Shri Hanuman Chalisa - A Powerful Prayer

Hanuman Chalisa is a devotional song based on Lord Hanuman as the model devotee. It is a poem written by Tulsidas in the Awadhi language, and is his best known Hindu text apart from the Ramcharitmanas. The word "chalisa" is derived from "chalis" in Hindi, which means 40, as the Hanuman Chalisa has 40 verses. Hanuman (also known as Anjaneya and Maruti) is a Hindu deity and an ardent devotee of Lord Rama, a central character in the Sanskrit epic Ramayana.

Tulsi Das went to meet the then Emperor Akbar in Delhi after having had a darshan or vision of God Sri Rama in Gokul, the birth place of God Shri Krishna. The Emperor challenged Tulsi Das to show Shri Rama to him. When Tulsi Das replied that it was not possible without true devotion to Rama, he was imprisoned. In the prison, Tulsi Das wrote the beautiful verses of the Hanuman Chalisa on Sri Hanuman.

When he completed the Hanuman Chalisa in prison, an army of monkeys menaced the city of Delhi. The Emperor unsuccessfully tried to control the monkeys with his forces. Finally, the Emperor realised that the monkey menace was a manifestation of the wrath of Hanuman, the Monkey God. He released Tulsi Das and the monkeys stopped their mischiefs immediately after Tulsi's release.

Tulsi Das says in the Chalisa that whoever chants it with full devotion to Hanuman, will have Hanuman's grace.

Significance of Shri Hanuman Chalisa: The Hanuman Chalisa teaches us how we can purify our lives and be successful in all our efforts.

1. The very first secret of success is "Bowing to the teacher - showing respect to the teacher". Hanumanji before embarking on his treacherous journey in the quest of Sita devi, bows to Shri Ram, his Gurus and elders.
2. It is always important that all of us should try and get the love of all the people who are smaller than us, the best wishes of all those equal to us and the blessing of all those superior to us. In doing this, the poison of ego is removed from our hearts.
3. The Guru's feet are compared to a saroj or lotus not because its is soft or pinky pinky like a lotus!. A lotus is that flower which is born in dirty water and yet it beautifies the water by its very presence. Guru is established in truth and so, his feet can take us to this truth.
4. True knowledge is one which gives us humility, which then gives all other virtues. Wealth and righteousness and ultimate happiness all follow when knowledge and humility are present together