Jo yah padhe Hanuman Chalisa
Hoy siddhi saakhi Gaurisaa
Whosoever reads these forty verses dedicated to Sri Hanuman, is sure to gain accomplishment (Siddhi). Lord Shiva stands witness to this utterance.
Tulsidas sadaa hari cheraa
Keeje naath Hriday Mahaa dera
Tulsidas, the writer of these verses, is ever a devoted servant to Lord Hari. O Lord Hanuman, come and reside permanently in my heart.
Hanuman Chalisa, verses 41 & 42
Whosoever who reads these forty verses dedicated to Sri Hanuman, is sure to gain Siddhi (accomplishment / fruits). Lord Shiva stands witness to this utterance.
This verse continues the theme from the previous verse, in that it relates to the blessings to be gained by the reading or chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa.
In the previous verse it was explained that the ability to convey blessings to others through a chant is a type of yogic power (Siddhi) that a spiritual person may gain, through their tapas (discipline) and bhakti (devotion). Tulsidas, says that none other than Lord Shiva, who is the primeval divine consciousness underlying all manifestation, stands witness to the truth of the assertion that whosoever reads the Hanuman Chalisa will be blessed or benefited.
Tulsidas uses the word “Siddhi” – which here means “accomplishment”, to describe the effects of reciting the Hanuman Chalisa. In the chanting of mantras, “Mantra Siddhi” is a subject which has many dimensions. Siddhi in terms of chanting implies the achievement of a tangible benefit – in particular the achievement of whatever purpose for which the person who is undertaking the chant wished for.
The reasons why people start to undertake a regular mantra or other devotional practice is varied. Often, a person encounters some great calamity and is asking for divine help. For example a person may be facing financial ruin, and be asking for divine blessings to avert it. In this example, “Mantra siddhi” would be the improvement of the person’s financial position. Another example is someone might be asking for divine grace to overcome a bad habit, or for the strength and focus to carry out some difficult task.
The meaning of this verse is that whoever regularly recites this set of verses will gain a tangible blessing for whatever end they are hoping to achieve. In India it is typical that for divine grace a person will chant regularly for a period of days, for example 21 recitations of the Hanuman Chalisa daily for 40 days. Similar disciplines are done for a range of other mantras and chants.
The highest form of devotion is when a person approaches the Divine for the sake of love itself, just as an expression of devotion, without any worldly desire. Such people will get the blessing that the Divine regards most appropriate to them. But whoever chants the Hanuman Chalisa will gain some tangible blessing in their life.
There is a clearly defined framework within Hindu spirituality of what sort of aims it is OK to bring to the Divine for help in fulfillment.
Generally desires or aims are classed as Sattvic, Rajasic or Tamasic, which are the three basic qualities of nature. Sattvic goals are harmonious, balanced and proportionate to our needs. We are encouraged only to ask the Divine for things which we really need – such as adequate shelter, enough money for providing for our family’s needs, peace of mind, safety from enemies and dangers, or for spiritual and self improvement goals, like overcoming vices.
Goals which are Rajasic are desire driven – such as desire for fame, more wealth than we really need, or to become powerful and influential. These goals are not necessarily bad, but can increase our bondage to illusory things, and often we realise upon their accomplishment that they are not what we really need for true happiness. Tamasic goals are goals which sow confusion and draw us and others down, such as the wish to harm others or take away the accomplishment of others (e.g. out of jealousy). Only Sattvic goals should be brought to the Divine.
Tulsidas, the writer of these verses, is ever a devoted servant to Lord Hari. O Lord Hanuman, come and reside permanently in my heart.
Tulsidas is declaring himself ever as a servant of the Divine Will, Hari (a name of Vishnu), and is asking Hanuman to make Tulsidas’s heart his home.
Tulsidas was associated in his lifetime with several miraculous events. However he only considered himself as a dispenser of Rama’s will. He didn’t feel himself as in any way possessed of power or wisdom other than this.
His ability to gain the grace of Rama flowed from the fact that he only ever regarded himself as a servant of the Will of Rama, and never thought himself accomplished or powerful in a personal capacity.
In order to never gain the sense of power and ego that deludes and misguides the soul (which is after all what happened to persons such as Ravana, the prime antagonist of the Ramayana, who was a fallen sage), Tulsidas asks for Hanuman to come and reside in his heart. This is because Hanuman’s energy is always dedicated to the Divine, and keeping this example in our heart, we are never misguided away from our true purpose as spiritual beings.
Visit this website’s HANUMAN SECTION (special feature) for explanations to the other verses of the Hanuman Chalisa
Hindu Perspective 
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