Balaji Chalisa – Lyrics, Meaning & Benefits | Salasar Mehandipur Balaji

Balaji as the divine protector of the afflicted

The Balaji Chalisa is a devotional hymn addressed to the fierce yet compassionate form of Hanuman venerated most powerfully at the twin shrines of Salasar in Rajasthan and Mehandipur in the Alwar district. This form of Hanuman is particularly associated with the relief of those suffering from malefic planetary influences and spiritual disturbances, and devotees travel from across northern India to seek his protection. The Chalisa distils forty concentrated verses of supplication and praise, moving through Balaji's attributes - his boundless strength, his unwavering loyalty to Shri Ram, and his grace toward the sorrowful - in a rhythm that itself becomes a form of mental steadying for the one who recites it.

Devotees traditionally recite the Balaji Chalisa on Tuesdays and Saturdays, days considered especially auspicious for Hanuman worship, and it is a common practice to complete recitations in multiples - eleven, twenty-one, or one hundred and eight - as part of a sankalpa for removing obstacles. In the Jyotish tradition, Hanuman is the presiding deity invoked to pacify Mangal (Mars) and Shani (Saturn) when these planets create difficulty in a chart; the Salasar and Mehandipur forms of Balaji are particularly called upon during Shani's Sade Sati and Dhaiya periods. The Chalisa thus serves both as a pure act of bhakti and as a practical sadhana tool within the living Jyotish tradition of India.

Balaji Chalisa Lyrics (हिंदी में)

॥ दोहा ॥
श्री गुरु चरण चितलाय, के धरें ध्यान हनुमान ।
बालाजी चालीसा लिखे, दास स्नेही कल्याण ॥
विश्व विदित वर दानी, संकट हरण हनुमान ।
मैंहदीपुर में प्रगट भये, बालाजी भगवान ॥

॥ चौपाई ॥
जय हनुमान बालाजी देवा । प्रगट भये यहां तीनों देवा ॥१॥
प्रेतराज भैरव बलवाना । कोतवाल कप्तानी हनुमाना ॥२॥

मैंहदीपुर अवतार लिया है । भक्तों का उध्दार किया है ॥३॥
बालरूप प्रगटे हैं यहां पर । संकट वाले आते जहाँ पर ॥४॥

डाकनि शाकनि अरु जिन्दनीं । मशान चुड़ैल भूत भूतनीं ॥५॥
जाके भय ते सब भाग जाते । स्याने भोपे यहाँ घबराते ॥६॥

चौकी बन्धन सब कट जाते । दूत मिले आनन्द मनाते ॥७॥
सच्चा है दरबार तिहारा । शरण पड़े सुख पावे भारा ॥८॥

रूप तेज बल अतुलित धामा । सन्मुख जिनके सिय रामा ॥९॥
कनक मुकुट मणि तेज प्रकाशा । सबकी होवत पूर्ण आशा ॥१०॥

महन्त गणेशपुरी गुणीले । भये सुसेवक राम रंगीले ॥११॥
अद्भुत कला दिखाई कैसी । कलयुग ज्योति जलाई जैसी ॥१२॥

ऊँची ध्वजा पताका नभ में । स्वर्ण कलश हैं उन्नत जग में ॥१३॥
धर्म सत्य का डंका बाजे । सियाराम जय शंकर राजे ॥१४॥

आन फिराया मुगदर घोटा । भूत जिन्द पर पड़ते सोटा ॥१५॥
राम लक्ष्मन सिय हृदय कल्याणा । बाल रूप प्रगटे हनुमाना ॥१६॥

जय हनुमन्त हठीले देवा । पुरी परिवार करत हैं सेवा ॥१७॥
लड्डू चूरमा मिश्री मेवा । अर्जी दरखास्त लगाऊ देवा ॥१८॥

दया करे सब विधि बालाजी । संकट हरण प्रगटे बालाजी ॥१९॥
जय बाबा की जन जन ऊचारे । कोटिक जन तेरे आये द्वारे ॥२०॥

बाल समय रवि भक्षहि लीन्हा । तिमिर मय जग कीन्हो तीन्हा ॥२१॥
देवन विनती की अति भारी । छाँड़ दियो रवि कष्ट निहारी ॥२२॥

लांघि उदधि सिया सुधि लाये । लक्ष्मन हित संजीवन लाये ॥२३॥
रामानुज प्राण दिवाकर । शंकर सुवन माँ अंजनी चाकर ॥२४॥

केशरी नन्दन दुख भव भंजन । रामानन्द सदा सुख सन्दन ॥२५॥
सिया राम के प्राण पियारे । जब बाबा की भक्त ऊचारे ॥२६॥

संकट दुख भंजन भगवाना । दया करहु हे कृपा निधाना ॥२७॥
सुमर बाल रूप कल्याणा । करे मनोरथ पूर्ण कामा ॥२८॥

अष्ट सिद्धि नव निधि दातारी । भक्त जन आवे बहु भारी ॥२९॥
मेवा अरु मिष्ठान प्रवीना । भैंट चढ़ावें धनि अरु दीना ॥३०॥

नृत्य करे नित न्यारे न्यारे । रिद्धि सिद्धियां जाके द्वारे ॥३१॥
अर्जी का आदेश मिलते ही । भैरव भूत पकड़ते तबही ॥३२॥

कोतवाल कप्तान कृपाणी । प्रेतराज संकट कल्याणी ॥३३॥
चौकी बन्धन कटते भाई । जो जन करते हैं सेवकाई ॥३४॥

रामदास बाल भगवन्ता । मैंहदीपुर प्रगटे हनुमन्ता ॥३५॥
जो जन बालाजी में आते । जन्म जन्म के पाप नशाते ॥३६॥

जल पावन लेकर घर जाते । निर्मल हो आनन्द मनाते ॥३७॥
क्रूर कठिन संकट भग जावे । सत्य धर्म पथ राह दिखावे ॥३८॥

जो सत पाठ करे चालीसा । तापर प्रसन्न होय बागीसा ॥३९॥
कल्याण स्नेही, स्नेह से गावे । सुख समृद्धि रिद्धि सिद्धि पावे ॥४०॥

॥ दोहा ॥
मन्द बुद्धि मम जानके, क्षमा करो गुणखान ।
संकट मोचन क्षमहु मम, दास स्नेही कल्याण ॥

Balaji Chalisa – Transliteration (English)

|| Doha ||
Shri Guru charan chitalay, ke dharen dhyan Hanuman,
Balaji Chalisa likhe, das Snehi Kalyan.
Vishva vidit var daani, sankat haran Hanuman,
Mainhadipur mein pragat bhaye, Balaji Bhagwan.

|| Chaupai ||
Jay Hanuman Balaji Deva, pragat bhaye yahan teenon deva. (1)
Pretraj Bhairav balvana, Kotwal kaptani Hanumana. (2)

Mainhadipur avatar liya hai, bhakton ka uddhaar kiya hai. (3)
Balroop pragate hain yahan par, sankat vale aate jahan par. (4)

Dakni shakni aru jindnin, mashan chudail bhoot bhootanin. (5)
Jaake bhay te sab bhaag jaate, syane bhope yahan ghabraate. (6)

Chaukey bandhan sab kat jaate, doot mile aanand manaate. (7)
Sachcha hai darbar tihara, sharan pade sukh paave bhara. (8)

Roop tej bal atoolit dhama, sanmukh jinke Siya Rama. (9)
Kanak mukut mani tej prakasha, sabki hovat poorn aasha. (10)

Mahant Ganeshpuri gunile, bhaye susevak Ram rangile. (11)
Adbhut kala dikhai kaise, Kalyug jyoti jalai jaise. (12)

Oonchi dhvaja pataka nabh mein, svarn kalash hain unnat jag mein. (13)
Dharm satya ka danka baaje, Siyaram jay Shankar raaje. (14)

An phiraayo mugdar ghota, bhoot jind par padte sota. (15)
Ram Lakshman Siy hriday kalyana, bal roop pragate Hanumana. (16)

Jay Hanumanth hathile deva, puri parivar karat hain seva. (17)
Laddu churma mishri meva, arji darkhast lagaun deva. (18)

Daya kare sab vidhi Balaji, sankat haran pragate Balaji. (19)
Jay Baba ki jan jan uchare, kotik jan tere aaye dvare. (20)

Bal samay ravi bhakshahin linha, timir may jag kinon tinha. (21)
Devan vinati ki ati bhari, chhand diyo ravi kasht nihaari. (22)

Laanghi udadhi Siya sudhi laaye, Lakshman hit sanjeevani laaye. (23)
Ramanuj praan divakar, Shankar suvan maan Anjani chaakar. (24)

Keshari nandan dukh bhav bhanjan, Ramanand sada sukh sandan. (25)
Siya Ram ke praan piyaare, jab Baba ki bhakt uchare. (26)

Sankat dukh bhanjan Bhagvana, daya karahu he kripa nidhana. (27)
Sumar bal roop kalyana, kare manorath poorn kama. (28)

Asht siddhi nav nidhi dataari, bhakt jan aave bahu bhaari. (29)
Meva aru mishthan pravina, bhaint chadhaaven dhani aru dina. (30)

Nritya kare nit nyaare nyaare, riddhi siddhiyaan jaake dvaare. (31)
Arji ka aadesh milate hi, Bhairav bhoot pakdate tabahi. (32)

Kotwal kaptan kripani, Pretraj sankat kalyani. (33)
Chaukey bandhan katte bhai, jo jan karte hain sevakai. (34)

Ramdas bal Bhagvanta, Mainhadipur pragate Hanumanta. (35)
Jo jan Balaji mein aate, janam janam ke paap nashaate. (36)

Jal paavan lekar ghar jaate, nirmal ho aanand manaate. (37)
Kroor kathin sankat bhag jaave, satya dharm path raah dikhaave. (38)

Jo sat path kare chalisa, tapar prasann hoy Baagisa. (39)
Kalyan Snehi, sneh se gaave, sukh samriddhi riddhi siddhi paave. (40)

|| Doha ||
Mand buddhi mam jaanake, kshama karo gunakhan,
Sankat mochan kshamahu mam, das Snehi Kalyan.

Meaning & Significance

The Balaji Chalisa is a forty-verse devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Balaji, the form of Hanuman who manifested at Mehandipur in Rajasthan and at Salasar in Rajasthan. The opening doha establishes the context - the chalisa is composed in meditation at the feet of the guru and offered to the world-famous remover-of-calamities (sankat haran) Hanuman as he appeared at Mehandipur. The forty chaupais celebrate both the cosmic and local dimensions of this deity: Balaji at Mehandipur manifested as a child (bala = child), and his darbar includes three presiding powers - Balaji himself, Bhairav (called Pretraj, king of spirits), and Kotwal (a protective officer form). The chalisa is frank about what Mehandipur Balaji is particularly known for: driving away malevolent forces - the dakini, shakini, ghosts, and spirits that cause unexplained suffering. Devotees come with "arji darkhast" (petitions and requests), which are formally heard in the divine court. The chalisa also draws on the broader Hanuman tradition: his swallowing of the sun in childhood, his leap across the ocean to find Sita, his bringing of the sanjeevani herb - connecting the specific Balaji form to the ancient Valmiki Ramayana narrative.

About Balaji (Salasar and Mehandipur)

The name Balaji is applied to two of the most celebrated Hanuman shrines in Rajasthan, each with a distinct character. Mehandipur Balaji, located in Dausa district on the Jaipur–Agra highway, is famed as a place of liberation from negative spiritual forces; thousands of devotees visit to seek relief from conditions attributed to ghost possession, evil eye, or black magic. The temple hosts three deities - Balaji (Hanuman), Pretraj Sarkar (Bhairav), and Kotwal (a protective divine officer) - who together form a spiritual court of justice. The self-manifested idol was discovered by a local priest who heard the deity's instruction in a dream. Salasar Balaji, located in Churu district of Rajasthan, is another major Hanuman shrine where the idol is believed to have been found in a field and installed at divine direction. Salasar Balaji is venerated for fulfilling devotees' heartfelt wishes and for his role as a remover of obstacles in life's practical concerns. Both temples attract millions of pilgrims each year, particularly on Hanuman Jayanti, Saturdays, and Tuesdays. Balaji in both contexts represents Hanuman's most direct, immediate, and powerfully protective aspect - a deity who intervenes visibly in worldly affairs on behalf of those who call upon him.

Benefits of Reciting the Balaji Chalisa

• Devotees recite the Balaji Chalisa to seek protection from negative energies, malevolent influences, and unexplained physical or psychological suffering.
• The chalisa is held to remove the binding effects of black magic, evil eye (nazar), and other spiritually hostile conditions.
• Regular recitation is said to cut through cycles of misfortune and bring steadiness, protection, and divine support into daily life.
• Devotees visiting Mehandipur or Salasar Balaji recite the chalisa before and during their pilgrimage as a way of formally presenting their petitions to the divine court.
• The chalisa invokes all eight siddhis (supernatural attainments) and nine nidhis (treasures) that Hanuman is empowered to grant, making it a comprehensive prayer for spiritual and material wellbeing.
• Chanting the chalisa one hundred times with devotion is said by the text to bring the grace of the lord and alleviate deep suffering.

How to Recite (Vidhi)

1. Bathe and put on clean clothes; visit a Hanuman or Balaji temple if possible, or set up a clean altar at home with an image of Mehandipur Balaji or Salasar Balaji.
2. Light a sesame oil or mustard oil lamp (this oil is traditionally used in Hanuman worship) and offer red flowers and betel leaves.
3. Begin with a sincere invocation: "Jai Balaji Maharaj! Jai Mehandipur Balaji!" and bow three times before beginning the doha.
4. Recite the chalisa slowly and with focused devotion; if reciting for a specific purpose, state it mentally before beginning as your arji (petition) to the deity.
5. Observe a Tuesday or Saturday fast if reciting for protection or relief from distress, as these days are considered most potent for Hanuman worship.
6. Conclude by circling the lamp (aarti) seven times and offering prasad such as besan laddoo or churma - the traditional offerings of the Balaji shrines.

Best Day & Time to Recite

Tuesday (Mangalvar) and Saturday (Shanivar) are the two most auspicious days for Hanuman and Balaji worship. Saturday carries special potency at Mehandipur and Salasar, as vast numbers of devotees make the pilgrimage on this day. Early morning - particularly during the Brahma muhurta - is the ideal time, and the evening aarti hour at sunset is also considered highly auspicious. Hanuman Jayanti, celebrated on the full moon of Chaitra, is the single most important day for Balaji devotion. During Navratri, the eight or nine days of divine energy amplification add particular intensity to Balaji recitation, as Hanuman's power is understood to be at its peak during periods of heightened cosmic energy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Salasar Balaji and Mehandipur Balaji?

Both are Hanuman shrines in Rajasthan with self-manifested (svayambhu) idols and deep pilgrimage traditions. Mehandipur Balaji is particularly renowned for the healing of conditions attributed to spiritual possession and malevolent forces - its darbar model includes divine officers Bhairav and Kotwal. Salasar Balaji is celebrated more broadly as a wish-fulfilling deity who responds compassionately to devotees' life petitions for health, prosperity, and success. Both temples draw millions of pilgrims annually and are among Rajasthan's most visited shrines.

Can someone who is not experiencing spiritual distress recite the Balaji Chalisa?

Absolutely. The Balaji Chalisa is a devotional hymn to Lord Hanuman in his Balaji form, and it is recited by countless devotees simply as a daily act of love and reverence. While the chalisa is particularly associated with seeking relief from difficult circumstances, it is equally a celebration of Hanuman's universal grace, strength, and devotion to Rama - qualities that any devotee can meditate upon with benefit regardless of their current circumstances.

What is the "arji" (petition) system at Mehandipur Balaji?

The arji (petition) system is a distinctive feature of the Mehandipur Balaji temple complex. Devotees write their name, address, and the nature of their difficulty on a piece of paper and present it formally in the divine court - symbolically petitioning Balaji, Pretraj, and Kotwal to hear their case and grant relief. The practice treats the temple as a cosmic court of justice where the divine officers hear petitions and deliver verdicts through the medium of the priests. The Balaji Chalisa's reference to "arji darkhast" directly reflects this tradition.