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- Opening dohas
- Doha 1 (opening)
हे पितरेश्वर आपको, दे दियो आशीर्वाद।चरणाशीश नवा दियो, रखदो सिर पर हाथ॥
he pitareśvara āpako, de diyo āśīrvāda।caraṇāśīśa navā diyo, rakhado sira para hātha॥
O Pitreshwar, Lord of the Ancestors, grant your blessing to us. Grant us the blessing of your feet, and place your hand upon our head.
- Doha 2 (opening)
सबसे पहले गणपत, पाछे घर का देव मनावा जी।हे पितरेश्वर दया राखियो, करियो मन की चाया जी॥
sabase pahale gaṇapata, pāchhe ghara kā deva manāvā jī।he pitareśvara dayā rākhiyo, kariyo mana kī cāyā jī॥
First of all we honor Ganapati, and after him the household deity, dear Lord. O Pitreshwar, keep your mercy upon us, and grant the longing of our heart.
- The 40 chaupais
- Chaupai 1
पितरेश्वर करो मार्ग उजागर।चरण रज की मुक्ति सागर॥
pitareśvara karo mārga ujāgara।caraṇa raja kī mukti sāgara॥
O Pitreshwar, light up our path; the dust of your feet is an ocean of liberation.
- Chaupai 2
परम उपकार पित्तरेश्वर कीन्हा।मनुष्य योणि में जन्म दीन्हा॥
parama upakāra pittareśvara kīnhā।manuṣya yoṇi meṃ janma dīnhā॥
Pittareshwar has done us the greatest favor, granting us birth in a human form.
- Chaupai 3
मातृ-पितृ देव मनजो भावे।सोई अमित जीवन फल पावे॥
mātṛ-pitṛ deva manajo bhāve।soī amita jīvana phala pāve॥
Whoever regards mother and father as the divine obtains boundless fruit in life.
- Chaupai 4
जै-जै-जै पित्तर जी साईं।पितृ ऋण बिन मुक्ति नाहिं॥
jai-jai-jai pittara jī sāī̃।pitṛ ṛṇa bina mukti nāhiṃ॥
Victory, victory, victory to the Lord Pitr! Without repaying the debt owed to one's ancestors, there is no liberation.
- Chaupai 5
चारों ओर प्रताप तुम्हारा।संकट में तेरा ही सहारा॥
cārõ ora pratāpa tumhārā।saṅkaṭa meṃ terā hī sahārā॥
Your glory extends in every direction; in times of trouble, you alone are our support.
- Chaupai 6
नारायण आधार सृष्टि का।पित्तरजी अंश उसी दृष्टि का॥
nārāyaṇa ādhāra sṛṣṭi kā।pittarajī aṃśa usī dṛṣṭi kā॥
Narayana is the foundation of all creation; the Pitrs share in that very same divine aspect.
- Chaupai 7
प्रथम पूजन प्रभु आज्ञा सुनाते।भाग्य द्वार आप ही खुलवाते॥
prathama pūjana prabhu ājñā sunāte।bhāgya dvāra āpa hī khulavāte॥
First in worship, O Lord, you proclaim your command; you alone open the door to good fortune.
- Chaupai 8
झुंझुनू में दरबार है साजे।सब देवों संग आप विराजे॥
jhuṃjhunū meṃ darabāra hai sāje।saba devoṃ saṅga āpa virāje॥
Your court is adorned at Jhunjhunu; there you dwell together with all the gods.
- Chaupai 9
प्रसन्न होय मनवांछित फल दीन्हा।कुपित होय बुद्धि हर लीन्हा॥
prasanna hoya manavāṃchita phala dīnhā।kupita hoya buddhi hara līnhā॥
When pleased, you grant the fruit one desires; when angered, you take away one's very wisdom.
- Chaupai 10
पित्तर महिमा सबसे न्यारी।जिसका गुणगावे नर नारी॥
pittara mahimā sabase nyārī।jisakā guṇagāve nara nārī॥
The glory of the Pitrs is unlike any other; men and women alike sing of their virtues.
- Chaupai 11
तीन मण्ड में आप बिराजे।बसु रुद्र आदित्य में साजे॥
tīna maṇḍa meṃ āpa birāje।basu rudra āditya meṃ sāje॥
You reside within three assemblies, arrayed among the Vasus, the Rudras, and the Adityas.
- Chaupai 12
नाथ सकल संपदा तुम्हारी।मैं सेवक समेत सुत नारी॥
nātha sakala saṃpadā tumhārī।maĩ sevaka sameta suta nārī॥
O Lord, all wealth belongs to you; I am your servant, along with my children and wife.
- Chaupai 13
छप्पन भोग नहीं हैं भाते।शुद्ध जल से ही तृप्त हो जाते॥
chappana bhoga nahīṃ haĩ bhāte।śuddha jala se hī tṛpta ho jāte॥
Fifty-six delicacies do not please you as much; you are satisfied with pure water alone.
- Chaupai 14
तुम्हारे भजन परम हितकारी।छोटे बड़े सभी अधिकारी॥
tumhāre bhajana parama hitakārī।choṭe baḍe sabhī adhikārī॥
Worship of you is supremely beneficial; young and old alike have the right to offer it.
- Chaupai 15
भानु उदय संग आप पुजावै।पांच अँजुलि जल रिझावे॥
bhānu udaya saṅga āpa pujāvai।pāṃca am̐juli jala rijhāve॥
You are worshipped at sunrise; five cupped handfuls of water are offered to please you.
- Chaupai 16
ध्वज पताका मण्ड पे है साजे।अखण्ड ज्योति में आप विराजे॥
dhvaja patākā maṇḍa pe hai sāje।akhaṇḍa jyoti meṃ āpa virāje॥
Flags and banners adorn your shrine; you dwell within the unbroken flame.
- Chaupai 17
सदियों पुरानी ज्योति तुम्हारी।धन्य हुई जन्म भूमि हमारी॥
sadiyoṃ purānī jyoti tumhārī।dhanya huī janma bhūmi hamārī॥
Your flame is centuries old; blessed has our native land become because of it.
- Chaupai 18
शहीद हमारे यहाँ पुजाते।मातृ भक्ति संदेश सुनाते॥
śahīda hamāre yahā̃ pujāte।mātṛ bhakti saṃdeśa sunāte॥
Our martyrs, too, are worshipped here, proclaiming the message of devotion to the motherland.
- Chaupai 19
जगत पित्तरो सिद्धान्त हमारा।धर्म जाति का नहीं है नारा॥
jagata pittaro siddhānta hamārā।dharma jāti kā nahīṃ hai nārā॥
Our principle regarding the Pitrs of the world is this: it is not confined to any slogan of religion or caste.
- Chaupai 20
हिन्दु, मुस्लिम, सिख, ईसाई।सब पूजे पित्तर भाई॥
hindu, muslima, sikha, īsāī।saba pūje pittara bhāī॥
Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian — all worship the Pitrs, O brother.
- Chaupai 21
हिन्दु वंश वृक्ष है हमारा।जान से ज्यादा हमको प्यारा॥
hindu vaṃśa vṛkṣa hai hamārā।jāna se jyādā hamako pyārā॥
Our Hindu family tree is dearer to us than life itself.
- Chaupai 22
गंगा ये मरुप्रदेश की।पितृ तर्पण अनिवार्य परिवेश की॥
gaṅgā ye marupradeśa kī।pitṛ tarpaṇa anivārya pariveśa kī॥
This is the Ganga of this desert land; offering water to the ancestors is an essential part of this tradition.
- Chaupai 23
बन्धु छोड़ना इनके चरणाँ।इन्हीं की कृपा से मिले प्रभु शरणा॥
bandhu choḍanā inake caraṇā̃।inhī̃ kī kṛpā se mile prabhu śaraṇā॥
Never abandon these feet, O brother; it is only by their grace that one attains refuge in the Lord.
- Chaupai 24
चौदस को जागरण करवाते।अमावस को हम धोक लगाते॥
caudasa ko jāgaraṇa karavāte।amāvasa ko hama dhoka lagāte॥
On the fourteenth lunar day we hold a night-vigil; on the new moon we come to bow before them.
- Chaupai 25
जात जडूला सभी मनाते।नान्दीमुख श्राद्ध सभी करवाते॥
jāta jaḍūlā sabhī manāte।nāndīmukha śrāddha sabhī karavāte॥
The child's first head-shaving is observed by all; the nandimukh shraddha before joyous occasions is likewise performed by all.
- Chaupai 26
धन्य जन्म भूमि का वो फूल है।जिसे पितृ मण्डल की मिली धूल है॥
dhanya janma bhūmi kā vo phūla hai।jise pitṛ maṇḍala kī milī dhūla hai॥
Blessed is that flower of the native land who has received the dust of the ancestral assembly.
- Chaupai 27
श्री पित्तर जी भक्त हितकारी।सुन लीजे प्रभु अरज हमारी॥
śrī pittara jī bhakta hitakārī।suna līje prabhu araja hamārī॥
O Shri Pitr, benefactor of your devotees, hear our plea, O Lord.
- Chaupai 28
निशदिन ध्यान धरे जो कोई।ता सम भक्त और नहीं कोई॥
niśadina dhyāna dhare jo koī।tā sama bhakta aura nahīṃ koī॥
Whoever holds you in meditation day and night — there is no devotee equal to that one.
- Chaupai 29
तुम अनाथ के नाथ सहाई।दीनन के हो तुम सदा सहाई॥
tuma anātha ke nātha sahāī।dīnana ke ho tuma sadā sahāī॥
You are the protector and helper of the orphaned; you are ever the helper of the humble.
- Chaupai 30
चारिक वेद प्रभु के साखी।तुम भक्तन की लज्जा राखी॥
cārika veda prabhu ke sākhī।tuma bhaktana kī lajjā rākhī॥
The four Vedas themselves are witness, O Lord, that you have preserved the honor of your devotees.
- Chaupai 31
नाम तुम्हारो लेत जो कोई।ता सम धन्य और नहीं कोई॥
nāma tumhāro leta jo koī।tā sama dhanya aura nahīṃ koī॥
Whoever takes your name — there is none so blessed as that one.
- Chaupai 32
जो तुम्हारे नित पाँव पलोटत।नवों सिद्धि चरणा में लोटत॥
jo tumhāre nita pāṃva paloṭata।navoṃ siddhi caraṇā meṃ loṭata॥
Whoever daily presses your feet in service — the nine siddhis come rolling to their own feet in turn.
- Chaupai 33
सिद्धि तुम्हारी सब मंगलकारी।जो तुम पे जावे बलिहारी॥
siddhi tumhārī saba maṅgalakārī।jo tuma pe jāve balihārī॥
All your powers bring auspiciousness upon whoever offers themselves to you.
- Chaupai 34
जो तुम्हारे चरणा चित्त लावे।ताकी मुक्ति अवसी हो जावे॥
jo tumhāre caraṇā citta lāve।tākī mukti avasī ho jāve॥
Whoever fixes their mind upon your feet certainly attains liberation.
- Chaupai 35
सत्य भजन तुम्हारो जो गावे।सो निश्चय चारों फल पावे॥
satya bhajana tumhāro jo gāve।so niścaya cārõ phala pāve॥
Whoever truly sings your praise surely obtains all four fruits of life.
- Chaupai 36
तुमहिं देव कुलदेव हमारे।तुम्हीं गुरुदेव प्राण से प्यारे॥
tumahiṃ deva kuladeva hamāre।tumhī̃ gurudeva prāṇa se pyāre॥
You alone are our deity and our family god; you alone are our guru, dearer than life.
- Chaupai 37
सत्य आस मन में जो होई।मनवांछित फल पावें सोई॥
satya āsa mana meṃ jo hoī।manavāṃchita phala pāveṃ soī॥
Whoever holds a true hope in their heart obtains the fruit their heart desires.
- Chaupai 38
तुम्हरी महिमा बुद्धि बड़ाई।शेष सहस्र मुख सके न गाई॥
tumharī mahimā buddhi baḍāī।śeṣa sahasra mukha sake na gāī॥
Your glory and the greatness of your wisdom cannot be fully sung even by thousand-headed Shesha.
- Chaupai 39
मैं अतिदीन मलीन दुखारी।करहु कौन विधि विनय तुम्हारी॥
maĩ atidīna malīna dukhārī।karahu kauna vidhi vinaya tumhārī॥
I am most lowly, impure, and sorrowful — in what manner shall I offer my prayer to you?
- Chaupai 40
अब पित्तर जी दया दीन पर कीजै।अपनी भक्ति शक्ति कछु दीजै॥
aba pittara jī dayā dīna para kījai।apanī bhakti śakti kachu dījai॥
Now, O Pitr, show mercy upon this humble one; grant me some measure of your devotion and power.
- Closing dohas
- Doha 1 (closing)
पित्तरौं को स्थान दो, तीरथ और स्वयं ग्राम।श्रद्धा सुमन चढ़ें वहां, पूरण हो सब काम॥
pittaroṃ ko sthāna do, tīratha aura svayaṃ grāma।śraddhā sumana caḍheṃ vahāṃ, pūraṇa ho saba kāma॥
Give the Pitrs a place — at pilgrimage sites and within your own village; wherever flowers of devotion are offered to them, every endeavor there reaches fulfillment.
- Doha 2 (closing)
झुंझुनू धाम विराजे हैं, पित्तर हमारे महान।दर्शन से जीवन सफल हो, पूजे सकल जहान॥
jhuṃjhunū dhāma virāje haĩ, pittara hamāre mahāna।darśana se jīvana saphala ho, pūje sakala jahāna॥
Our great Pitrs reside at Jhunjhunu Dham; through their sight life becomes fruitful, and the whole world worships them.
- Doha 3 (closing)
जीवन सफल जो चाहिए, चले झुंझुनू धाम।पित्तर चरण की धूल ले, हो जीवन सफल महान॥
jīvana saphala jo cāhie, cale jhuṃjhunū dhāma।pittara caraṇa kī dhūla le, ho jīvana saphala mahāna॥
If you wish for a fruitful life, journey to Jhunjhunu Dham; take the dust of the Pitrs' feet, and your life shall become greatly fruitful.
Overview
The Pitar Chalisa is a Hindi devotional composition addressed not to a personal deity but to the Pitrs — the departed ancestors of one’s own family line, venerated collectively as a source of blessing, guidance, and protection. Structured like other chalisas, with two opening dohas, forty numbered chaupai couplets, and three closing dohas, it asks the Pitrs to light the devotee’s path, forgive the debt owed to them by the living (pitru rin), and grant well-being to the household. It is a distinct composition from the shorter aarti “Jai Jai Pitarji Maharaj,” though both address the same object of devotion — the family’s own departed elders, not a mythological god — and are often recited together during Pitru Paksha.
Origin and source
The Pitar Chalisa’s authorship and date of composition are not documented in the sources consulted for this page. Its verses repeatedly name Jhunjhunu, in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan, as the seat where the Pitrs “hold court” alongside the gods and where devotees are urged to go for darshan — suggesting the text is rooted in a regional Rajasthani tradition of ancestor veneration rather than any single Puranic source. The chaupai body also reflects customs distinctive to that tradition: offering water to the Pitrs at sunrise, keeping a night-vigil on chaudas (the fourteenth lunar day) and marking amavasya (the new moon), and performing rites such as jaḍūlā (a child’s first head-shaving) and nandimukh shraddha before auspicious family occasions. Several verses also state that reverence for one’s ancestors is not confined to any single religion, naming Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians together as venerating their forebears — a claim offered by the text itself about the universality of ancestor veneration, not a claim about shared liturgy.
How it is recited
The Pitar Chalisa is recited chiefly during Pitru Paksha, the fortnight set aside each year for shraddha rites honoring one’s ancestors, and at other occasions of shraddha and tarpan (ritual water offerings) throughout the year. Some devotional sources suggest reciting it a fixed number of times in one sitting, though this is not a uniformly attested practice. It is commonly read alongside — or immediately after — the shorter aarti to the Pitrs, as part of the same act of remembrance for the family’s departed elders.
Frequently asked questions
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Sourcing
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