About this stotra
The Śrī Kālī Chālīsā is a forty-verse devotional hymn addressed to Goddess Kālī, the fierce and compassionate mother who destroys evil and liberates her devotees from fear. Composed in the popular chālīsā format with opening and closing dohās (couplets) framing the main verses, this hymn celebrates Kālī as the remover of the impurities of the Kali Yuga, the slayer of the demon Mahiṣa, and the eight-armed bestower of happiness.
The verses vividly describe her powerful form — adorned with a garland of skulls, destroyer of arrogance and pride, renowned throughout the world for crushing the wicked. Yet alongside this fierce imagery, the hymn emphasizes her maternal tenderness toward humble devotees who approach her with sincere devotion, seeking refuge as helpless children before their mother.
Reciting the Kālī Chālīsā with love and devotion is said to fulfill all desires and bring complete well-being in the world.
दोहा
जयकाली कलिमलहरण, महिमा अगम अपार ।
महिष मर्दिनी कालिका , देहु अभय अपार ॥
dōhā
jayakālī kalimalaharaṇa, mahimā agama apāra ।
mahiṣa mardinī kālikā , dēhu abhaya apāra ॥
Opening doha: Victory to Kāḷī, remover of the filth of the Kali age — your glory is boundless and unfathomable! O Kālikā, crusher of Mahiṣa, grant unlimited fearlessness.
अरि मद मान मिटावन हारी ।
मुण्डमाल गल सोहत प्यारी ॥
ari mada māna miṭāvana hārī ।
muṇḍamāla gala sōhata pyārī ॥
Verse 1: Destroyer of the pride and arrogance of enemies. The garland of skulls gleams beautifully around your neck.
अष्टभुजी सुखदायक माता ।
दुष्टदलन जग में विख्याता ॥
aṣṭabhujī sukhadāyaka mātā ।
duṣṭadalana jaga mēṃ vikhyātā ॥
Verse 2: O eight-armed Mother, bestower of happiness. Famous throughout the world as the crusher of the wicked.
भाल विशाल मुकुट छविछाजै ।
कर में शीश शत्रु का साजै ॥
bhāla viśāla mukuṭa ChaviChājai ।
kara mēṃ śīśa śatru kā sājai ॥
Verse 3: A great crown adorns your broad forehead beautifully. In your hand you hold an enemy's severed head.
दूजे हाथ लिए मधु प्याला ।
हाथ तीसरे सोहत भाला ॥
dūjē hātha liē madhu pyālā ।
hātha tīsarē sōhata bhālā ॥
Verse 4: In the second hand you hold a cup of wine. In the third hand a spear gleams resplendently.
चौथे खप्पर खड्ग कर पाञ्चे ।
छठे त्रिशूलशत्रु बल जाञ्चे ॥
chauthē khappara khaḍga kara pāñchē ।
Chaṭhē triśūlaśatru bala jāñchē ॥
Verse 5: In the fourth hand a skull-bowl; in the fifth a sword. In the sixth — the trident — that tests the strength of enemies.
सप्तम करदमकत असि प्यारी ।
शोभा अद्भुत मात तुम्हारी ॥
saptama karadamakata asi pyārī ।
śōbhā adbhuta māta tumhārī ॥
Verse 6: In the seventh hand a beloved gleaming blade. Your beauty, O Mother, is utterly wondrous.
अष्टम कर भक्तन वर दाता ।
जग मनहरण रूप ये माता ॥
aṣṭama kara bhaktana vara dātā ।
jaga manaharaṇa rūpa yē mātā ॥
Verse 7: The eighth hand bestows boons upon devotees. This is your heart-stealing form, O Mother.
भक्तन में अनुरक्त भवानी ।
निशदिन रटेंॠषी-मुनि ज्ञानी ॥
bhaktana mēṃ anurakta bhavānī ।
niśadina raṭēṃṝṣī-muni jñānī ॥
Verse 8: O Bhavānī, deeply devoted to your devotees. Wise sages and seers repeat your name day and night.
महशक्ति अति प्रबल पुनीता ।
तू ही काली तू ही सीता ॥
mahaśakti ati prabala punītā ।
tū hī kālī tū hī sītā ॥
Verse 9: Great power — supremely strong and supremely pure. You are Kāḷī herself; you are also Sītā.
पतित तारिणी हे जग पालक ।
कल्याणी पापीकुल घालक ॥
patita tāriṇī hē jaga pālaka ।
kalyāṇī pāpīkula ghālaka ॥
Verse 10: O lifter of the fallen, O sustainer of the world. O Kaḷyāṇī, destroyer of the sinful.
शेष सुरेश न पावत पारा ।
गौरी रूप धर्यो इक बारा ॥
śēṣa surēśa na pāvata pārā ।
gaurī rūpa dharyō ika bārā ॥
Verse 11: Even Śēṣa and Indra cannot fathom your depths. Once you assumed the gentle form of Gaurī.
तुम समान दाता नहिं दूजा ।
विधिवत करें भक्तजन पूजा ॥
tuma samāna dātā nahiṃ dūjā ।
vidhivata karēṃ bhaktajana pūjā ॥
Verse 12: There is no giver equal to you in all the world. Devotees worship you according to prescribed rites.
रूप भयङ्कर जब तुम धारा ।
दुष्टदलन कीन्हेहु संहारा ॥
rūpa bhayaṅkara jaba tuma dhārā ।
duṣṭadalana kīnhēhu saṃhārā ॥
Verse 13: When you assumed the terrifying form, you carried out the destruction of all the wicked.
नाम अनेकन मात तुम्हारे ।
भक्तजनों के सङ्कट टारे ॥
nāma anēkana māta tumhārē ।
bhaktajanōṃ kē saṅkaṭa ṭārē ॥
Verse 14: Your names are countless, O Mother. They remove the troubles of all devotees.
कलि के कष्ट कलेशन हरनी ।
भव भय मोचन मङ्गल करनी ॥
kali kē kaṣṭa kalēśana haranī ।
bhava bhaya mōchana maṅgala karanī ॥
Verse 15: Remover of the suffering and afflictions of the Kali age. Liberator from the fears of worldly existence, bringer of auspiciousness.
महिमा अगम वेद यश गावैम् ।
नारद शारद पार न पावैम् ॥
mahimā agama vēda yaśa gāvaim ।
nārada śārada pāra na pāvaim ॥
Verse 16: Your unfathomable glory is sung by the Vedas themselves. Even Nārada and Sarasvatī cannot reach its end.
भू पर भार बढ्यौ जब भारी ।
तब तब तुम प्रकटीं महतारी ॥
bhū para bhāra baḍhyau jaba bhārī ।
taba taba tuma prakaṭīṃ mahatārī ॥
Verse 17: Whenever the burden on the earth grew too heavy, again and again you appeared, O great Mother.
आदि अनादि अभय वरदाता ।
विश्वविदित भव सङ्कट त्राता ॥
ādi anādi abhaya varadātā ।
viśvavidita bhava saṅkaṭa trātā ॥
Verse 18: Beginningless and endless — giver of fearlessness and boons. Known throughout the universe as the savior from all existential crises.
कुसमय नाम तुम्हारौ लीन्हा ।
उसको सदा अभय वर दीन्हा ॥
kusamaya nāma tumhārau līnhā ।
usakō sadā abhaya vara dīnhā ॥
Verse 19: Whoever has taken your name in a time of crisis — you have always granted them the boon of fearlessness.
ध्यान धरें श्रुति शेष सुरेशा ।
काल रूप लखि तुमरो भेषा ॥
dhyāna dharēṃ śruti śēṣa surēśā ।
kāla rūpa lakhi tumarō bhēṣā ॥
Verse 20: The Vedas, Śēṣa, and Indra meditate on you. They perceive your form as the very guise of cosmic Time.
कलुआ भैंरों सङ्ग तुम्हारे ।
अरि हित रूप भयानक धारे ॥
kaluā bhaiṃrōṃ saṅga tumhārē ।
ari hita rūpa bhayānaka dhārē ॥
Verse 21: Kālabhairava accompanies you. He assumes a terrifying form to destroy your enemies.
सेवक लाङ्गुर रहत अगारी ।
चौसठ जोगन आज्ञाकारी ॥
sēvaka lāṅgura rahata agārī ।
chausaṭha jōgana ājñākārī ॥
Verse 22: The Laṅgūra attendants walk before you. The sixty-four Yoginīs execute your every command.
त्रेता में रघुवर हित आई ।
दशकन्धर की सैन नसाई ॥
trētā mēṃ raghuvara hita āī ।
daśakandhara kī saina nasāī ॥
Verse 23: In the Tretā age you came for the sake of Rāma. You routed the entire army of the ten-headed Rāvaṇa.
खेला रण का खेल निराला ।
भरा मांस-मज्जा से प्याला ॥
khēlā raṇa kā khēla nirālā ।
bharā māṃsa-majjā sē pyālā ॥
Verse 24: You played the unique game of battle — filling your cup with flesh and marrow.
रौद्र रूप लखि दानव भागे ।
कियौ गवन भवन निज त्यागे ॥
raudra rūpa lakhi dānava bhāgē ।
kiyau gavana bhavana nija tyāgē ॥
Verse 25: Seeing your fierce form, the demons fled — they abandoned their own homes and ran away.
तब ऐसौ तामस चढ़ आयो ।
स्वजन विजन को भेद भुलायो ॥
taba aisau tāmasa chaḍha āyō ।
svajana vijana kō bhēda bhulāyō ॥
Verse 26: Then such dark tamas (delusion) rose within you — you forgot the distinction between kinsman and stranger.
ये बालक लखि शङ्कर आए ।
राह रोक चरनन में धाए ॥
yē bālaka lakhi śaṅkara āē ।
rāha rōka charanana mēṃ dhāē ॥
Verse 27: Seeing this, Śaṅkara (Śiva) came forward. He blocked your path and fell at your feet.
तब मुख जीभ निकर जो आई ।
यही रूप प्रचलित है माई ॥
taba mukha jībha nikara jō āī ।
yahī rūpa prachalita hai māī ॥
Verse 28: Then, with Śiva lying beneath you, your tongue came out. O Mother, this is the celebrated image known throughout the world.
बाढ्यो महिषासुर मद भारी ।
पीड़ित किए सकल नर-नारी ॥
bāḍhyō mahiṣāsura mada bhārī ।
pīḍita kiē sakala nara-nārī ॥
Verse 29: Mahiṣāsura's arrogance grew exceedingly great. He tormented all men and women.
करूण पुकार सुनी भक्तन की ।
पीर मिटावन हित जन-जन की ॥
karūṇa pukāra sunī bhaktana kī ।
pīra miṭāvana hita jana-jana kī ॥
Verse 30: You heard the pitiful cry of your devotees — to remove the pain of every person —
तब प्रगटी निज सैन समेता ।
नाम पड़ा मां महिष विजेता ॥
taba pragaṭī nija saina samētā ।
nāma paḍā māṃ mahiṣa vijētā ॥
Verse 31: — you appeared with your full army. Thus you earned the name Mahiṣavijētā (conqueror of Mahiṣa).
शुम्भ निशुम्भ हने छन माहीम् ।
तुम सम जग दूसर कौ नाहीम् ॥
śumbha niśumbha hanē Chana māhīm ।
tuma sama jaga dūsara kau nāhīm ॥
Verse 32: You slew Śumbha and Niśumbha in an instant. In all the world there is none other like you.
मान मथनहारी खल दल के ।
सदा सहायक भक्त विकल के ॥
māna mathanahārī khala dala kē ।
sadā sahāyaka bhakta vikala kē ॥
Verse 33: Crusher of the pride of the wicked. Ever the helper of devotees who are distressed.
दीन विहीन करैं नित सेवा ।
पावैं मनवाञ्छित फल मेवा ॥
dīna vihīna karaiṃ nita sēvā ।
pāvaiṃ manavāñChita phala mēvā ॥
Verse 34: Those who serve you daily, though poor and destitute — they receive the sweet fruit of their heart's desire.
सङ्कट में जो सुमिरन करहीम् ।
उनके कष्ट मातु तुम हरहीम् ॥
saṅkaṭa mēṃ jō sumirana karahīm ।
unakē kaṣṭa mātu tuma harahīm ॥
Verse 35: Those who remember you in their hour of crisis — O Mother, you remove their afflictions.
प्रेम सहित जो कीरतिगावैम् ।
भव बन्धन सों मुक्ती पावैम् ॥
prēma sahita jō kīratigāvaim ।
bhava bandhana sōṃ muktī pāvaim ॥
Verse 36: Those who lovingly sing your glory — they gain liberation from the bondage of worldly existence.
काली चालीसा जो पढ़हीम् ।
स्वर्गलोक बिनु बन्धन चढ़हीम् ॥
kālī chālīsā jō paḍhahīm ।
svargalōka binu bandhana chaḍhahīm ॥
Verse 37: Whoever reads this Kālī Cālīsā — they ascend to the heavenly realm, free of all bondage.
दया दृष्टि हेरौ जगदम्बा ।
केहि कारणमां कियौ विलम्बा ॥
dayā dṛṣṭi hērau jagadambā ।
kēhi kāraṇamāṃ kiyau vilambā ॥
Verse 38: Turn your merciful gaze upon me, O Jagadambā. For what reason have you delayed, O Mother?
करहु मातु भक्तन रखवाली ।
जयति जयति काली कङ्काली ॥
karahu mātu bhaktana rakhavālī ।
jayati jayati kālī kaṅkālī ॥
Verse 39: O Mother, keep watch over your devotees. Victory, victory to Kāḷī, to Kaṅkālī!
सेवक दीन अनाथ अनारी।
भक्तिभाव युति शरण तुम्हारी ॥
sēvaka dīna anātha anārī।
bhaktibhāva yuti śaraṇa tumhārī ॥
Verse 40: Your servant is poor, orphaned, and without resource. With sincere devotion I take refuge at your feet.
दोहा
प्रेम सहित जो करे, काली चालीसा पाठ ।
तिनकी पूरन कामना, होय सकल जग ठाठ ॥
dōhā
prēma sahita jō karē, kālī chālīsā pāṭha ।
tinakī pūrana kāmanā, hōya sakala jaga ṭhāṭha ॥
Closing doha — Phalaśruti: Whoever recites the Kālī Cālīsā with love — their every desire is fulfilled, and all the world prospers.