Shiv Chalisa

1) Glory to Girija’s Lord, compassionate and wise, who guards the righteous and lifts the fallen.

2) Crescent moon on Your brow shines cool; the serpent garland declares Your fearless mastery.

3) Holy Ganga flows from Your matted locks, washing away the dust of lifetimes.

4) Ash-anointed body, beyond ornament and pride, You teach freedom in simple truth.

5) Tiger-skin robe and silent smile—seeing You, even serpents rest in wonder.

6) By Your side stands Mother Parvati, source of beauty, strength, and grace.

7) Trident in hand, drum in rhythm, You pierce ignorance and awaken wisdom.

8) Where Nandi waits and Gana rejoice, there blossoms the lotus of devotion.

9) Skanda and Ganesha hail You; even the wise cannot measure Your glory.

10) When gods once cried in fear, You dissolved their sorrow in a glance.

11) For the burden of Taraka’s tyranny, You sent the six-faced hero to protect dharma.

12) In an instant, the proud were humbled; in Your will, justice blossomed.

13) Ocean of merits, You vanquished the dark hordes; Your fame pervades all worlds.

14) Against Tripura’s vanity You raised the bow; the cosmos learned humility.

15) To fulfill Bhagiratha’s vow, You bore Ganga’s torrent and saved the earth.

16) None surpass Your generosity; the devoted are never left empty-handed.

17) The Vedas sing Your unspeakable depth; the origin-less cannot be confined by words.

18) When poison surfaced from the churning, gods and demons trembled in dread.

19) Out of boundless compassion You drank it, O Neelakantha, saving all creation.

20) When Rama worshiped You with love, victory dawned and blessings flowed to all.

21) A thousand lotuses offered in faith—You tested, then crowned devotion’s truth.

22) He offered his very eye as the final lotus; pleased, You granted his heart’s desire.

23) O Infinite, O Undying, You dwell in every heart; be gracious to this small one.

24) When restless minds taunt and troubles press, let Your name anchor me in peace.

25) I cry, “Protect me, Lord!”—lift me now across this surge of fear and doubt.

26) With Your trident sever the root of ego; with Your drum awaken divine remembrance.

27) In hardship, even kin may fail, but You—my sole refuge—never abandon.

28) O Master, remove my heavy burden; establish courage, truth, and balance within.

29) You give freely to rich and poor alike; sincere asking ripens into fruition.

30) Forgive my faults and lapses, Lord; accept this praise as a child’s offering.

31) Auspicious Shankar, ender of sorrow, remover of obstacles, bringer of welfare.

32) Yogis, sages, and seers absorb Your name; Narada and the wise bow at Your feet.

33) Salutations again and again—“Om Namah Shivaya”—beyond even the gods’ knowing.

34) Whoever recites with steady mind finds Shambhu’s helping hand in life’s turns.

35) Debts of karma soften for the worthy; recitation purifies and uplifts.

36) Those who long for righteous progeny, by Your grace, find noble fulfillment.

37) Let vows on Trayodashi be observed; in such homes, sorrow cannot linger.

38) With incense, light, and pure food offered, reading before Shiva brings merit.

39) Sins of many births dissolve; at life’s close, may Your abode be my rest.

40) Says this humble devotee: by Your compassion, may all beings be free of grief.