Shiva Chalisa with English translation and significance

जय गणेश गिरिजा सुवन,

मंगल मूल सुजान ।

कहत अयोध्यादास तुम,

देहु अभय वरदान ॥

Doha:

Victory to Ganesh, the son of Girija, the root of all auspiciousness and wisdom. Ayodhya Das humbly implores you, bestow upon us the gift of fearlessness.

जय गिरिजा पति दीन दयाला,

सदा करत सन्तन प्रतिपाला ।

भाल चन्द्रमा सोहत नीके,

कानन कुण्डल नागफनी के ॥

Chopai 1:

Victory to the compassionate Lord of Girija (Parvati), who always nurtures his devotees. Your forehead shines with the crescent moon, adorned with earrings and serpents.

अंग गौर शिर गंग बहाये,

मुण्डमाल तन क्षार लगाए ।

वस्त्र खाल बाघम्बर सोहे,

छवि को देखि नाग मन मोहे ॥ 4

Chopai 2:

Your body is fair like camphor, and the river Ganga flows gracefully from your matted locks. You wear ashes smeared all over your body, and your attire resembles that of a tiger's skin. The sight of your form captivates even the sages and serpents.

मैना मातु की हवे दुलारी,

बाम अंग सोहत छवि न्यारी ।

कर त्रिशूल सोहत छवि भारी,

करत सदा शत्रुन क्षयकारी ॥

Chopai 3:

You are the beloved son of Mother Maina, who took the form of a dwarf to vanquish the demons. Your left side is resplendent with a charming image, and your hand holds a trident, which destroys the enemies incessantly.

नन्दि गणेश सोहै तहँ कैसे,

सागर मध्य कमल हैं जैसे ।

कार्तिक श्याम और गणराऊ,

या छवि को कहि जात न काऊ ॥ 8

Chopai 4:

How can one describe the splendor of Nandi and Ganesh (Shiva's attendants) who reside near you? They appear as lotus flowers in the middle of an ocean. Even Kartikeya (Murugan) and Shyam (Krishna) cannot adequately praise your divine form.

देवन जबहीं जाय पुकारा,

तब ही दुख प्रभु आप निवारा ।

किया उपद्रव तारक भारी,

देवन सब मिलि तुमहिं जुहारी ॥

Chopai 5:

Whenever the gods call out to you in distress, you immediately dispel their sorrows. You alleviated the distress caused by the demon Tarakasura. All the gods praised you with great devotion.

तुरत षडानन आप पठायउ,

लवनिमेष महँ मारि गिरायउ ।

आप जलंधर असुर संहारा,

सुयश तुम्हार विदित संसारा ॥ 12

Chopai 6:

You quickly sent the five-faced (Panchanana) Lord Shiva to annihilate the demon Jalendra (the lord of the waters). In the blink of an eye, you destroyed him. Your glory is known throughout the universe.

त्रिपुरासुर सन युद्ध मचाई,

सबहिं कृपा कर लीन बचाई ।

किया तपहिं भागीरथ भारी,

पुरब प्रतिज्ञा तासु पुरारी ॥

Chopai 7:

You engaged in battle with the demon Tripurasura and showed immense kindness by sparing his life. You also facilitated Bhagiratha's arduous penance and fulfilled his vow by letting the Ganges descend to Earth.

दानिन महँ तुम सम कोउ नाहीं,

सेवक स्तुति करत सदाहीं ॥

वेद नाम महिमा तव गाई,

अकथ अनादि भेद नहिं पाई ॥ 16

Chopai 8:

No one is as benevolent as you, O Lord! Your devotees constantly sing your praises. The Vedas have glorified your name, yet your infinite mysteries remain beyond comprehension.

Meaning and Significance:

The Shiva Chalisa is a devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Shiva, the supreme deity of Hinduism. Composed of forty verses, it extols the virtues, attributes, and divine exploits of Lord Shiva.

1. Invocation (Doha): The hymn begins with an invocation to Lord Ganesh, the remover of obstacles, seeking his blessings to commence the praise of Lord Shiva.

2. Verses (Chopais): The verses describe various aspects of Lord Shiva's form, attributes, and deeds. They highlight his compassion, wisdom, valor, and role as the protector and savior of his devotees.

3. Devotional Offerings: The devotee offers prayers and praises to Lord Shiva, acknowledging his greatness and seeking his grace and blessings.

4. Symbolism: The hymn uses symbolism to convey deeper spiritual truths. For example, the crescent moon on Lord Shiva's forehead represents the cyclic nature of time, while the serpent around his neck symbolizes his mastery over death and eternity.

5. Significance: Reciting the Shiva Chalisa is believed to bestow divine blessings, protection, and fulfillment of desires. It is often chanted by devotees to seek relief from troubles, overcome obstacles, and attain spiritual upliftment.

Overall, the Shiva Chalisa serves as a powerful tool for devotion, meditation, and connecting with the divine presence of Lord Shiva, fostering a deeper sense of reverence, love, and devotion towards the supreme lord of the universe.