The Sacred Power of Repeating the Hanuman Chalisa: A Devotee’s Lifeline
“Hanuman Chalisa sab par parahi, Sankat se Hanuman chhudavahi.”
In the heart of Maharajji’s teachings lies a practice so simple, yet so profound—it is the repeated chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa, a 40-verse hymn to Lord Hanuman. Maharajji Neem Karoli Baba, revered as a living embodiment of unconditional love, often recommended this powerful chant to his devotees. But why? What is it about the Hanuman Chalisa that carries such spiritual weight?
1. Protection from Fear, Doubt, and Illness
As Ram Dass wrote in Miracle of Love, Maharajji once said that “Hanuman Chalisa has the power to overcome all problems and obstacles. All.” (Miracle of Love, p. 358). It wasn’t a vague spiritual suggestion—Maharajji would prescribe it with the clarity of a doctor giving life-saving medicine. Whether you were plagued by physical illness, emotional turmoil, or existential fear, his solution was often the same: “Go on repeating the Hanuman Chalisa.”
2. Tuning into Hanuman’s Shakti (Power)
Krishna Das, in Chants of a Lifetime, reveals that his whole heart and spiritual path transformed through the power of chanting Hanuman’s name. He writes, “When I sing the Chalisa, I am with Maharajji and Hanuman. They are not separate.” Chanting becomes a living bridge between the devotee and the divine.
In Be Love Now, Ram Dass echoes this connection: “Hanuman is the doorway. When you chant his name, your ego slowly burns away, and what’s left is just love.” (Be Love Now, Chapter 6: “Remover of Darkness”).
3. A Daily Anchor for the Mind and Heart
For many, the regular recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa offers a rhythmic refuge from the chaos of life. Dada Mukerjee described how Maharajji advised devotees to chant it forty times a day during times of crisis, assuring them that help would come (By His Grace, Chapter VI, “Hanuman Darshan”).
When life feels unsteady, the Chalisa becomes a rope to hold onto—pulling the heart back into devotion, into surrender, and into the presence of grace.
4. Faith in Action
Ravi Prakash Pande in Divine Reality recounts several miracles attributed to the power of Hanuman and the Chalisa. Cars drove without petrol, roads opened where they were supposed to be blocked, and court cases were resolved unexpectedly—all under the grace Maharajji attributed to Hanuman. “Just chant,” Maharajji would say, “Hanuman will take care of everything.”
Final Thoughts: Why Regularly?
Because it’s not just about solving problems. Chanting the Hanuman Chalisa regularly reshapes the heart—it builds a relationship with Hanuman, the very embodiment of love, service, strength, and unwavering faith. Maharajji said, “Hanuman is no different from Christ.” To chant his name is to call upon the Divine Friend who asks for nothing but love—and gives everything in return.
As Maharajji often reminded us:
“Love everyone. Serve everyone. Remember God.” (Miracle of Love, p. 78)
Chanting the Chalisa is one way we remember.
