How to Recite the Hanuman Chalisa: Right Time, Vidhi, Rules and How Many Times
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How to recite the Hanuman Chalisa: the Tuesday and Saturday timing, the vidhi, seat and cleanliness rules, how many times to read it and how to end with aarti.
The Hanuman Chalisa is a composition of Goswami Tulsidas, with 40 verses and dohas at the start and end. Reciting it on Tuesdays and Saturdays is considered especially auspicious, though it can be recited on any day with devotion. This guide covers the vidhi and the rules. To understand the Chalisa's meaning and structure, read The Meaning of Hanuman Chalisa.
**Key Takeaways** - Tuesday and Saturday are regarded as Hanuman's days, but it can be recited on any day - Tradition is to bathe, sit on a seat in a clean place and light a lamp before reciting - By sankalp it is recited 1, 3, 7, 11, 21 or 108 times, but no fixed number is mandatory - Clear pronunciation and focus matter more than the count
The Right Time
Reciting after the morning bath, or in the evening at lamp-lighting time, is considered best. Tuesday and Saturday are regarded as the special days for Hanuman worship. Many people also recite it on Hanuman Jayanti and in difficult times.
Hanuman Chalisa Vidhi
- 1.Bathe, wear clean clothes and clean the puja space.
- 2.Spread a seat before an image of Hanuman or of Ram-Sita-Hanuman.
- 3.Light a ghee or oil lamp. If you like, keep flowers, sindoor, jaggery with chana or boondi as an offering.
- 4.Take a sankalp in your mind for how many times you'll recite.
- 5.Recite from the opening dohas to the closing doha, with clear and calm pronunciation. The complete Hanuman Chalisa is available here for the recitation.
- 6.After the recitation perform the Hanuman aarti and raise the call of Jai Bajrang Bali.
- 7.Share the prasad with everyone.
Rules of Recitation
- Keep body and mind clean. Tradition is to recite after bathing.
- Keep your pronunciation clear. If a word isn't clear, listen to it first from someone who knows.
- Don't rush. Reading the Chalisa patiently takes about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Complete what you begin up to the number you took in your sankalp.
- The recitation is not a guarantee of any wish; it is a practice of devotion and steadiness of mind.
How Many Times to Recite
No fixed number is mandatory. Once a day is a good routine. On special occasions people recite 3, 7, 11 or 21 times, and some practitioners take a sankalp of 108. Regularity and devotion matter more than the number.
More on Hanuman
For Hanuman's famous temples, read Famous Hanuman Temples in India. Which deity is worshipped on which weekday is explained in Which God Is Worshipped on Each Day.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should the Hanuman Chalisa be recited?
After the morning bath or in the evening at lamp-lighting time. Tuesday and Saturday are the special days for Hanuman worship, but it can be recited on any day.
How many times should the Hanuman Chalisa be read?
No fixed number is mandatory. Once a day is a good routine, and on special occasions people recite 3, 7, 11, 21 or 108 times according to their sankalp.
How many verses does the Hanuman Chalisa have?
It has 40 verses (chaupais) with dohas at the beginning and end. It was composed by Goswami Tulsidas.
What should be done after the recitation?
Perform the Hanuman aarti, raise the call and share the prasad with everyone.