Sheetla Mata Chalisa — Lyrics with Meaning

Doha

Jai-jai Mata Sheetla, tumahin dharai jo dhyan | Hoy vimal sheetal hriday, vikasai buddhi bal gyan ||

Victory to Mother Sheetla. One who meditates on you finds the heart pure and calm, and wisdom, strength and knowledge grow.

Chaupai 1

Jai-jai-jai Sheetla Bhavani | Jai jag janani sakal gunkhani ||

Victory to Sheetla Bhavani. Victory to the Mother of the world, a mine of every virtue.

Chaupai 2

Grih-grih shakti tumhari rajit | Pooran sharadchandra sam sajit ||

Your power dwells in every home. You shine like the full moon of autumn.

Chaupai 3

Visphotak se jalat sharira | Sheetal karat harat sab peera ||

When the body burns with the heat of eruptions, devotees believe you cool it and take away the pain.

Chaupai 4

Matu Sheetla tav shubhnama | Sabke gadhe aavahin kama ||

O Mother Sheetla, your blessed name helps everyone in hard times.

Chaupai 5

Shokhari Shankari Bhavani | Baal-pranrakshi sukhdani ||

You are Shankari Bhavani, who removes grief. You protect the lives of children and give happiness.

Chaupai 6

Shuchi marjani kalash kar rajai | Mastak tej Surya sam rajai ||

A sacred broom and a water-pot shine in your hands. Your brow glows like the sun.

Chaupai 7

Chaunsath yogin sang mein gavain | Veena taal mridang bajavain ||

The sixty-four yoginis sing with you, playing the veena, cymbals and drums.

Chaupai 8

Nritya Nath Bhairaun dikharavain | Sahaj Shesh Shiv paar na pavain ||

Bhairavnath dances before you. Even Shesh and Shiv cannot reach the end of your glory.

Chaupai 9

Dhanya-dhanya dhatri Maharani | Surnar muni tav suyash bakhani ||

Blessed is the great Queen who nurtures all. Gods, humans and sages sing your fame.

Chaupai 10

Jwala roop maha balkari | Daitya ek Visphotak bhari ||

There was a mighty, fiery demon named Visphotak.

Chaupai 11

Ghar-ghar pravishat koi na rakshat | Rog roop dhari baalak bhakshat ||

He entered every house and no one could stop him. Taking the form of disease, he preyed on children.

Chaupai 12

Hahakar machyo jag bhari | Sakyo na jab sankat tari ||

A great cry rose across the world when no one could avert the danger.

Chaupai 13

Tab Maiya dhari adbhut roopa | Kar mein liye marjani soopa ||

Then the Mother took a wondrous form, holding a broom and a winnowing fan.

Chaupai 14

Visphotakahin pakadi kar leenhyo | Musal prahar bahuvidhi keenhyo ||

She seized Visphotak and struck him again and again with a pestle.

Chaupai 15

Bahut prakar vah vinati keenha | Maiya nahin bhal main kachhu cheenha ||

Then he pleaded in many ways: Mother, I did not know right from wrong.

Chaupai 16

Abnahin Matu, kahugrih jaihaun | Jahan apavitra sakal dukh harihaun ||

The demon promised: Mother, I will no longer enter homes; I will stay only where there is impurity.

Chaupai 17

Bhabhakat tan, sheetal hvai jaihain | Visphotak bhayghor nasaihain ||

Burning bodies will become cool, and the terrible fear of Visphotak will vanish.

Chaupai 18

Shri Sheetlahin bhaje kalyana | Vachan satya bhashe Bhagwana ||

Worshipping Shri Sheetla brings well-being — so the Lord himself has truly said.

Chaupai 19

Visphotak bhay jihi grih bhai | Bhajai Devi kahan yahi upai ||

In any home that fears Visphotak, worshipping the Goddess is the path the verse gives.

Chaupai 20

Kalash Sheetla ka sajvavai | Dwij se vidhivat paath karavai ||

Set up Mother Sheetla's sacred pot and have a priest recite her prayers with proper rites.

Chaupai 21

Tumhin Sheetla, jag ki Mata | Tumhin pita jag ki sukhdata ||

O Sheetla, you are the mother and the father of the world; you give the world happiness.

Chaupai 22

Tumhin Jagaddhatri sukhsevi | Namo namami Sheetle Devi ||

You are the nurturer of the world. O Goddess Sheetla, I bow to you again and again.

Chaupai 23

Namo sukkhkarani dukhharani | Namo-namo jagtarani tarani ||

Salutations to her who gives joy and removes sorrow. Salutations to the Mother who, like a boat, carries the world across.

Chaupai 24

Namo-namo trailokya vandini | Dukhdaridradik nikandini ||

Salutations to her who is worshipped in the three worlds. You destroy sorrow, poverty and the like.

Chaupai 25

Shri Sheetla, Shedhla, Mahla | Runlihyunani Matu Mandla ||

Sheetla, Shedhla, Mahla, Runlihyunani and Mandla — all these are names of the Mother.

Chaupai 26

Ho tum Digambar tanudhari | Shobhit panchnaam asvari ||

You take the sky-clad form and ride gracefully on a mount known by five names.

Chaupai 27

Rasabh, khar Baishakh sunandan | Gardabh durvakand nikandan ||

Your mount's names are Rasabh, Khar, Baishakhnandan, Gardabh and the eater of durva grass — the donkey.

Chaupai 28

Sumirat sang Sheetla Mai | Jahi sakal dukh door parai ||

As soon as one remembers Mother Sheetla, all sorrows run far away.

Chaupai 29

Galka, galgandadi ju hoi | Takar mantra na aushadhi koi ||

The poet says that in troubles like throat ailments he knows no support but the Mother — an expression of his complete surrender.

Chaupai 30

Ek Matu ji ka aradhan | Aur nahin koi hai sadhan ||

For him, worship of the Mother is the only path.

Chaupai 31

Nishchay Matu sharan jo aavai | Nirbhay man ichchhit phal pavai ||

Whoever comes to the Mother's shelter with firm faith becomes fearless and gains the desired fruit.

Chaupai 32

Kodhi, nirmal kaya dharai | Andha, drig nij drishti niharai ||

The Chalisa says that by the Mother's grace the leper gains a clean body and the blind gain sight — a devotional way of praising her glory.

Chaupai 33

Vandhya nari putra ko pavai | Janm daridra dhani hoi javai ||

The Chalisa says the childless are blessed with children and those born poor become prosperous.

Chaupai 34

Matu Sheetla ke gun gavat | Lakha mook ko chhand banavat ||

Singing Mother Sheetla's virtues, even the mute have been seen composing verses.

Chaupai 35

Yame koi karai jani shanka | Jag mein Maiya ka hi danka ||

Let no one doubt this; the Mother's glory resounds throughout the world.

Chaupai 36

Bhanat Ramsundar Prabhudasa | Tat Prayag se poorab pasa ||

So says Ramsundar, servant of the Lord — I live close by, east of the banks at Prayag.

Chaupai 37

Puri Tiwari mor nivasa | Kakra Ganga tat Durvasa ||

My home is in Tiwaripur, at Kakra on the Ganga's bank, where sage Durvasa's ashram stands.

Chaupai 38

Ab vilamb main tohi pukarat | Matu kripa kau baat niharat ||

O Mother, I am calling you and waiting for your grace; please do not delay.

Chaupai 39

Pada dwar tav aas lagai | Raksha karahu Sheetla Mai ||

I lie at your door with hope. O Mother Sheetla, protect me.

Doha

Ghat-ghat vasi Sheetla, sheetal prabha tumhar | Sheetal chhaiyan mein jhulai, maiya palna daar ||

O Sheetla, you live in every heart and your glow is cooling. O Mother, hang a cradle in your cool shade and rock us in it.