Mantras have the power to uplift us when we feel sad, scared, misguided, or lost. They have the ability to soothe our frayed nerves and calm our minds. When chanted at specific times or in a prescribed manner, a mantra can have an immensely positive impact on our life. 

In the Hindu religion there are many mantras that are believed to have magical healing properties, such as the Maha Mrityunjay Mantra, Gayatri Mantra, Chanting Om, Vishnu Sahastranam, Durga Chalisa, Sunderkand Path, and the Hanuman Chalisa. Each of these mantras are believed to help a tired spirit rejuvenate, a lost spirit find the right path, and an unwell spirit get back on the road to healing. In this article we will talk about the powerful Hanuman Chalisa and its lesser known but important benefits. 

What is the Hanuman Chalisa: 

The Hanuman Chalisa is framed like a poem. It consists of 40 verses in praise of Lord Hanuman, the most ardent devotee of Lord Ram.  This potent mantra was composed by the great Saint Tulsidas. According to him, anyone who chants the Chalisa (40 verses) stands to gain the favor and blessings of Lord Hanuman. Each of the 40 verses relates to a specific problem and chanting it offers protection or relief from the pain and suffering caused by it. 

The Origin of Hanuman Chalisa: 

According to popular folklore, it is believed Aurangzeb had challenged Saint Tulsidas to show him Lord Ram. The poet responded, the Lord Ram can only be seen by his devotees, those who have faith in him and worship him. This response angered the emperor, and he banished him to the dungeon. It is during this imprisonment that Tulsidas wrote the 40 verses in praise of Lord Hanuman. And, the story goes, once Tulsidas completed the recital, Lord Hanuman’s Vanar Sena (Army of Monkey’s) laid siege to Delhi. 

When to Recite the Hanuman Chalisa: 

The Hanuman Chalisa can be recited both in the morning and the evening. It can also be recited at any time you are feeling scared, lonely, find yourself in trouble, or are surrounded by danger. Before you start chanting the mantra, you must wash your face, hands, and feet. Sit or stand in a quiet corner (if it is possible), meditate on Lord Hanuman, and start chanting the mantra. If you can, recite it out loud as it is believed to be more powerful when chanted  loudly. If not, then you can recite it quietly too.

While it is more beneficial if you can chant the entire 40 verses, if that is not possible, you can chant the one that relates to your issue. Seek guidance from a knowledgeable pandit or an experienced astrologer to know which verse you need to chant for the problem you might be facing. 

The Benefits of Chanting Hanuman Chalisa: 

The most popular and known benefit of chanting Hanuman Chalisa is to get rid of fear, evil spirits, and find relief from dangers or unwarranted situations. However, the Hanuman Chalisa has an impact over other aspects of our life too and chanting it can benefit us in more than one way. Given below are some of the lesser known but equally important benefits that you can gain from chanting the Hanuman Chalisa. 

1. Find Relief of Bad Dreams: If you suffer from bad dreams or get dreams that tend to disturb your sleep, then make it a habit of chanting Hanuman Chalisa before you go to bed. Wash your face, hands, and feet. Dry them properly. Sit in a quiet corner of your house or where you place the idols, think about Lord Hanuman and chant the complete Hanuman Chalisa. You can also place the Hanuman Chalisa under your pillow for a good night’s rest.
    
2. Get Rid of Unsavory Habits: If you have any unwanted or bad habits that you are trying to let go of, or have taken to bad company then try chanting the Hanuman Chalisa daily. The mantra will help remove the negative energies that attract you towards the unwanted habit or person and motivate you to live a healthier life.
    
3. Helps with Safe Travels: Hanuman Chalisa helps ward off dangers, accidents, and evil spirits. It is believed that chanting the Hanuman Chalisa before setting off on a journey will clear your path of obstacles and make your trip safe.
    
4. Fulfilment of Desires and Wishes: If you are working hard to attain something of value or striving for success, but it's eluding you. In such circumstances, chanting the Hanuman Chalisa every day by meditating on Lord Hanuman will gain you the Lord's blessings and favors and help remove the difficulties and obstacles in your path. But, you must remember that you need to put in the hard work, be ethical, and honest.
    
5. Removes Astrological Maleficence: Yes, even the planets can be affected positively by the powerful Hanuman Chalisa. If your birth chart shows a malefic Saturn or Mars, or you are afflicted by Mangal dosh, or you are going through the Sade Sati, then chanting the Hanuman Chalisa may provide you with some relief from the negative impact of these planets. Those with a negative Saturn should try to make it a habit to chant the Hanuman Chalisa 8 times on Saturday. 
    
6. Cleans Your Past Karma: Deeds - positive and negative - of previous lifetimes shape your present.  and have a large role in determining the kind of experience you will have in this life. However, you can cleanse your past bad karma and the bad deeds committed in this lifetime by regularly chanting the Hanuman Chalisa.
    
7. Helps Manage Trauma, Stress, and Related Health Issues: In the modern world, there are many factors that can cause stress and lead to health issues such as emotional imbalance, mental health issues, anxiety, headaches, migraines, and depression. While these issues themselves cannot be done away with, chanting the potent Hanuman Chalisa daily can give you the strength and courage to overcome them. The Hanuman Chalisa also helps in dealing with trauma and fear arising from bad experiences. 
    
8. Encourages to Learn and Gain Knowledge: If you are a student or someone aspiring to gain knowledge and learn, then chanting the Hanuman Chalisa can help eliminate obstacles to your path of learning. Chant the complete chalisa every day after bath and before you sit to study. 
    
9. Gain Protection from Enemies: If there’s someone who is trying to cause you or your family harm or is trying to tarnish your reputation, or causing problems in your life, in such instances also you can seek blessings and protection from Lord Hanuman by reciting the Hanuman Chalisa every day.
    
10. Aids Spiritual Growth: The ultimate goal of human life is to grow as a person and become a better version of yourself. To remove the negativity from your life and embrace the god. The Hanuman Chalisa not only helps bring you closer to God but also shows the path to spiritual growth. 
     
11. Helps Remove Misunderstanding in Family: It is difficult to lead a happy life when you are at odds with your own loved ones. You could be living under the same roof but feel like strangers. Or you could have lost trust in each other due to misunderstandings resulting from poor communication, or might have had a falling out with your parents or siblings for some reason. Family ties are important and the Hanuman Chalisa helps create a positive environment at home and build amicable relations with the family.
     
12. Helps in Legal Issues: If you are stuck in a court case or have been wrongly accused and may be facing prison time, or someone is trying to defame your good name, then seek protection from Lord Hanuman by chanting the Hanuman Chalisa daily. It is believed that if you chant it 100 times a day, you may be able to find some relief in legal matters. 
     
13. Get Blessings for Job Interviews: Do you feel jittery before an important job interview or feel unconfident? Then before going for the interview, take a few minutes to yourself. Take a few deep breaths and then chant the Hanuman Chalisa. You may feel the negativity sliding away and your confidence slowly building up. 
    
    (Written for a client a Astrology start-up.)