Devi Chitralekha

{{Short description|Indian spiritual speaker and religious figure}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Devi Chitralekha

| image =

| caption = Devi Chitralekha (2024)

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|1|19}}

| birth_place = Khambi, Palwal district, Haryana, India

| nationality = Indian

| occupation = Religious speaker, spiritual figure

| known_for = Discourses on Shrimad Bhagwat

| title = Founder of Gau Seva Dham Hospital

| parents = Tikaram Sharma (father), Chameli Devi (mother)

| spouse = Madhav

| website = {{URL|https://www.worldsankirtan.org}}

}}

Devi Chitralekha (born 19 January 1997) is an Indian spiritual speaker who delivers discourses on the Shrimad Bhagwat. She is the founder of the Gau Seva Dham Animal Hospital and is associated with devotional events conducted under the Sankirtan Yatra initiative.{{Cite web |title=कौन हैं देवी चित्रलेखा? कम उम्र में कथावाचक बनीं |url=https://npg.news/festival/devi-chitralekha-koun-hai-devi-chitralekha-sase-kam-umra-kathavachak-famous-youngest-kathavachak-abroad-spiritual-saint-and-motivational-speaker-1254764 |website=NPG News |date=27 November 2023 |language=hi |access-date=3 May 2025}}

Early life

Devi Chitralekha was born in the village of Khambi in Palwal district, Haryana, to Tikaram Sharma and Chameli Devi.{{Cite web |title=देवी चित्रलेखा: शादी की अफवाह से चर्चा में |url=https://www.ibc24.in/web-stories/devi-chitralekha-marriage-who-is-devi-chitralekha-there-is-a-lot-of-discussion-on-social-media-about-whose-marriage |website=IBC24 |language=hi |access-date=3 May 2025}}{{Cite web |title=कौन हैं देवी चित्रलेखा? 23 साल की उम्र में बनीं मशहूर प्रवचिका, जानें परिवार और शिक्षा |url=https://www.jansatta.com/lifestyle/devi-chitralekha-wiki-age-husband-family-biography-23-year-old-chitralekha-became-renowned-preacher/1595351/ |website=Jansatta |date=19 July 2021 |language=hi |access-date=4 May 2025}}{{Cite web |title=भगवान किसकी मदद करते हैं? जानिए देवी चित्रलेखा से |url=https://www.jansatta.com/photos/picture-gallery/whom-does-god-help-know-from-devi-chitralekha/3810773/ |website=Jansatta |date=3 February 2025 |language=hi |access-date=4 May 2025}}{{Cite web |title=Devi Chitralekha Marriage: 20 साल की उम्र में दुल्हन बनी थी कथावाचक देवी चित्रलेखा, मुस्लिम ड्राइवर से नहीं इनसे हुआ है विवाह |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/life-and-style/devi-chitralekha-marriage-rumors-with-muslim-driver-know-about-husband-madhav-tiwari |website=Prabhat Khabar |date=10 January 2025 |access-date=4 May 2025 |language=hi}}

Spiritual journey

At the age of four, she was initiated into the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition by Girdhari Baba. Her first public discourse was delivered at the age of six in Barsana. She later delivered a complete narration of the Shrimad Bhagwat at Tapovan near Vrindavan.{{Cite web |title=श्रीमद् भागवत कथा में देवी चित्रलेखा के अमृतमय प्रवचन |url=https://mandalnews.com/amravati/shrimad-bhagwat-katha-in-the-nectar-speech-of-goddess-chitralekha/ |website=Mandal News |date=5 August 2023 |language=hi |access-date=3 May 2025}}

Teachings and work

Her discourses draw on themes of Bhakti yoga, Vaishnavism, and the chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. She also engages in devotional music and social activities.{{Cite web |title=देवी चित्रलेखा के प्रसिद्ध भक्ति गीत |url=https://www.jansatta.com/religion/devi-chitralekha-bhajan-or-song-know-who-is-devi-devi-chitralekha-ji-watch-here-her-famous-bhakti-song/1350962/ |website=Jansatta |date=17 March 2020 |language=hi |access-date=3 May 2025}}{{Cite web |title=जया किशोरी के बाद देवी चित्रलेखा के फोटोज-वीडियोज हुए वायरल, जानिए पति और पढ़ाई के बारे में |url=https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/religion/photo-gallery-devi-chitralekha-photos-and-videos-viral-after-jaya-kishori-know-about-her-husband-education/1558032/-1558038 |website=Zee News Hindi |language=hi |access-date=4 May 2025}}{{Cite web |title=कथावाचिका देवी चित्रलेखा ने सुनाई महारासलीला और श्रीकृष्ण-रुक्मिणी विवाह की कथा |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/rajasthan/bharatpur/news/storyteller-devi-chitralekha-narrated-the-story-of-maharasleela-and-the-marriage-of-shri-krishna-and-rukmini-133041608.html |website=Bhaskar.com |publisher=दैनिक भास्कर |date=9 February 2024 |language=hi |access-date=4 May 2025}}

Gau Seva Dham and Sankirtan Yatra

Chitralekha founded Gau Seva Dham, an animal shelter based in Palwal, Haryana, which cares for sick and injured cattle.{{Cite web |title=कौन हैं देवी चित्रलेखा? जानिए उनके गौ सेवा के कार्य |url=https://www.nedricknews.com/other/who-is-devi-chitralekha-of-katha-sermon-and-storyteller-who-serves-destitute-and-injured-cows/ |website=Nedrick News |date=24 January 2024 |language=hi |access-date=3 May 2025}}

She also organizes discourses through the “Sankirtan Yatra” in various Indian states and abroad, including the United States, United Kingdom, and South Africa.{{Cite web |title=टॉप 5 महिला कथावाचकों में देवी चित्रलेखा |url=https://www.gnttv.com/visualstories/trending/top-5-women-katha-vachak-of-the-country-36645-16-05-2023 |website=GNT TV |date=16 May 2023 |language=hi |access-date=3 May 2025}}

Media coverage

According to reports in Hindi-language media outlets, she was mentioned by the World Book of Records in 2019 in the context of her role as a young religious orator.{{Cite web |title=कथावाचक देवी चित्रलेखा के बारे में जानें |url=https://www.tv9hindi.com/religion/know-everything-bout-kathavachak-devi-chitralekha-why-she-is-in-news-2382986.html |website=TV9 Hindi |date=25 January 2024 |language=hi |access-date=3 May 2025}}