Krishna Das travelled to India in the 1960s where, along with Ram Dass, he studied with a Hindu guru named Neem Karoli Baba. Krishna Das has studied Buddhist meditation practices and is now devoted to singing and teaching. He has released several CDs, and he travels around the world giving performances and teaching, sometimes with Ram Dass.
Krishna Das is perhaps the best known American singer of Indian kirtan-style devotional music. Similar artists include Bhagavan Das, Jai Uttal, Wah, Deva Premal, and Snatam Kaur Khalsa.
The chanting of Krishna Das consists of:
- chanting with musical accompaniment;
- meditation instruction;
- readings from different spiritual traditions;
- teachings and discussions about the spiritual path.
In the winter of 1968, Krishna Das met Ram Dass, who had recently returned from his first trip to India. After living and travelling with Ram Dass in the U.S., and hearing Ram Dass' many stories about Maharaj-ji, Krishna Das travelled to India, where he met and stayed with the guru.
While living in India for almost three years, Krishna Das was drawn to the practice of Bhakti Yoga and the practice of kirtan—chanting the Names of God. As an appointed pujari (priest) for the Durga temple in Maharaj-ji's ashram in the foothills of the Himalayas, Krishna Das immersed himself in the worship of the Divine Goddess.
Krishna Das spent as much time as possible with Maharaj-ji over the years in India. However, in early in 1973, he was asked by Maharaj-ji to return to America.
Hallelujah Chalisa
Krishna Das Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Varnao raghuvar vimal jasu jo daayaku phal chaari
Budhi hin tanu janike sumirau pavan kumaram
Bal budhi vidya dehu mohe harahu kalesavikaar
Jai hanuman gyan gun saagar
Jai kapis tihun lok ujaagar
Ram doot atulit bal dhaama
Mahavir vikram bajrangi
Kumati nivaar sumati ke sangi
Kanchan varan viraaj subesa
Kaanan kundal kunchit kesaa
Haath vajra aur dhuvaje viraaje
Kandhe moonj janehu saaje
Shankar suvan kesri nandan
Tej prataap maha jag vandan
Vidyavaan guni ati chaatur
Raam kaaj karibe ko aatur
Prabhu charitra sunibe ko rasiya
Raam lakhan sita man basiya
Sukshma roop dhari siyahi dikhaava
Vikat roop dhari lanka jalaava
Bhima roop dhari asur sanghaare
Ramachandra ke kaaj sanvaare
Laaye sanjivan lakhan jiyaaye
Shri raghuvir harashi ur laaye
Raghupati kinhi bahut badhaayi
Tum mam priye bharat-hi sam bhaai
Sahas badan tumharo yash gaave
As kahi shripati kanth lagaave
Sankadik brahmadi muneesa
Naarad saarad sahit aheesa
Yam kuber digpal jahan te
Kavi kovid kahi sake kahan te
Tum upkaar sugreevahin keenha
Ram milaay rajpad deenha
Tumharo mantra vibheeshan maana
Lankeshwar bhay sub jag jaana
Yug sahastra jo jan par bhaanu
Leelyo tahi madhur phal jaanu
Prabhu mudrika meli mukh maahee
Jaladhi langhi gaye achraj naahee
Durgaam kaaj jagat ke jete
Sugam anugraha tumhre tete
Ram dware tum rakhvaare
Hoat na agya binu paisare
Sub sukh lahai tumhari sarna
Tum rakshak kaahu ko darna
Aapan tej samhaaro aapai
Teenhon lok haank te kanpai
Bhoot pisaach nikat nahin aavai
Mahaavir jab naam sunavai
Naase rog harai sab peera
Japat nirantar hanumant beera
Sankat se hanuman chudavai
Mann karam vachan dyan jo lavai
Sab par raam tapasvee raaja
Tinke kaaj sakal tum saaja
Aur manorath jo koi lavai
Sohi amit jeevan phal pavai
Charon yug partap tumhaara
Hai persidh jagat ujiyaara
Saadhu sant ke tum rakhwaare
Asur nikandan ram dulhaare
Ashta sidhi nav nidhi ke dhaata
Us var deen janki maata
Raam rasaayan tumhare paasa
Sada raho raghupati ke daasa
Tumhare bhajan raam ko pavai
Janam janam ke dukh bisravai
Anth kaal raghuvir pur jayee
Jahaan janam hari-bakht kahayee
Aur devta chit na dharehi
Hanumanth se hi sarve sukh karehi
Sankat kate mite sab peera
Jo sumirai hanumat balbeera
Jai jai jai hanuman gosahin
Kripa karahu gurudev ki nyahin
Jo sat baar paath kare koyi
Chutehi bandhi maha sukh hoyi
Jo yah padhe hanuman chalisa
Hoye siddhi sakhi gaureesa
Tulsidaas sada hari chera
Keejai das hrdaye mein dera
Pavantnayi sankat harana mangal murti roopa
Ram lakhan sita sahita hrdaye basahu sur bhoopa
The lyrics of Hallelujah Chalisa by Krishna Das are rooted in Hindu mythology and praise the Hindu deities. The beginning lyrics, "Shri guru charan saroj raj nij mane mukure sudhaari," are sung to honor the guru or spiritual teacher that tames the mind's impurities. The lyrics that follow venerate Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, and his devotees, including Hanuman.
"Jai hanuman gyan gun saagar," describes Hanuman, a Hindu deity known for his unwavering devotion to Rama. Hanuman is revered for his immense physical and mental strength.
The lyrics also provide descriptions of other Hindu deities, such as "Shankar suvan kesri nandan," a reference to Lord Hanuman's father, King Kesari. The lyrics also refer to Vibhishana, the brother of the demon king Ravana, whom Lord Rama befriended during his exile.
Overall, the lyrics of Hallelujah Chalisa celebrate devotion to Hindu deities and honor their stories and virtues.
Line by Line Meaning
Shri guru charan saroj raj nij mane mukure sudhaari
With the dust of my guru's lotus feet, I cleanse the mirror of my heart
Varnao raghuvar vimal jasu jo daayaku phal chaari
Describing the pure glory of the Raghu dynasty, who bestows four types of fruits
Budhi hin tanu janike sumirau pavan kumaram
Knowing my body and intellect to be weak, I invoke the remembrance of Hanuman
Bal budhi vidya dehu mohe harahu kalesavikaar
Bestow strength, intelligence, and knowledge upon me, and remove all my impurities
Jai hanuman gyan gun saagar
Victory to Hanuman, the ocean of wisdom and virtues
Jai kapis tihun lok ujaagar
Victory to the monkey chief who illuminates the three worlds
Ram doot atulit bal dhaama
Hanuman, the messenger of Lord Rama, possesses incomparable strength
Anjani-putra pavan sut naama
The son of Anjana, known as the wind-god's beloved
Mahavir vikram bajrangi
The great hero and mighty valiant, Bajrangbali
Kumati nivaar sumati ke sangi
Dispeller of ignorance and companion of good intellect
Kanchan varan viraaj subesa
Adorned in golden attire, shining and radiant
Kaanan kundal kunchit kesaa
With beautiful earrings and curly hair
Haath vajra aur dhuvaje viraaje
In his hands, he holds a thunderbolt and a flag of victory
Kandhe moonj janehu saaje
With the sacred thread of munja grass on his shoulder
Shankar suvan kesri nandan
The son of Kesari and the beloved of Lord Shiva
Tej prataap maha jag vandan
Radiating immense power and revered by the whole world
Vidyavaan guni ati chaatur
Endowed with knowledge, virtues, and great intelligence
Raam kaaj karibe ko aatur
Eager to fulfill the tasks of Lord Rama
Prabhu charitra sunibe ko rasiya
Enchanted by listening to the divine stories of Lord Rama
Raam lakhan sita man basiya
Residing in the hearts of Lord Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita
Sukshma roop dhari siyahi dikhaava
Assuming a subtle form, he showed himself to Sita
Vikat roop dhari lanka jalaava
Taking a monstrous form, he set Lanka on fire
Bhima roop dhari asur sanghaare
Assuming a mighty form, he defeated the army of demons
Ramachandra ke kaaj sanvaare
He accomplished the tasks of Lord Ramachandra
Laaye sanjivan lakhan jiyaaye
Bringing the life-giving herb, he revived Lakshmana
Shri raghuvir harashi ur laaye
Lord Rama joyfully embraced him in his heart
Raghupati kinhi bahut badhaayi
Lord Rama bestowed many blessings upon him
Tum mam priye bharat-hi sam bhaai
You are as dear to me as my own brother, Bharata
Sahas badan tumharo yash gaave
Countless beings sing your praises
As kahi shripati kanth lagaave
Saying this, Lord Rama embraced him by the neck
Sankadik brahmadi muneesa
Celestial beings, sages, and gods like Brahma
Naarad saarad sahit aheesa
Narada, Saraswati, and Indra accompanied by sages
Yam kuber digpal jahan te
Yama, Kubera, and the guardians of the directions
Kavi kovid kahi sake kahan te
Even the greatest poets and scholars cannot describe your glory
Tum upkaar sugreevahin keenha
You did a great favor for Sugriva
Ram milaay rajpad deenha
You united Lord Rama with the throne and gave him happiness
Tumharo mantra vibheeshan maana
Vibhishana accepted your counsel
Lankeshwar bhay sub jag jaana
The whole world knows Vibhishana as the king of Lanka
Yug sahastra jo jan par bhaanu
Even thousands of suns cannot match your radiance
Leelyo tahi madhur phal jaanu
By tasting the sweet fruit, you realized its essence
Prabhu mudrika meli mukh maahee
Placing the Lord's ring in your mouth
Jaladhi langhi gaye achraj naahee
You crossed the ocean effortlessly, performing a miracle
Durgaam kaaj jagat ke jete
All difficult tasks of the world become easy
Sugam anugraha tumhre tete
Your blessings bestow great comfort and grace
Ram dware tum rakhvaare
You are the guardian at the door of Lord Rama
Hoat na agya binu paisare
No one can enter without your permission
Sub sukh lahai tumhari sarna
Taking refuge in you, one attains all happiness
Tum rakshak kaahu ko darna
Who fears when you are the protector?
Aapan tej samhaaro aapai
You alone can control your own splendor
Teenhon lok haank te kanpai
The three worlds tremble before your might
Bhoot pisaach nikat nahin aavai
Ghosts and demons cannot come near
Mahaavir jab naam sunavai
When the mighty hero's name is heard
Naase rog harai sab peera
Diseases and pain are eradicated
Japat nirantar hanumant beera
Continuously chanting, the courageous Hanuman
Sankat se hanuman chudavai
Hanuman removes all difficulties
Mann karam vachan dyan jo lavai
Whoever offers their mind, actions, and words in devotion
Sab par raam tapasvee raaja
Lord Rama becomes their wise and virtuous ruler
Tinke kaaj sakal tum saaja
You take care of all their tasks
Aur manorath jo koi lavai
Whatever desires and wishes anyone brings
Sohi amit jeevan phal pavai
Those will be fulfilled and they will attain eternal achievements
Charon yug partap tumhaara
Your splendor is renowned in all ages
Hai persidh jagat ujiyaara
You illuminate the world with your divine aura
Saadhu sant ke tum rakhwaare
You are the protector of saints and sages
Asur nikandan ram dulhaare
You are the destroyer of demons and beloved of Lord Rama
Ashta sidhi nav nidhi ke dhaata
You possess the eight supernatural powers and the nine types of treasures
Us var deen janki maata
Mother Sita bestowed that boon upon you
Raam rasaayan tumhare paasa
You hold the elixir of devotion to Lord Rama
Sada raho raghupati ke daasa
Always remain the humble servant of Lord Raghupati (Rama)
Tumhare bhajan raam ko pavai
By singing your praises, one attains Lord Rama
Janam janam ke dukh bisravai
The sorrows of countless lifetimes are forgotten
Anth kaal raghuvir pur jayee
At the end of life, one reaches the divine abode of Lord Raghuvir
Jahaan janam hari-bakht kahayee
Wherever a devotee of Lord Hari takes birth
Aur devta chit na dharehi
Other gods do not grant them their desires
Hanumanth se hi sarve sukh karehi
They receive all blessings and happiness from Hanuman alone
Sankat kate mite sab peera
All distress and suffering are eliminated
Jo sumirai hanumat balbeera
Those who meditate upon Hanuman, the mighty hero
Jai jai jai hanuman gosahin
Victory, victory, victory to Lord Hanuman
Kripa karahu gurudev ki nyahin
Please shower your grace, O revered Guru
Jo sat baar paath kare koyi
Whoever recites this chalisa one hundred times
Chutehi bandhi maha sukh hoyi
They are freed from bondage and attain great happiness
Jo yah padhe hanuman chalisa
Whoever reads this Hanuman Chalisa
Hoye siddhi sakhi gaureesa
They attain accomplishments and become witnesses to Lord Hanuman's feats
Tulsidaas sada hari chera
Tulsidas, always a devotee of Lord Hari
Keejai das hrdaye mein dera
Resides with complete surrender in the hearts of his servants
Pavantnayi sankat harana mangal murti roopa
O Son of the Wind, remover of difficulties, embodiment of auspiciousness
Ram lakhan sita sahita hrdaye basahu sur bhoopa
Reside forever in my heart along with Lord Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita, O king of gods
Contributed by Caleb K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.