The Hanuman Chalisa in 21 days
Two chaupais a day, with their meaning, until the whole Chalisa is read and understood. Each day shows the Awadhi text, an easy reading in English letters and a plain explanation.
For every tradition. The Chalisa is attributed to Tulsidas, and Hindus recite it widely.
Start 20 days before Hanuman Jayanti, so that day 21 falls on the day itself. The date in your city.
-
Day 1: The opening dohas, and the first praise
Tulsidas begins by cleaning the mirror of his mind with the dust of his guru's feet. He asks Hanuman for strength, wisdom and knowledge, then praises him as an ocean of knowledge and the messenger of Rama.
-
Day 2: Strength and good sense
The poem praises Hanuman as the great hero who drives away bad thinking and keeps company with good sense, and describes his golden form.
-
Day 3: Signs and lineage
The thunderbolt and the flag in his hands, the sacred thread, and his birth as Kesari's son.
-
Day 4: Learned and eager to serve
Wise and skilled, always eager for Rama's work, delighting in hearing the Lord's story, with Rama, Lakshmana and Sita in his heart.
-
Day 5: Small and great forms
A tiny form to appear before Sita in Lanka, a fearsome one to set Lanka alight, and a mighty one in which he fought for Rama and carried out his tasks.
-
Day 6: The life-giving herb
Hanuman brings the sanjivani herb to revive Lakshmana, and Rama says he is as dear as his brother Bharata.
-
Day 7: Rama's embrace
Rama embraces Hanuman, and the sages, Brahma, Narada and Sarasvati sing his praise.
-
Day 8: Help to Sugriva
No poet can tell his glory in full; he brought Sugriva to Rama and so to his throne.
-
Day 9: Vibhishana, and the sun
Vibhishana follows Hanuman's counsel and becomes king of Lanka; as a child, Hanuman swallows the far-off sun, taking it for a sweet fruit.
-
Day 10: Across the ocean
With Rama's ring in his mouth he leaps the ocean, and the poet says hard tasks become easy by his grace.
-
Day 11: Guardian of Rama's door
Hanuman guards Rama's door, and the poet speaks of the comfort of his refuge.
-
Day 12: His own power
Only Hanuman can hold his own power; the poet says fearful spirits stay away where his name is spoken.
-
Day 13: Remembering him
Two lines the text gives as the fruit of steady remembrance, in mind, word and deed. The explanation reads them as the poem's own words.
-
Day 14: Rama the ascetic king
Rama, the ascetic king, is above all, and Hanuman carried out all his work. The second line, on any wish brought to Hanuman, is read as the text's own words.
-
Day 15: Through the four ages
His glory lights all four ages; he protects the saints and is dear to Rama.
-
Day 16: Sita's blessing
Mother Sita (Janaki) blesses him as the giver of the eight siddhis and nine treasures; he holds the elixir of Rama (Rama rasayana) and remains for ever Rama's servant.
-
Day 17: The way to Rama
The poet says that singing Hanuman's praise leads to Rama, and speaks of the devotee's journey at life's end.
-
Day 18: Strength in hard times
Two lines on serving Hanuman and remembering him in trouble, read as the text's own words.
-
Day 19: Hanuman as guru
The poet calls on Hanuman to be gracious as a guru is, and speaks of reciting the Chalisa a hundred times.
-
Day 20: Tulsidas's prayer
The Chalisa names Shiva as witness to its reading, and Tulsidas asks Hanuman to make his home in the poet's heart.
-
Day 21: The closing doha
The closing prayer asks the son of the wind to dwell in the heart, with Rama, Lakshmana and Sita. Many families read the whole Chalisa through once on this last day.
Your progress is saved in this browser only. The app keeps your progress, if you choose, and can remind you each day.
Explanation written for this site and checked against the cited edition. Free to quote with credit.