The easiest way to teach a child the Hanuman Chalisa is a few lines at a time, with the story behind each verse. Learn one or two chaupais a day, tell the Ramayana story they come from, recite the verses already learned together each evening, and most children aged 5 and up can recite all forty verses within about six weeks. Understanding comes first; memorisation follows naturally.
What is the Hanuman Chalisa?
The Hanuman Chalisa is a hymn to Lord Hanuman written in Awadhi by the poet-saint Goswami Tulsidas in the 16th century, the same poet who wrote the Ramcharitmanas. Chalisa comes from chalis, forty, after its forty chaupais (four-part verses). It is one of the most recited prayers in India, sung daily in homes and temples, and especially on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
How the Chalisa is structured
| Section | Verses | What it's about |
|---|---|---|
| Opening dohas | 2 | A prayer to the guru and to Hanuman for wisdom and strength |
| His glory | Chaupais 1–10 | Who Hanuman is: his form, strength, wisdom and devotion to Rama |
| His deeds | Chaupais 11–20 | Ramayana stories: bringing the Sanjeevani, crossing the ocean, meeting Sita |
| Protector of devotees | Chaupais 21–30 | How he guards those who call on him |
| Fruits of devotion | Chaupais 31–40 | What remembering Hanuman brings |
| Closing doha | 1 | A final prayer to dwell in the devotee's heart with Rama, Lakshmana and Sita |
Teaching it in these sections gives children natural milestones, and the stories in the middle section are the ones they love most.
What do the opening lines mean?
The first chaupai is the one most children learn first:
Jai Hanuman gyan gun sagar
Jai Kapis tihun lok ujagar
Meaning: "Victory to Hanuman, the ocean of wisdom and virtue. Victory to the lord of the monkeys, who lights up the three worlds." A good lesson to draw for a child: Hanuman is praised first for his wisdom and goodness, and only then for his strength.
Why stories make verses stick
A verse like "laye sajivan lakhan jiyaye" is just sounds until a child knows that Lakshmana lay wounded, that Hanuman flew to the Himalayas for the Sanjeevani herb, and, unable to find it, lifted the whole mountain. After that story, the child remembers the verse because they remember the picture. Pairing each verse with its story, and ideally with an illustration, is the single most effective way to teach the Chalisa.
A simple six-week plan
- Week 1: Who is Hanuman? Tell the story of his birth and how he got his name. Learn the two opening dohas.
- Week 2: Chaupais 1–10. One or two a day, with a picture and the meaning.
- Week 3: Chaupais 11–20. The Ramayana stories: the ocean leap, Lanka, the Sanjeevani. Children's favourite week.
- Week 4: Chaupais 21–30. Talk about courage and asking for help.
- Week 5: Chaupais 31–40 and the closing doha.
- Week 6: Recite the whole Chalisa together, once a day, and let your child lead.
Tips that help: recite at the same time daily (bedtime works well); revise yesterday's verses before adding new ones; let your child point to the picture as they say each verse; and celebrate the first full recitation, perhaps on a Tuesday or at the temple.
When do families recite the Hanuman Chalisa?
- Daily, morning or evening, as part of the family prayer
- On Tuesdays and Saturdays, the days traditionally dedicated to Hanuman
- Before exams, journeys or anything that feels frightening
- On Hanuman Jayanti
A full recitation takes about 8 to 10 minutes.
The illustrated Hanuman Chalisa for families
Shri Hanuman Chalisa: The Illustrated Book gives every verse its own two pages: a full-page illustration to look at, and a page with the original Awadhi verse in Devanagari, easy English transliteration, the meaning in simple English, a word-by-word guide, the Ramayana story behind the verse, and a "Remember" line for your child to carry through the day. 42 full-page illustrations, the whole Chalisa on a few pages for daily recitation, and a glossary of names. For children from about 5 with a parent, and for adults who want to understand every line. A lovely gift for a birthday, a mundan or Hanuman Jayanti. Instant PDF, ₹299.
For the wider world of Hanuman, Rama and the other avatars, see The Illustrated Book of Sanatana Dharma and our guide to the 18 Mahapuranas.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote the Hanuman Chalisa?
Goswami Tulsidas, the 16th-century poet-saint who also wrote the Ramcharitmanas. It is written in Awadhi.
At what age can a child learn the Hanuman Chalisa?
Most children can begin around age 5 with a parent, learning a few lines a day with the stories behind them. Older children can learn it on their own.
How long does it take to learn the Hanuman Chalisa?
At one or two verses a day with daily revision, about six weeks for most children.
How many verses are in the Hanuman Chalisa?
Forty chaupais, framed by two opening dohas and one closing doha: 43 verses in all.
What is the best day to recite the Hanuman Chalisa?
It can be recited daily. Tuesdays and Saturdays are traditionally dedicated to Hanuman.