Matangi Chalisa
श्री मातंगी चालीसा
Forty-verse hymn to Matangi, the dark-emerald Mahavidya who emerged from the leftover food offered by Vishnu to Shiva-Parvati. She is the patroness of outcastes, hunters, garbage-collectors and all whom society rejects; her speech is so powerful that even mantras chanted with broken intent acquire siddhi when she is invoked first. The verses describe her parrot and veena, her preference for ucchishta (consecrated leftovers), and her power to make a stammering child into an orator.
Significance
In Sri Vidya tradition, Matangi rules the throat chakra and is the inner guru of all artistic expression — without her grace, no Saraswati mantra fully fruits. Tantric musicians of South India offer half their first morning meal to her image before practice. She also dissolves the very concept of caste-purity, making her the deity of choice for activists, journalists and anyone working at the boundaries of social acceptance.
When recited: Matangi Jayanti (Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya), every Friday afternoon, before public speaking, music performance, court argument or any work involving the throat-chakra and persuasive speech
Benefits
- Removes stammer, hesitation and stage-fright permanently
- Grants mastery in music, debate, writing and persuasion
- Unblocks the throat chakra (vishuddha) for satya-vachan
- Dissolves caste-trauma and the wound of social rejection
- Wins legal arguments and parliamentary contests
- Bestows the courage to speak truth to the powerful
Opening verses
First 6 verses of the Matangi Chalisa — the most-recited opening section.
जय जय मातंगी श्यामला, उच्छिष्ट चांडाली अमला।
मरकत वर्ण नयन त्रय शोभा, शुक हस्ता वीणा मन लोभा।
वाक् सिद्धि दात्री त्रिजगत वंदित, जिह्वा अग्र विराजित नादित।
चांडाल कुल में जन्म दिखाये, अंत्यज जन को कण्ठ बसाये।
जो जन तेरा नाम उचारे, मूक भी वक्ता कवि बन धारे।
राज सभा में जय दिलवावे, शत्रु मौन कर मुख बंधवावे।
Meaning
Victory, victory to the dark-emerald Matangi, the spotless Chandalini who feeds on consecrated leftovers. Of emerald complexion, three-eyed in beauty, parrot in hand, veena enchanting the mind. Bestower of speech-perfection, worshipped in all three worlds, you reside on the very tip of the tongue as resonant sound. You took birth in a chandala household and dwell in the throats of the outcaste. Whoever utters your name, even the mute becomes an orator and poet. You grant victory in royal courts and silence enemies by sealing their mouths.
For complete authoritative text
Refer to printed editions from these sources for the full 40-verse chalisa with traditional pronunciation guides: