Sharda Mata Chalisa

Self-born Sharda’s idol, enshrined at Maihar.

Bearing garland and book, veena adorned in hand.

Hail, hail, hail Sharda queen; primal power, world’s bliss.

Four-armed-formed Mother, famed through three worlds.

Some two thousand years ago, Sharda appeared, the world knows.

Maihar town, world-famed, where sits Sharda, world’s mother.

Trikuta hill is Sharda’s home; Maihar town supremely radiant.

Autumn-moon-like your face; four-armed form most lovely.

Pure radiance like crores of suns; royal swan your mount.

Dangling ear-rings adorn; chest-jewel and brow look matchless.

Veena, book, fearlessness-bearing; world’s mother wandering the world.

Brahma’s daughter, whole, peerless; gods and kings sing Sharda’s virtues.

Hari-Hara salute Sharda; Varuna-Kubera felicitate.

In Sharda’s form Chandi incarnated, destroying Chanda-Munda demons.

Bhavani slew Mahisha-demon, becoming Durga, blissful Sharda.

Taking form, Sharda became Chandi, beheading Raktabija in battle.

Tulsi, Sur and other scholars ever sang Sharda’s fair fame.

Kalidasa grew most famed — by your mercy, Mother Sharda.

Valmiki, Narada, sages, gods serve Sharda again and again.

Grant feet-refuge, O world-mother; Sharda’s maya pervades all worlds.

In atoms and molecules Sharda dwells, supremely potent, supremely radiant.

O Sharda, you are Brahman’s form; Shiva, Brahma, men, kings worship you.

Brahman and Shakti have no divide; Vedas sing Sharda’s virtues.

Hail world-saluted, universe-formed; formless-and-formed is Sharda’s form.

Remember Sharda’s unbroken name; fierce Kaliyuga cannot touch you.

Sun, moon, sky, stars — all shine by Sharda’s grace.

Maker of birth, stay, dissolution; I salute Sharda, world’s ferrier.

All woe and want perish by your grace, Mother Sharda.

Supremely pure, world’s support; Mother Sharda, yours is wisdom.

Learning and wit, joy-giving, are gained; hail, hail, hail Sharda Bhavani.

Whoever worships Sharada surely crosses existence’s ocean.

By Sharda’s grace pure wisdom comes, blessing in every way.

The world’s objects give great sorrow; worshipping Sharda, find deep joy.

Supreme light is yours, Sharda; grant me your divine ray.

Whoever remembers Mother Sharda finds the heart rapt in bliss.

Chanting, meditating, the heart grows calm; worshipping Sharda brings wisdom.

Composed is Sharda’s hymn; reciting ends existence’s rounds.

Bowing truly, reading with attention, Mother Sharda blesses.

The world knows Sharda’s glory, which Vedas call “not this, not this.”

True salutations to you, Sharda; cast your gracious glance my way.

Whoever serves you knows no heavy sorrow anywhere.

Whoever recites this Chalisa — Mother Sharda, grant them blessing.

I salute Sharda’s foot-dust; grant me devotion and wisdom. Ending all ignorance, ever dwell in my heart’s home.