Mahishasura Mardini Chalisa
श्री महिषासुर मर्दिनी चालीसा
Forty-verse martial hymn celebrating the cosmic battle in which Durga, mounted upon a lion and armed by every deva, beheaded the shape-shifting demon Mahishasura who had won the boon that no man could kill him. The verses move through the demon's arrogance, the gods' helplessness, the manifestation of the Goddess from their combined tejas, and the final hour-long duel that ended with the trident piercing his buffalo throat.
Significance
Where ordinary Durga hymns invoke maternal grace, this Chalisa invokes the warrior — it is the chosen text of soldiers, police officers, women facing harassment, and devotees confronting institutional injustice. Bengal's sahasra-chandi yajnas during Durga Puja prescribe a single recitation of this Chalisa before lighting the homa fire, and Mysore's Chamundi Hill devotees climb the thousand steps reciting one verse per landing.
When recited: All nine nights of Sharad Navaratri (especially Mahashtami and Mahanavami), Durga Ashtami of every month, Magh Gupt Navaratri, and any moment of overwhelming fear or facing a powerful adversary
Benefits
- Crushes powerful enemies and dissolves long-standing oppression
- Awakens shakti-courage in women facing violence or workplace harassment
- Removes the ego-buffalo within — pride, lust, anger and laziness
- Grants victory in competitive examinations and military service
- Protects from accidents involving vehicles and machinery
- Bestows the unyielding determination of the Devi during long struggles
Opening verses
First 6 verses of the Mahishasura Mardini Chalisa — the most-recited opening section.
जय जय महिषासुर मर्दिनी, सिंह वाहिनी रिपु संहारिणी।
अष्टभुजा शस्त्र सब धारी, त्रिशूल चक्र खड्ग कटारी।
शुम्भ निशुम्भ रक्तबीज मारे, चण्ड मुण्ड भी संग संहारे।
महिष रूप जब असुर दिखावे, त्रिशूल से तुम कण्ठ कटावे।
देवगण सब जयकार लगाये, पुष्प वर्षा कर चरण नमावे।
जो नर पाठ करे चालीसा, शत्रु नाश हो बीस इकीसा।
Meaning
Victory, victory to the slayer of Mahishasura, mounted on the lion, destroyer of the enemy. Eight-armed, bearing every weapon — trident, discus, sword and dagger. You killed Shumbha, Nishumbha and Rakta-bija; alongside them you slew Chanda and Munda. When the demon revealed his buffalo form, you severed his throat with the trident. All the devas raised cries of victory, showered flowers and bowed at your feet. Whoever recites this Chalisa, his enemies are destroyed within twenty-one days.
For complete authoritative text
Refer to printed editions from these sources for the full 40-verse chalisa with traditional pronunciation guides: