Hanuman Chalisa Glossary
Last updated:
Plain-English definitions of the terms, names and places you meet in the Hanuman Chalisa.
Open the illustrated versionRead the meaning
- Chalisa
- A hymn of forty verses. The word comes from chalis, the Hindi word for forty.
- Chaupai
- A verse form of four short lines (quarters) in Hindi and Awadhi poetry. The Hanuman Chalisa has 40 chaupais, usually printed as two lines each.
- Doha
- A rhyming two-line couplet. The Hanuman Chalisa has two dohas at the start and one at the end.
- Awadhi
- A dialect of Hindi spoken in the Awadh region of northern India. The Hanuman Chalisa and Tulsidas's Ramcharitmanas are written in it.
- Tulsidas
- The 16th to 17th century poet-saint traditionally credited with the Hanuman Chalisa. He also wrote the Ramcharitmanas.
- Ramcharitmanas
- Tulsidas's retelling of the Ramayana in Awadhi. It is among the most widely read devotional texts in North India.
- Hanuman
- A central figure of the Ramayana, known for his strength, wisdom and devotion to Ram. Other names in the hymn include Pavan-putra, Anjani-putra, Kesari-nandan, Mahabir and Bajrangi.
- Ram (Raghubar, Raghupati)
- The hero of the Ramayana, regarded as an avatar of Vishnu. Hanuman is his devoted servant. Raghubar and Raghupati mean lord of the Raghu dynasty.
- Sita (Janaki)
- Ram's wife. Hanuman found her in Lanka and carried Ram's message to her. Janaki means daughter of Janak.
- Lakshman
- Ram's younger brother. When he fell unconscious in the war, Hanuman brought the Sanjeevani herb to revive him.
- Sugriva
- The vanara king of Kishkindha and a friend of Ram. Hanuman introduced him to Ram.
- Vibhishan
- Ravana's brother, who took refuge with Ram and was made king of Lanka. The hymn says he accepted Hanuman's advice.
- Lanka
- The island kingdom of the demon king Ravana, which Hanuman is said to have set on fire.
- Sanjeevani
- A life-giving herb from the Himalayas that Hanuman carried, mountain and all, to revive Lakshman.
- Bajrangi
- One whose body is as strong as a thunderbolt (vajra). A name of Hanuman, also heard as Bajrang Bali.
- Kesari and Anjani
- Hanuman's father and mother. Hanuman is called Kesari-nandan and Anjani-putra. He is also called Pavan-putra, the son of the wind-god.
- The eight supernatural powers (siddhis) and nine treasures (nidhis) that verse 31 says Sita blessed Hanuman with the ability to grant.
- Yuga
- A great age of the world in Hindu cosmology. Verse 29 says Hanuman's glory shines through all four yugas: Satya, Treta, Dwapara and Kali.
- Path
- Devotional recitation of a text. Reciting the Hanuman Chalisa is often called Hanuman Chalisa path.