहुत बड़ाई तुम मम प्रिय भरत-हि सम भाई॥१२॥

Sri Rama praised you profusely and said that you are a dear brother to him like Bharata

सहस बदन तुम्हरो जस गावै अस कहि श्रीपति कंठ लगावै॥१३॥

Sri Rama embracing you over your shoulder, said that even the thousand-hooded serpent, Seshanag, sings your praise.

सनकादिक ब्रह्मादि मुनीसा नारद सारद सहित अहीसा॥१४॥

जम कुबेर दिगपाल जहाँ ते कवि कोविद कहि सके कहाँ ते॥१५॥

The sages such as Sanaka etc., the Gods such as Brahma etc., Sage Narada, Goddess Sarasvati and Seshanaga, Deity Yama, Deity Kubera, the Guardian deities, poets and scholars have not been able to describe your glories fully.

तुम उपकार सुग्रीवहि कीन्हा राम मिलाय राज पद दीन्हा॥१६॥

You did a great help to Sugriva by introducing him to Sri Rama and restoring the throne to him.

तुम्हरो मंत्र बिभीषण माना लंकेश्वर भये सब जग जाना॥१७॥

The whole world knows that Vibhishana accepted your advice and became the king of Lanka.

जुग सहस्त्र जोजन पर भानू लिल्यो ताहि मधुर फ़ल जानू॥१८॥

The sun is located at such a distance that it would take thousands of yugas to reach.. Seeing it as a sweet fruit, you swallowed it effortlessly

प्रभू मुद्रिका मेलि मुख माही जलधि लाँघि गए अचरज नाही॥१९॥

That you crossed the ocean, carrying the ring of Sri Rama in your mouth is not a matter for wonder ( as you are seen to be capable of such deeds in the past).

दुर्गम काज जगत के जेते सुगम अनुग्रह तुम्हरे तेते॥२०॥

Whatever difficult tasks are there in the world, they become easy to perform by your grace.

राम दुआरे तुम रखवारे होत ना आज्ञा बिनु पैसारे॥२१॥

You are the gatekeeper of Sri Rama where nobody can enter without your permission

सब सुख लहैं तुम्हारी सरना तुम रक्षक काहु को डरना॥२२॥

In your refuge, one enjoys all happiness. When you are the protector, what for one has to be afraid of.

आपन तेज सम्हारो आपै तीनों लोक हाँक तै कापै॥२३॥

You alone can keep your brilliant power under check. All the three worlds tremble before your power.

भूत पिशाच निकट नहि आवै महाबीर जब नाम सुनावै॥२४॥

No ghosts or dead spirits dare to come near the one who chants the name of you, who are a great warrior.

नासै रोग हरे सब पीरा जपत निरंतर हनुमत बीरा॥२५॥

O Lord Hanuman, the warrior! All diseases get destroyed and pains disappear when your name is chanted constantly.

संकट तै हनुमान छुडावै मन क्रम वचन ध्यान जो लावै॥२६॥

Lord Hanuman frees from all hardships one who devotes his mind to him in deeds, words and thoughts

सब पर राम तपस्वी राजा तिनके काज सकल तुम साजा॥२७॥

You accomplishes the tasks of King Rama who accomplishes the desires of ascetics.

और मनोरथ जो कोई लावै सोई अमित जीवन फल पावै॥२८॥

On whom so ever your grace is there, may he have any desire in his mind, he gains results in his life which do not have any limit.

चारों जुग परताप तुम्हारा है परसिद्ध जगत उजियारा॥२९॥

Your glory prevails through all the four yugas (satya,dvaapara, treta and kali), time-cycle, and your glory shines in and through the world.

साधु संत के तुम रखवारे असुर निकंदन राम दुलारे॥३०॥

O Rama’s beloved! You are the protector of the saints and sages and you are the destroyer of the asuras.

अष्ट सिद्धि नौ निधि के दाता अस बर दीन जानकी माता॥३१॥

Mother Sita has granted you the boon that you will be granter of eight yogic powers and the nine treasures.

राम रसायन तुम्हरे पासा सदा रहो रघुपति के दासा॥३२॥

You have the medicine that is the name of Rama with you since you always remain a servant of Lord Rama.

तुम्हरे भजन राम को पावै जनम जनम के दुख बिसरावै॥३३॥

The worship of you takes one to Lord Rama and it sweeps away the sufferings of all the past lives.

अंतकाल रघुवरपुर जाई जहाँ जन्म हरिभक्त कहाई॥३४॥

At the end of his life, such a person goes to the abode of Lord Rama and (if he again takes) birth, he will (continue to be called) a haribhakta, a devotee of the Lord Vishnu.

और देवता चित्त ना धरई हनुमत सेई सर्व सुख करई॥३५॥

To him who does not think of any other deity than Hanuman in his mind, all the deities bestow happiness to him.

संकट कटै मिटै सब पीरा जो सुमिरै हनुमत बलबीरा॥३६॥

All difficulties are warded off and all pains are removed for those who think of the all powerful Hanuman.

जै जै जै हनुमान गुसाईँ कृपा करहु गुरु देव की नाई॥३७॥

Victory unto to you! Victory unto to you! Victory unto to you! Oh Hanuman! Oh our Gurudev! bless us.

जो सत बार पाठ कर कोई छूटहि बंदि महा सुख होई॥३८॥

Whosoever chants this calisa one hundred times will become freed from the bondage and gain highest happiness.

जो यह पढ़े हनुमान चालीसा होय सिद्ध साखी गौरीसा॥३९॥

Whoever chants this Hanuman Calisa will gain his desired ends. Lord Siva is the witness (for this statement)

तुलसीदास सदा हरि चेरा कीजै नाथ हृदय मह डेरा॥४०॥

Tulasidas, who is always the servant of Lord, prays that the Lord reside in his heart.

दोहा

पवन तनय संकट हरन, मंगल मूरति रूप।

राम लखन सीता सहित, हृदय बसहु सुर भूप॥

May Hanuman who removes hardships, who is auspiciousness embodied and who is the king of gods, reside in my heart along with Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Sita

सियावर रामचंद्र की जय

पवनसुत हनुमान की जय

उमापती महादेव की जय

बोलो भइ सब संतन की जय

Glory unto Sri Ramachandra 

Glory unto the son of Pavan, Hanuman 

Glory unto Shiva, the consort of Uma

Glory unto all good people