Shri Hanuman Chalisa

Shri Hanuman Chalisa is a hymn dedicated to Shri Hanuman, the great devotee of Lord Rama. It was written by the revered poet-saint Goswami Tulsidas in the sixteenth century. In Hindi, chalis means the number forty, which refers to the number of verses in the poem. The hymn is in the vernacular of Avadhi, an antiquated form of Hindi.

In these verses, Tulsidas hails Shri Hanuman for his ardent devotion and resoluteness in serving Lord Rama. In verse 32, for example, the poet-saint praises Shri Hanuman for possessing Ram rasayan, “the ambrosia of Lord Rama”—the nectar of repeating the Lord’s name through his one-pointed devotion. By invoking the exemplary qualities of Hanuman, Tulsidas himself demonstrates the bhava of true devotion.

Shri Hanuman Chalisa is a hymn dear to people throughout India and in other parts of the world. Many sing it at the beginning of the day and have it kanthastha, “memorized,” to support their doing so joyfully! In addition to his devotion, Hanuman is renowned for his indomitable strength and courage in completing arduous tasks. It is said that singing Shri Hanuman Chalisa helps people to avert difficulties and nurture inner strength in challenging circumstances, as through this hymn they are invoking the qualities of Shri Hanuman in their own hearts.