Gorakh Chalisa

Girija’s son Ganapati I remember again and again.

Palms joined I entreat, grounded in Sharada’s name.

Hail, hail, imperishable Gorakhnath; show mercy, radiant divine teacher.

Hail, hail, hail, wise-virtued Gorakh, wish-formed boon-giving yogi.

Alakh Niranjan is your name; ever work devotees’ good.

Whoever sings your name sees births’ sorrows end.

Wherever Gorakh’s name resounds, ghosts draw not near.

Your wisdom comes through yoga; your form none can behold.

Formless, liberated are you; even Vedas know not your glory.

Inner-knower of every heart; eighty-four siddhas salute you.

Ash-smeared limbs, horn(?) at neck; matted crown most fair.

No god besides you; gods, sages, men worship you.

Bliss-consciousness, saints’ benefactor; blessing, mercy, ills’ ender.

Perfect Brahman dwelling in all hearts; Gorakhnath, all-illumining.

Whoever meditates “Gorakh, Gorakh” beholds Brahman’s form.

In Shankar’s form your drum sounds; fair earrings adorn your ears.

Eternal bliss is your name; slaying demons, guarding devotees.

Most vast is your form; gods, men, sages find no end.

Friend of the lowly, doer of their good; end our sins — we shelter in you.

Shine forth in yoga’s method; ever dwell in saints’ bodies.

Taking your name at dawn grows siddhis and spreads yoga.

Stubborn, stubborn Goraksha; strike, strike the foes’ nails(?).

March, march, dread Gorakh; slay foes, leave them wretched.

Hail, hail, hail, imperishable Gorakh; end your people’s eighty-four (rebirths).

Unmoved, unfathomed is Gorakh the yogi; grant siddhis, end sensual craving.

Cut Yama’s path, come to me; without you, who aids me?

Ageless, deathless is your body; Sanaka and the rest join in love.

Your radiance equals crores of suns, famed world-illuming.

Yogis behold your maya, meditating on Parabrahman.

Whoever holds your attention gains eight siddhis, nine treasures at home.

Shiva-Gorakh is your name, delivering sinful, wicked, lowly.

Unreached, unseen, fearless Lord; ever stay with saints.

In Shankar’s form is your avatar, delivering Gopichand-Bharthari.

Hear, Lord, my plea, ocean of mercy, celibate yogi.

Fulfil your servant’s hopes; knowing me your servant, grant wisdom.

Purifier of fallen, support of lowly — for them you incarnate.

Alakh Niranjan is your name, whose yoga spread the pathless path.

Hail, hail, hail, Lord Gorakh; ever bless devotees.

Hail, hail, hail, imperishable Gorakh, served by eighty-four siddhas.

Whoever reads this Gorakh Chalisa finds fulfilment, the Lord bearing witness.

Palms joined in meditation, offering gifts with faith.

Whoever recites twelve readings daily sees wishes fulfilled.

Hearing and reciting with love, worshipping with your own hands — Gorakhnath fulfils every heart-wished desire. Inaccessible, unseen Lord, Parabrahman’s avatar; earrings, matted crown, body smeared with boundless ash.