The text
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- Opening doha
- Doha (opening)
मूर्ति स्वयंभू शारदा, मैहर आन विराज।माला, पुस्तक, धारिणी, वीणा कर में साज॥
mūrti svayambhū śāradā, maihara āna virāja।mālā, pustaka, dhāriṇī, vīṇā kara meṃ sāja॥
Self-manifested, Sharada's image graces Maihar — garlanded, holding a book, bearing a veena in her hand, so is she adorned.
- The 40 chaupais
- Chaupai 1
जय जय जय शारदा महारानी।आदि शक्ति तुम जग कल्याणी॥
jaya jaya jaya śāradā mahārānī।ādi śakti tuma jaga kalyāṇī॥
Victory, victory, victory to Sharada, the great queen — primordial power, you are the benefactress of the world.
- Chaupai 2
रूप चतुर्भुज तुम्हरो माता।तीन लोक महं तुम विख्याता॥
rūpa caturbhuja tumharo mātā।tīna loka mahaṃ tuma vikhyātā॥
Four-armed is your form, O Mother; renowned are you throughout the three worlds.
- Chaupai 3
दो सहस्र बर्षहि अनुमाना।प्रगट भई शारद जग जाना॥
do sahasra barṣahi anumānā।pragaṭa bhaī śārada jaga jānā॥
An estimated two thousand years ago, Sharada manifested in the world.
- Chaupai 4
मैहर नगर विश्व विख्याता।जहाँ बैठी शारद जग माता॥
maihara nagara viśva vikhyātā।jahā̃ baiṭhī śārada jaga mātā॥
The town of Maihar is renowned throughout the world, where Sharada, mother of the world, resides.
- Chaupai 5
त्रिकूट पर्वत शारदा वासा।मैहर नगरी परम प्रकाशा॥
trikūṭa parvata śāradā vāsā।maihara nagarī parama prakāśā॥
Sharada dwells upon Trikuta mountain, the supreme radiance of Maihar town.
- Chaupai 6
शरद इन्दु सम बदन तुम्हारो।रूप चतुर्भुज अतिशय प्यारो॥
śarada indu sama badana tumhāro।rūpa caturbhuja atiśaya pyāro॥
Your face is like the autumn moon, and your four-armed form is exceedingly dear.
- Chaupai 7
कोटि सूर्य सम तन द्युति पावन।राज हंस तुम्हारो शचि वाहन॥
koṭi sūrya sama tana dyuti pāvana।rāja haṃsa tumhāro śaci vāhana॥
Your body's radiance is pure as millions of suns; your royal swan is your noble mount.
- Chaupai 8
कानन कुण्डल लोल सुहावहि।उरमणि भाल अनूप दिखावहिं॥
kānana kuṇḍala lola suhāvahi।uramaṇi bhāla anūpa dikhāvahiṃ॥
Swaying earrings adorn your ears; the jewel on your forehead shines with matchless beauty.
- Chaupai 9
वीणा पुस्तक अभय धारिणी।जगत्मातु तुम जग विहारिणी॥
vīṇā pustaka abhaya dhāriṇī।jagatmātu tuma jaga vihāriṇī॥
Bearer of the veena, the book, and the gesture of fearlessness — mother of the universe, you move freely through the world.
- Chaupai 10
ब्रह्म सुता अखंड अनूपा।शारद गुण गावत सुरभूपा॥
brahma sutā akhaṇḍa anūpā।śārada guṇa gāvata surabhūpā॥
Undivided and matchless daughter of Brahma — even the lords of the gods sing of Sharada's virtues.
- Chaupai 11
हरिहर करहिं शारदा बन्दन।बरुण कुबेर करहिं अभिनन्दन॥
harihara karahiṃ śāradā bandana।baruṇa kubera karahiṃ abhinandana॥
Hari and Hara (Vishnu and Shiva) bow before Sharada; Varuna and Kubera offer her their welcome.
- Chaupai 12
शारद रूप चण्डी अवतारा।चण्ड-मुण्ड असुरन संहारा॥
śārada rūpa caṇḍī avatārā।caṇḍa-muṇḍa asurana saṃhārā॥
In the form of Chandi, Sharada is an incarnation who destroyed the demons Chanda and Munda.
- Chaupai 13
महिषा सुर वध कीन्हि भवानी।दुर्गा बन शारद कल्याणी॥
mahiṣā sura vadha kīnhi bhavānī।durgā bana śārada kalyāṇī॥
Bhavani slew the buffalo-demon Mahishasura; as Durga, the gracious Sharada brought about good fortune.
- Chaupai 14
धरा रूप शारद भई चण्डी।रक्त बीज काटा रण मुण्डी॥
dharā rūpa śārada bhaī caṇḍī।rakta bīja kāṭā raṇa muṇḍī॥
Taking form upon the earth, Sharada became Chandi, and on the battlefield cut down Raktabija.
- Chaupai 15
तुलसी सूर्य आदि विद्वाना।शारद सुयश सदैव बखाना॥
tulasī sūrya ādi vidvānā।śārada suyaśa sadaiva bakhānā॥
Tulsi, Surya, and other learned ones have forever recounted Sharada's noble glory.
- Chaupai 16
कालिदास भए अति विख्याता।तुम्हारी दया शारदा माता॥
kālidāsa bhae ati vikhyātā।tumhārī dayā śāradā mātā॥
Kalidasa became greatly renowned through your grace alone, O Mother Sharada.
- Chaupai 17
वाल्मीक नारद मुनि देवा।पुनि-पुनि करहिं शारदा सेवा॥
vālmīka nārada muni devā।puni-puni karahiṃ śāradā sevā॥
The sage Valmiki, and the divine sage Narada, again and again render service to Sharada.
- Chaupai 18
चरण-शरण देवहु जग माया।सब जग व्यापहिं शारद माया॥
caraṇa-śaraṇa devahu jaga māyā।saba jaga vyāpahiṃ śārada māyā॥
Grant refuge at your feet, O Maya of the world — Sharada's maya pervades the entire universe.
- Chaupai 19
अणु-परमाणु शारदा वासा।परम शक्तिमय परम प्रकाशा॥
aṇu-paramāṇu śāradā vāsā।parama śaktimaya parama prakāśā॥
Sharada dwells in every atom and particle — supreme in power, and supreme in radiance.
- Chaupai 20
हे शारद तुम ब्रह्म स्वरूपा।शिव विरंचि पूजहिं नर भूपा॥
he śārada tuma brahma svarūpā।śiva viraṃci pūjahiṃ nara bhūpā॥
O Sharada, you are the very form of Brahman; Shiva, Brahma, and kings among men worship you.
- Chaupai 21
ब्रह्म शक्ति नहि एकउ भेदा।शारद के गुण गावहिं वेदा॥
brahma śakti nahi ekau bhedā।śārada ke guṇa gāvahiṃ vedā॥
Between Brahman and Shakti there is not the slightest difference; the Vedas themselves sing of Sharada's virtues.
- Chaupai 22
जय जग बन्दनि विश्व स्वरुपा।निर्गुण-सगुण शारदहिं रुपा॥
jaya jaga bandani viśva svarupā।nirguṇa-saguṇa śāradahiṃ rupā॥
Victory to you, worshipped by the world, of universal form — Sharada is the form of both the attributeless and the attributed absolute.
- Chaupai 23
सुमिरहु शारद नाम अखंडा।व्यापइ नहिं कलिकाल प्रचण्डा॥
sumirahu śārada nāma akhaṇḍā।vyāpai nahiṃ kalikāla pracaṇḍā॥
Remember the unbroken name of Sharada, and the fierce grip of the Kali Yuga shall not touch you.
- Chaupai 24
सूर्य चन्द्र नभ मण्डल तारे।शारद कृपा चमकते सारे॥
sūrya candra nabha maṇḍala tāre।śārada kṛpā camakate sāre॥
The sun, the moon, and every star in the sky's expanse — all shine by Sharada's grace.
- Chaupai 25
उद्भव स्थिति प्रलय कारिणी।बन्दउ शारद जगत तारिणी॥
udbhava sthiti pralaya kāriṇī।bandau śārada jagata tāriṇī॥
Cause of creation, preservation, and dissolution — I bow to Sharada, deliverer of the world.
- Chaupai 26
दुःख दरिद्र सब जाहिं नसाई।तुम्हारी कृपा शारदा माई॥
duḥkha daridra saba jāhiṃ nasāī।tumhārī kṛpā śāradā māī॥
All sorrow and poverty are destroyed by your grace, O Mother Sharada.
- Chaupai 27
परम पुनीति जगत अधारा।मातु शारदा ज्ञान तुम्हारा॥
parama punīti jagata adhārā।mātu śāradā jñāna tumhārā॥
Supremely pure, the support of the world — Mother Sharada, knowledge itself is yours.
- Chaupai 28
विद्या बुद्धि मिलहिं सुखदानी।जय जय जय शारदा भवानी॥
vidyā buddhi milahiṃ sukhadānī।jaya jaya jaya śāradā bhavānī॥
Learning and intellect are obtained from the giver of happiness — victory, victory, victory to Sharada Bhavani.
- Chaupai 29
शारदे पूजन जो जन करहीं।निश्चय ते भव सागर तरहीं॥
śārade pūjana jo jana karahīṃ।niścaya te bhava sāgara tarahīṃ॥
Whoever worships Sharada shall surely cross the ocean of worldly existence.
- Chaupai 30
शारद कृपा मिलहिं शुचि ज्ञाना।होई सकल विधि अति कल्याणा॥
śārada kṛpā milahiṃ śuci jñānā।hoī sakala vidhi ati kalyāṇā॥
By Sharada's grace, pure knowledge is obtained, and all-round good fortune follows.
- Chaupai 31
जग के विषय महा दुःख दाई।भजहुँ शारदा अति सुख पाई॥
jaga ke viṣaya mahā duḥkha dāī।bhajahũ śāradā ati sukha pāī॥
The affairs of the world bring great sorrow — I worship Sharada, and find the greatest happiness.
- Chaupai 32
परम प्रकाश शारदा तोरा।दिव्य किरण देवहुँ मम ओरा॥
parama prakāśa śāradā torā।divya kiraṇa devahũ mama orā॥
Supreme is your radiance, O Sharada — grant a divine ray of it in my direction.
- Chaupai 33
परमानन्द मगन मन होई।मातु शारदा सुमिरई जोई॥
paramānanda magana mana hoī।mātu śāradā sumiraī joī॥
The mind becomes absorbed in supreme bliss for whoever remembers Mother Sharada.
- Chaupai 34
चित्त शान्त होवहिं जप ध्याना।भजहुँ शारदा होवहिं ज्ञाना॥
citta śānta hovahiṃ japa dhyānā।bhajahũ śāradā hovahiṃ jñānā॥
Through japa and meditation the mind grows peaceful; worshipping Sharada, knowledge arises.
- Chaupai 35
रचना रचित शारदा केरी।पाठ करहिं भव छटई फेरी॥
racanā racita śāradā kerī।pāṭha karahiṃ bhava chaṭaī pherī॥
This composition, made in praise of Sharada — reciting it, one is freed from the cycle of worldly existence.
- Chaupai 36
सत्-सत् नमन पढ़ीहे धरिध्याना।शारद मातु करहिं कल्याणा॥
sat-sat namana paḍhīhe dharidhyānā।śārada mātu karahiṃ kalyāṇā॥
Repeated homage to those who read it with focused meditation — Mother Sharada brings about good fortune.
- Chaupai 37
शारद महिमा को जग जाना।नेति-नेति कह वेद बखाना॥
śārada mahimā ko jaga jānā।neti-neti kaha veda bakhānā॥
Who in the world can know Sharada's glory? The Vedas themselves describe her only as "not this, not this."
- Chaupai 38
सत्-सत् नमन शारदा तोरा।कृपा दृष्टि कीजै मम ओरा॥
sat-sat namana śāradā torā।kṛpā dṛṣṭi kījai mama orā॥
Repeated homage to you, O Sharada — cast your gracious gaze in my direction.
- Chaupai 39
जो जन सेवा करहिं तुम्हारी।तिन कहँ कतहुँ नाहि दुःखभारी॥
jo jana sevā karahiṃ tumhārī।tina kahã katahũ nāhi duḥkhabhārī॥
Those who render service to you never bear the burden of sorrow, anywhere.
- Chaupai 40
जो यह पाठ करै चालीसा।मातु शारदा देहुँ आशीषा॥
jo yaha pāṭha kare cālīsā।mātu śāradā dehũ āśīṣā॥
Whoever recites this Chalisa — Mother Sharada, grant them your blessing.
- Closing dohas
- Doha (closing) 1
बन्दउँ शारद चरण रज, भक्ति ज्ञान मोहि देहुँ।सकल अविद्या दूर कर, सदा बसहु उरगेहुँ॥
bandaũ śārada caraṇa raja, bhakti jñāna mohi dehũ।sakala avidyā dūra kara, sadā basahu uragehũ॥
I bow to the dust of Sharada's feet — grant me devotion and knowledge. Remove all ignorance, and dwell always within my heart.
- Doha (closing) 2
जय-जय माई शारदा, मैहर तेरौ धाम।शरण मातु मोहिं लीजिए, तोहि भजहुँ निष्काम॥
jaya-jaya māī śāradā, maihara terau dhāma।śaraṇa mātu mohiṃ lījie, tohi bhajahũ niṣkāma॥
Victory, victory to Mother Sharada, whose abode is Maihar — take me, O Mother, into your refuge; I worship you without desire.
Overview
The Sharda Mata Chalisa is a Hindi devotional composition of forty chaupai verses, framed by an opening doha and two closing dohas, in praise of Sharda (also spelled Sharada) as she is worshipped at her temple atop Trikuta hill in Maihar, Madhya Pradesh. The verses describe her four-armed form, her hamsa (swan) mount, and her attributes of veena, book, and the gesture of fearlessness, then recount her association with Durga’s defeat of Mahishasura, Chanda-Munda, and Raktabija, before closing with a request for devotion and knowledge and a benefit said to come from reciting it with attention.
Origin and source
As with many chalisas, the Sharda Mata Chalisa’s authorship is not securely established in the available literature; it circulates as a traditional composition rather than one attributed with confidence to a named poet. The text itself places Sharda’s manifestation at Maihar at an estimated two thousand years before its composition (chaupai 3) — a devotional reckoning offered within the verses themselves, not a historical claim this page is able to verify independently.
The Maihar temple’s own tradition holds that the site was discovered by the legendary warrior-brothers Alha and Udal, and that Alha’s twelve years of austerity there won him the goddess’s blessing; some accounts describe Alha addressing her as “Sharda Mai,” a name said to have stayed attached to the temple. Some devotional sources also count Maihar among the Shakti Peethas, holding that a fallen part of Sati’s form or ornament — an association with the name Maihar, “mother’s necklace” — landed here; this belongs to the same body of temple legend rather than to the classical, most widely cited Shakti Peetha lists, and this page treats it as regional tradition rather than settled fact.
Sharda is often treated by devotees, and by some publishers of this chalisa, as a form of Saraswati, goddess of learning and the arts, and this chalisa’s own imagery — the veena, the book, the hamsa mount, and her description as “daughter of Brahma” (chaupai 10) — closely follows Saraswati’s standard iconography. The verses themselves, however, praise her throughout by the name Sharada and never invoke the name Saraswati directly, so this page notes the association as a widely held devotional identification rather than something the chalisa’s own text states outright.
How it is recited
The Sharda Mata Chalisa is recited daily by many devotees at the Sharda Devi temple in Maihar, reached by a long flight of steps up Trikuta hill, and it is also read at home by devotees elsewhere who hold Sharda in particular regard. It is especially prominent during Navratri, when the temple draws large numbers of pilgrims and the chalisa is recited alongside other worship offered to the Goddess across her nine nights.
Frequently asked questions
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Sourcing
Checked against independent sources before publishing — see our sourcing and editorial policy. Spotted an error? Report an issue .
