Hanuman Chalisa -Preface

Hanuman Chalisa

       

The Hanuman chalisa(From chalis in Hindi meaning forty) written by Saint Goswami Tulasidasa in the 17th century CE in Avadhi language ( a dialect of Hindi) consists of forty stanzas called Chaupais ( a kind of metre) glorifying Hanuman's strength,valour,devotion and service to Shri Rama.It is written in a simple style which all can follow and understand.

The poet prefixes these stanzas with two verses known as Dohas(a kind of metre) one glorifying Shri Rama ,the Lord and the second with Hanuman. At the end of forty stanzas there is a verse( Doha) praying for the grace of Hanuman to make the poet,s heart, a residence for Rama,Sita and Lakshmana.

The Hanuman chalisa is a cherished sacred book, very popular and is in daily pious reading by our people,learned or otherwise.Basic reverence for it permeates the entire country as its reading and reading confers not only tranquility of mind but also frees one from mental fears,agony, diseases and confers all the blessings of life including salvation.Hanuman is always depicted as all-powerful and a life saver.He had saved the lives of Sita, Lakshmana and Bharata as depicted in the Ramayana.He is also the gateway to the devotion of Rama resulting in self realization.It is a time-tested truth.So Hanuman chalisa is a continuous living source of inspiration to the Hindu community.

This is my humble attempt to present the 'Hanuman chalisa' to the general public.Hence the English rendering of the verses(without diacritical mark) is given with explanation.Nothing can be a substitute to reading the Chalisa in the original.So the verses in its original Avadhi language are provided at the end for correct pronounciation.

The structure followed in presenting the detailed commentary is, the doha or chalisa is given in English Transliteration at the top followed by free translation in English in italics. the commentary that follows at places seems to repeat what has been given the 'Introduction'. This is intentional with a view to add lucidity and completeness in the context instead of reference back and forth. Further this work is mainly aimed at younger generation trying to grasp the Hindu culture and literature to whom such repetition will help assimilating the essence in full.

The chalisa makes everybody  love it and revere it and if that love and reverence have resulted in some fairly acceptable account of the work I feel blessed.

                                         Dr.Mrs. Lalita Kuppuswamy