Santoshi Mata Chalisa

Victory to Santoshi Mata, mother of the whole world, who destroys the armies of the wicked-minded and cruel demons.

Lord Ganesha is honoured as your father, and his consorts Riddhi and Siddhi are called your mothers.

You remain the cherished daughter of your parents; in what way can anyone fully describe your renown?

A matchless, heavy crown rests upon your head, and the ear ornaments shine with a beauty all their own.

Every limb glows with a lovely radiance as you wear a beautiful golden-hued garment.

You are four-armed, graceful and grand, wearing a garland of forest flowers around your neck.

A dearly loved cow stands near you, and at times you ride upon a peacock.

All beings know your sovereign power; gods, humans and sages alike sing your praise.

In the very moment one beholds you, O Mother, sorrow and poverty are wholly destroyed.

The Vedas and Puranas keep singing your fame, and you give your help to the devotees.

Beside Brahma you are known as Saraswati, and as Lakshmi you appear at Vishnu's side.

Beside Shiva you shine in the form of Parvati, and your glory resounds across all three worlds.

Recognised by the faithful as power itself, you took form as Bhavani in the fierce aspect of Rudra.

To crush the wicked you appeared as Kali, blazing with a fierce, dazzling and unrivalled light.

You slew Chanda, Munda and the buffalo-demon Mahishasura, and struck down the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha.

The Vedas and Puranas describe your greatness; you remove the troubles of your own devotees.

You take the enchanting form of Saraswati riding a swan; you are both the formless and the embodied, ever auspicious.

You have spread your divine power in all four directions, and your radiance pervades every particle of creation.

The earth, the sun, the moon and the stars all move in ordered sequence at your mere signal.

You alone nurture and sustain all life, and in a fleeting moment you can also take it away.

Brahma and Vishnu meditate on you daily, and Shesha and Shiva ever fix their minds upon you.

You fulfil heartfelt wishes, cut away sins, and carry devotees across the fear of worldly existence.

Whoever meditates on you with a focused mind attains happiness and prosperity.

A childless woman who meditates on you is blessed with offspring, flourishing like a flowering vine.

A woman separated from her husband and deeply distressed finds in you the one who eases the pain of that separation.

An unmarried girl who meditates on you obtains the husband her heart desires.

You are virtuous and full of noble qualities, O Mother, the boatwoman who rows your devotees safely across.

Whoever keeps your vow according to the proper rules is filled with boundless happiness and wealth.

You are pleased by an offering of jaggery and roasted chickpeas; whoever serves you in this way finds joy.

Whoever meditates on you with sincere faith will surely cross over the ocean of worldly existence.

For the one who completes your vow with its concluding rite, you grant deliverance with ease.

A married woman who keeps your vow has her lap filled with happiness and prosperity.

As each devotee remembers you with the wish in their heart, so exactly do they receive its fruit.

Whoever observes your vow over seven Fridays with sincere intent has all their wishes fulfilled.

Whoever serves you with devotion sees their poverty and sorrow driven far away.

For any person who comes to your refuge, O Mother, you set their tasks right in an instant.

Victory, victory, victory to Ambe, bestower of welfare; show your grace upon me, my Queen.

Whoever reads this Chalisa of the Mother receives the grace of the Lord of the universe.

Whoever recites it once every single day remains dear to you.

At the very utterance of your name all afflictions flee, and disease and defect never take hold.