Ram Chalisa (Shri Ram Chalisa)
श्री राम चालीसा
40-verse devotional hymn to Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, the ideal son, husband, and king (Maryada Purushottam). Forms part of the daily Rama-bhakti tradition alongside Ramayana Path and Sundarkand. Particularly recited at the new Ram Mandir at Ayodhya and at Ram temples throughout India.
Significance
Like the Hanuman Chalisa, Ram Chalisa is a portable, recitable digest of the Ramayana’s essential teaching: that dharma succeeds, that surrender to Rama removes all sin, and that the chanting of his name (Ramanama) is itself the highest practice in the Kali Yuga.
When recited: Ram Navami, Tuesdays, Thursdays, daily by Ram bhaktas
Benefits
- Grants courage, righteousness, and patience
- Removes fear of enemies and legal entanglements
- Restores broken family relationships (Rama as ideal son and brother)
- Believed to expiate the gravest sins through Ramanama
- Bestows steady mind and equanimity (sthitaprajna)
Opening verses
First 6 verses of the Ram Chalisa (Shri Ram Chalisa) — the most-recited opening section.
श्री रघुवीर भक्त हितकारी। सुन लीजै प्रभु अरज हमारी॥
निशिदिन ध्यान धरै जो कोई। ता सम भक्त और नहिं होई॥
ध्यान धरे शिवजी मन माहीं। ब्रह्म, इन्द्र, पारवै नाहीं॥
जय जय जय श्री राम भवानी। चारों युग जग में हो वानी॥
सोचा था मन में कई बारा। राम भजन से बेड़ा पारा॥
अति विशाल नहिं नाम तिहारो। दीनबंधु भक्तन रखवारो॥
Meaning
O Sri Raghuvira, benefactor of devotees, hear our supplication, O Lord. Whoever holds your meditation day and night — there is no other devotee equal to him. Even Shiva holds your meditation in his mind; Brahma and Indra cannot fathom you. Glory, glory, glory to Sri Rama and Bhavani — through all four ages your name resounds in the world. Many times I have considered in my mind: by chanting Rama, my boat is taken across. Your name is supremely vast, friend of the lowly, protector of devotees.
For complete authoritative text
Refer to printed editions from these sources for the full 40-verse chalisa with traditional pronunciation guides: