Shiva Tandava Stotram

Shiva Tandava Stotram is a stotra (Hindu hymn) that describes the Hindu god Shiva's power and beauty. It is traditionally attributed to Ravana, the rakshasa King of Lanka and devotee of Shiva. Both the ninth and tenth quatrains of this hymn conclude with lists of Shiva's epithets as destroyer, even the destroyer of death itself. Alliteration and onomatopoeia create roiling waves of resounding beauty in this example of Hindu devotional poetry.

In the final quatrain of the poem, after tiring of rampaging across the Earth, Ravana asks, "When will I be happy?" Because of the intensity of his prayers and ascetic meditation, of which this hymn was an example, Ravana received from Shiva powers and a celestial sword.

Ravana

When Ravana was tired of rampaging across the earth, he returned to Shiva to request moksha, release from the bondage of endless rebirth. Lord Shiva replied that he had granted Ravana the boon of indestructibility. Ravana's poignant cry in the final quatrain of poetry — "When will I be happy?" is echoed by modern man in his quest for earthly fulfillment and ultimate liberation from its bondage.

A compelling and complex personality, Ravana is for many Hindus a legendary hero, a scholar of immense intelligence and the devoted husband of one of traditional five perfect women, Mandodari. Ravana married Maya's daughter, Mandodari, who was a very beautiful & righteous wife. He had a son by her, named Meghanaada (which means the 'sound of the clouds' or the 'sound of thunder'). Meghanaada defeated Indra, the king of Demigods, and earned the title of 'Indrajit'. Ravana's great-grandfather was Brahma (God of Ultimate Knowledge). He had advanced knowledge of mathematics, science and Ayurveda.

He was obsessed with his powers and was egoistic, and to display and prove his powers he was about to move Mount Kailash (the abode of Shiva who was his ancestor God). He managed to lift the mountain but Shiva immediately placed it back just by pressing his toe crushing Ravana's fingers in the process. That is when Ravana sings "Shiva Tandava Stotra" and he was spared and blessed with chandrahas (moon sword by Shiva) considered one of the most powerful weapons in Hindu mythology.

Text

The stotra is in the Panchachaamara Chhanda. It has 16 syllables per line of the quatrain, with Laghu (short syllable) and Guru (long syllable) characters alternating; the poetic meter is iambic octameter by definition.

सार्थशिवताण्डवस्तोत्रम् श्रीगणेशाय नमः

Devanagari जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् | डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् ||१||	Roman Transliteration jaṭāṭavī-galajjala-pravāha-pāvita-sthale gale 'valambya lambitāṃ bhujaṅga-tuṅga-mālikām । ḍamaḍ ḍamaḍ ḍamaḍ ḍaman nināda-vaḍḍa-marvayaṃ cakāra chaṇḍa-tāṇḍavaṃ tanotu naḥ śivaḥ śivam ॥ 1॥
With his neck, consecrated by the flow of water flowing from the thick forest-like locks of hair, and on the neck, where the lofty snake is hanging like a garland, and the Damaru drum making the sound of Damat Damat Damat Damat, Lord Śiva did the auspicious dance of Tandava and may He shower prosperity on us all.

Devanagari जटाकटाहसम्भ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरी विलोलवीचिवल्लरीविराजमानमूर्धनि | धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाटपट्टपावके किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम ||२||	Roman Transliteration jaṭā-kaṭā-hasambhrama-bhraman nilimpa-nirjharī vilola-vīci-vallarī-virāja-māna-mūrdhani । dhagad dhagad dhagaj jvalal lalāṭa-paṭṭa-pāvake kiśora-candraśekhare ratiḥ pratikṣaṇaṃ mama ॥ 2 ॥
I have a very deep interest in Lord Śiva, whose head is glorified by the rows of moving waves of the celestial river Gaṅgā, agitating in the deep well of his hair-locks, and who has the brilliant fire flaming on the surface of his forehead, and who has the crescent moon as a jewel on his head.

Devanagari धराधरेन्द्रनंदिनीविलासबन्धुबन्धुर स्फुरद्दिगन्तसन्ततिप्रमोदमानमानसे | कृपाकटाक्षधोरणीनिरुद्धदुर्धरापदि क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे(क्वचिच्चिदम्बरे) मनो विनोदमेतु वस्तुनि ||३||	Roman Transliteration dharādharendra-nandinī-vilāsa-bandhu-bandhura- sphurad diganta-santati-pramoda-māna-mānase । kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-dhoraṇī-niruddha-durdharāpadi kvacid digambare (kvacic cidambare) mano vinodametu vastuni ॥ 3 ॥
May my mind seek happiness in the Lord Śiva, in whose mind all the living beings of the glorious universe exist, who is the sportive companion of Parvati (daughter of the mountain king), who controls invincible hardships with the flow of his compassionate look, who is all-pervasive (the directions are his clothes).

Devanagari जटाभुजङ्गपिङ्गलस्फुरत्फणामणिप्रभा कदम्बकुङ्कुमद्रवप्रलिप्तदिग्वधूमुखे | मदान्धसिन्धुरस्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि ||४||	Roman Transliteration jaṭā bhujaṅga piṅgalasphurat phaṇāmaṇiprabhā kadamba kuṅkuma drava pralip tadig vadhū mukhe । madāndha sindhuras phurat tvagut tarīyame dure mano vinodamadbhutaṃ bibhartu bhūta bhartari ॥ 4 ॥
May I seek wonderful pleasure in Lord Śiva, who is supporter of all life, who with his creeping snake with reddish brown hood and with the luster of his gem on it spreading out variegated colors on the beautiful faces of the maidens of directions, who is covered with a glittering upper garment made of the skin of a huge intoxicated elephant.

Devanagari सहस्रलोचनप्रभृत्यशेषलेखशेखर प्रसूनधूलिधोरणी विधूसराङ्घ्रिपीठभूः | भुजङ्गराजमालया निबद्धजाटजूटक श्रियै चिराय जायतां चकोरबन्धुशेखरः ||५||	Roman Transliteration sahasralocana prabhṛtya śeṣalekha śekhara prasūna dhūli dhoraṇī vidhūsarāṅghri pīṭhabhūḥ । bhujaṅga rājamālayā nibaddha jāṭajūṭaka śriyai cirāya jāyatāṃ cakora bandhuśekharaḥ ॥ 5 ॥
May Lord Śiva give us prosperity, who has the moon (relative of the Cakora bird) as his head-jewel, whose hair is tied by the red snake-garland, whose foot-stool is grayed by the flow of dust from the flowers from the rows of heads of all the Gods, Indra/Vishnu and others.

Devanagari ललाटचत्वरज्वलद्धनञ्जयस्फुलिङ्गभा निपीतपञ्चसायकं नमन्निलिम्पनायकम् | सुधामयूखलेखया विराजमानशेखरं महाकपालिसम्पदेशिरोजटालमस्तु नः ||६||	Roman Transliteration lalāṭa ca tvara jvalad dhanañjaya sphuliṅgabhā nipītapañca sāyakaṃ naman nilim panāyakam । sudhā mayū khale khayā virāja mānaśekharaṃ mahākapā lisam padeśi rojaṭā lamastu naḥ ॥ 6 ॥
May we get the wealth of Siddhis from Śiva's locks of hair, which devoured the God of Love with the sparks of the fire flaming in His forehead, who is bowed by all the celestial leaders, who is beautiful with a crescent moon

Devanagari करालभालपट्टिकाधगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वल द्धनञ्जयाहुतीकृतप्रचण्डपञ्चसायके | धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीकुचाग्रचित्रपत्रक प्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनि त्रिलोचने रतिर्मम ||७||	Roman Transliteration karā labhāla paṭ ṭikā dhagad dhagad dhagaj jvalad dhanañjayā hutī kṛta pracaṇḍa pañca sāyake । dharā dharendra nandinī kucā graci tra patraka prakalpanaika śilpini trilocane ratirmama ॥ 7 ॥
My interest is in Lord Śiva, who has three eyes, who has offered the powerful God of Love into the fire, flaming Dhagad Dhagad on the flat surface of his forehead, and who is the one expert artist of creation accompanied by Parvati, the daughter of the mountain king.

Devanagari नवीनमेघमण्डली निरुद्धदुर्धरस्फुरत् कुहूनिशीथिनीतमः प्रबन्धबद्धकन्धरः | निलिम्पनिर्झरीधरस्तनोतु कृत्तिसिन्धुरः कलानिधानबन्धुरः श्रियं जगद्धुरंधरः ||८||	Roman Transliteration navīna megha maṇḍalī niruddha dur dharasphurat kuhū niśīthinī tamaḥ prabandha baddha kandharaḥ । nilim panir jharī dharas tanotu kṛt tisindhuraḥ kalā nidhāna bandhuraḥ śriyaṃ jagad dhuraṃ dharaḥ ॥ 8 ॥
May Lord Śiva give us prosperity, who bears the burden of this universe, who is lovely with the moon, who is red wearing the skin, who has the celestial river Ganga, whose neck is dark as midnight of new moon night covered by many layers of clouds.

Devanagari प्रफुल्लनीलपङ्कजप्रपञ्चकालिमप्रभा वलम्बिकण्ठकन्दलीरुचिप्रबद्धकन्धरम् | स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिदं भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं गजच्छिदांधकच्छिदं तमन्तकच्छिदं भजे ||९||

Roman Transliteration praphul lanī lapaṅkaja prapañcakā lima prabhā- -valam bikaṇṭha kandalī ruci prabaddha kandharam । smarac chidaṃ puracchidaṃ bhavacchidaṃ makhacchidaṃ gajacchidāṃ dhakachidaṃ tamaṃ takac chidaṃ bhaje ॥ 9 ॥

I pray to Lord Śiva, whose neck is tied with the luster of the temples hanging on the neck with the glory of the fully bloomed blue lotuses which looked like the blackness (sins) of the universe, who is the killer of Manmatha, who destroyed Tripuras, who destroyed the bonds of worldly life, who destroyed the sacrifice, who destroyed the demon Andhaka, the destroyer of the elephants, and who controlled the God of death, Yama.

Devanagari अखर्व(अगर्व) सर्वमङ्गलाकलाकदम्बमञ्जरी रसप्रवाहमाधुरी विजृम्भणामधुव्रतम् | स्मरान्तकं पुरान्तकं भवान्तकं मखान्तकं गजान्तकान्धकान्तकं तमन्तकान्तकं भजे ||१०||	Roman Transliteration akharva sarvamaṅgalā kalā kadaṃba mañjarī rasa pravā hamā dhurī vijṛṇbhaṇā madhu vratam । smarāntakaṃ purāntakaṃ bhavāntakaṃ makhāntakaṃ gajān takān dhakān takaṃ taman takān takaṃ bhaje ॥ 10 ॥
I pray to Lord Śiva, who has bees flying all over because of the sweet honey from the beautiful bunch of auspicious Kadamba flowers, who is the killer of Manmatha, who destroyed Tripuras, who destroyed the bonds of worldly life, who destroyed the sacrifice, who destroyed the demon Andhaka, the killer of the elephants, and who controlled the God of death, Yama.

Devanagari जयत्वदभ्रविभ्रमभ्रमद्भुजङ्गमश्वस द्विनिर्गमत्क्रमस्फुरत्करालभालहव्यवाट् | धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिध्वनन्मृदङ्गतुङ्गमङ्गल ध्वनिक्रमप्रवर्तित प्रचण्डताण्डवः शिवः ||११||	Roman Transliteration jaya tvada bhravi bhrama bhramad bhujaṅga maśvasa dvinir gamat kramasphurat karā labhāla ha vyavāṭ । dhimid dhimid dhimi dhvanan mṛdaṅga tuṅga maṅgala dhvani krama pravartita pracaṇḍa tāṇḍavaḥ śivaḥ ॥ 11 ॥
Lord Śiva, whose dance of Tāṇḍava is in tune with the series of loud sounds of drum making Dhimid Dhimid sounds, who has the fire on the great forehead, the fire that is spreading out because of the breath of the snake wandering in whirling motion in the glorious sky.

Devanagari दृषद्विचित्रतल्पयोर्भुजङ्गमौक्तिकस्रजोर् गरिष्ठरत्नलोष्ठयोः सुहृद्विपक्षपक्षयोः | तृणारविन्दचक्षुषोः प्रजामहीमहेन्द्रयोः समं प्रव्रितिक: कदा सदाशिवं भजम्यहम ||१२||	Roman Transliteration dṛṣa dvici tratal payor bhujaṅga mauktikasrajor- gariṣṭha ratna loṣṭhayoḥ suhṛ dvi pakṣa pakṣayoḥ । tṛṣṇā ravinda cakṣuṣoḥ prajā mahī mahendrayoḥ samapravṛ tikaḥ kadā sadāśivaṃ bhaje ॥ 12 ॥
When will I worship Lord SadāŚiva (eternally auspicious) God, with equal vision towards the people and an emperor, and a blade of grass and lotus-like eye, towards both friends and enemies, towards the valuable gem and some lump of dirt, towards a snake and a garland and towards varied ways of the world.

Devanagari कदा निलिम्पनिर्झरीनिकुञ्जकोटरे वसन् विमुक्तदुर्मतिः सदा शिरः स्थमञ्जलिं वहन् | विलोललोललोचनो ललामभाललग्नकः शिवेति मंत्रमुच्चरन् कदा सुखी भवाम्यहम् ||१३||	Roman Transliteration kadā nilim panir jharī nikuñja koṭare vasan vimukta durmatiḥ sadā śiraḥstha mañjaliṃ vahan । vilola lola locano lalā mabhāla lagna kaḥ śiveti mantra muccaran kadā sukhī bhavā myaham ॥ 13 ॥
When will I be happy, living in the hollow place near the celestial river, Ganga, carrying the folded hands on my head all the time, with my bad thinking washed away, and uttering the mantra of Lord Śiva and devoted in the God with glorious forehead with vibrating eyes.

Devanagari निलिम्प नाथनागरी कदम्ब मौलमल्लिका- निगुम्फनिर्भक्षरन्म धूष्णिकामनोहरः । तनोतु नो मनोमुदं विनोदिनींमहनिशं परिश्रय परं पदं तदङ्गजत्विषां चयः ॥ १४॥	Roman Transliteration nilimpa nāthanāgarī kadamba maulamallikā- nigumphanirbhakṣaranma dhūṣṇikāmanoharaḥ । tanotu no manomudaṃ vinodinīṃmahaniśaṃ pariśraya paraṃ padaṃ tadaṅgajatviṣāṃ cayaḥ ॥ 14 ॥
Divine beauty of different parts of Lord Śiva which are enlightened by fragrance of the flowers decorating the twisted hair locks of angles may always bless us with happiness and pleasure.[14]

Devanagari प्रचण्ड वाडवानल प्रभाशुभप्रचारणी महाष्टसिद्धिकामिनी जनावहूत जल्पना । विमुक्त वाम लोचनो विवाहकालिकध्वनिः शिवेति मन्त्रभूषगो जगज्जयाय जायताम् ॥ १५॥	Roman Transliteration pracaṇḍa vāḍavānala prabhāśubhapracāraṇī mahāṣṭasiddhikāminī janāvahūta jalpanā । vimukta vāma locano vivāhakālikadhvaniḥ śiveti mantrabhūṣago jagajjayāya jāyatām ॥ 15 ॥
The Shakti (energy) which is capable of burning all the sins and spreading welfare of all and the pleasant sound produced by angles during enchanting the pious Shiv mantra at the time of Shiv-Parvati Vivah may win over & destroy all the sufferings of the world.[15]

Devanagari इमं हि नित्यमेवमुक्तमुत्तमोत्तमं स्तवं पठन्स्मरन्ब्रुवन्नरो विशुद्धिमेतिसंततम् | हरे गुरौ सुभक्तिमाशु याति नान्यथा गतिं विमोहनं हि देहिनां सुशङ्करस्य चिंतनम् ||१६||	Roman Transliteration imaṃ hi nityamevamuktamuttamottamaṃ stavaṃ paṭhansmaranbruvannaro viśuddhimetisaṃtatam | hare gurau subhaktimāśu yāti nānyathā gatiṃ vimohanaṃ hi dehināṃ suśaṅkarasya ciṃtanam ॥ 16 ॥
Whoever reads, remembers and says this best stotra as it is said here, gets purified for ever, and obtains devotion in the great Guru Śiva. For this devotion, there is no other way. Just the mere thought of Lord Śiva indeed removes the delusion.

Devanagari पूजावसानसमये दशवक्त्रगीतं यः शम्भुपूजनपरं पठति प्रदोषे | तस्य स्थिरां रथगजेन्द्रतुरङ्गयुक्तां लक्ष्मीं सदैव सुमुखिं प्रददाति शम्भुः ||१७||	Roman Transliteration pūjāvasāna samaye daśavaktragītaṃ yaḥ śaṁbhupūjanaparaṃ paṭhati pradoṣe । tasya sthirāṃ rathagajendra turaṅgayuktāṃ lakṣmīṃ sadaiva sumukhiṃ pradadāti śaṁbhuḥ ॥ 17 ॥
In the evening, after sunset, at the end of Puja, whoever utters this stotra for 10 times sung by the one with the ten heads (Rāvaṇa), which is dedicated to the worship of Śiva, Lord Śiva will indeed bless him with great Lakṣmī (prosperity) with all the richness of chariots, elephants and horses.

Devanagari इति श्रीरावण-कृतम् शिव-ताण्डव-स्तोत्रम् सम्पूर्णम्	Roman Transliteration iti śrī rāvaṇa-kṛtam, śivatāṇḍava stotraṃ, sampūrnam,
Thus ends the Śiva-Tāṇḍava Stotra written by Śrī ′Rāvaṇa′.

Media adaptations

Parts of the stotra was recreated as a song in the following Indian film Luck, Baahubali: The Beginning, Lingaa, The Attacks of 26/11 and Shivaay.

See also

• Panchakshara Stotra

References

External links

• Shiv Tandav Stotram Video (With Writing)
• English translation and meaning.
• Watch Video with meaning