Sai Chalisa
साईं चालीसा
40-verse chalisa to Shirdi Sai Baba (1838-1918) — the saint of Shirdi revered by both Hindu and Muslim devotees. Famous for his message Sabka Malik Ek — One God for all.
Significance
Sai Baba transcends religious boundaries. His chalisa is recited for solving day-to-day problems, healing, and surrendering anxieties to a higher power. Thursdays are sacred to him.
When recited: Thursdays, Gurupurnima, Sai Baba Jayanti
Benefits
- Resolution of long-standing problems through faith and patience
- Healing — physical, mental, and emotional
- Material needs met when surrendered with faith
- Spiritual progress through surrender (Shraddha) and patience (Saburi)
Opening verses
First 6 verses of the Sai Chalisa — the most-recited opening section.
पहले साईं के चरणों में, अपना शीश नमाऊँ।
कैसे शिर्डी साईं आये, सारा हाल सुनाऊँ॥
कौन है माता पिता, कौन है उनका धाम।
क्या है उनका जन्म स्थल, कहो साईं का नाम॥
कोई न जाने कुछ इस का, क्या साईं अवतार।
क्या कारण से धरा है, उनने अवतार॥
Meaning
First I bow my head at Sai's feet. I shall narrate how Sai came to Shirdi. Who is his mother, who his father, what is his abode? What is his birthplace, what is Sai's name? No one knows any of this — what kind of avatar is Sai? For what reason did he take this incarnation?
For complete authoritative text
Refer to printed editions from these sources for the full 40-verse chalisa with traditional pronunciation guides: