Shiva Tandava Stotram is the most popular Shiva Stotram composed by Ravana, King of Lanka. He was a scholar in Navavyakarana (the 9 types of Sanskrit grammar) and a great devotee of Lord Shiva. Shiva Tandav Stotram is one of his many works.
Creation ends at the point of Maha-Pralaya when manifestation is withdrawn back into the Great Void. This is when Shiva begins his “Shiva Tandav“, his famous cosmic dance. From his dance, the destructive energies are released and activated that dismantle all of the creation.
Shiva Tandava Stotram (Stotra) describes how Lord Shiva’s hair moves, how the water of river Ganga splashes when he performs a Tandava dance, how his drums sound as he dances, how his ornaments move along with him, and more.
Lyrics in Sanskrit
जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् । डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् ॥१॥ जटाकटाहसम्भ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरी_ विलोलवीचिवल्लरीविराजमानमूर्धनि । धगद्धगद्धगज्जलल्ललाटपट्टपावके किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम ॥२॥ धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीविलासबन्धुबन्धुर स्फुरद्दिगन्तसन्ततिप्रमोदमानमानसे । कृपाकटाक्षधोरणीनिरुद्धदुर्धरापदि क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे मनो विनोदमेतु वस्तुनि ॥३॥ जटाभुजङ्गपिङ्गलस्फुरत्फणामणिप्रभा कदम्बकुङ्कुमद्रवप्रलिप्तदिग्वधूमुखे । मदान्धसिन्धुरस्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि ॥४॥ सहस्रलोचनप्रभृत्यशेषलेखशेखर प्रसूनधूलिधोरणी विधूसराङ्घ्रिपीठभूः | भुजङ्गराजमालया निबद्धजाटजूटक श्रियै चिराय जायतां चकोरबन्धुशेखरः ||५|| ललाटचत्वरज्वलद्धनञ्जयस्फुलिङ्गभा निपीतपञ्चसायकं नमन्निलिम्पनायकम् | सुधामयूखलेखया विराजमानशेखरं महाकपालिसम्पदेशिरोजटालमस्तु नः ||६|| करालभालपट्टिकाधगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलद्_ धनञ्जयाहुतीकृतप्रचण्डपञ्चसायके । धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीकुचाग्रचित्रपत्रक प्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनि त्रिलोचने रतिर्मम ॥७॥ नवीनमेघमण्डली निरुद्धदुर्धरस्फुरत्_ कुहूनिशीथिनीतमः प्रबन्धबद्धकन्धरः । निलिम्पनिर्झरीधरस्तनोतु कृत्तिसिन्धुरः कलानिधानबन्धुरः श्रियं जगद्धुरंधरः ॥८॥ प्रफुल्लनीलपङ्कजप्रपञ्चकालिमप्रभा_ वलम्बिकण्ठकन्दलीरुचिप्रबद्धकन्धरम् । स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिदं भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं गजच्छिदान्धकच्छिदं तमन्तकच्छिदं भजे ॥९॥ अखर्वसर्वमङ्गलाकलाकदम्बमञ्जरी_ रसप्रवाहमाधुरीविजृम्भणामधुव्रतम् । स्मरान्तकं पुरान्तकं भवान्तकं मखान्तकं गजान्तकान्धकान्तकं तमन्तकान्तकं भजे ॥१०॥ जयत्वदभ्रविभ्रमभ्रमद्भुजङ्गमश्वसद्_ विनिर्गमत्क्रमस्फुरत्करालभालहव्यवाट् । धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिध्वनन्मृदङ्गतुङ्गमङ्गल_ ध्वनिक्रमप्रवर्तितप्रचण्डताण्डवः शिवः ॥११॥ स्पृषद्विचित्रतल्पयोर्भुजङ्गमौक्तिकस्रजोर्_ गरिष्ठरत्नलोष्ठयोः सुहृद्विपक्षपक्षयोः । तृणारविन्दचक्षुषोः प्रजामहीमहेन्द्रयोः समप्रवृत्तिकः कदा सदाशिवं भजाम्यहम् ॥१२॥ कदा निलिम्पनिर्झरीनिकुञ्जकोटरे वसन् विमुक्तदुर्मतिः सदा शिरस्थमञ्जलिं वहन् । विमुक्तलोललोचनो ललामभाललग्नकः शिवेति मन्त्रमुच्चरन्कदा सुखी भवाम्यहम् ॥१३॥ इदम् हि नित्यमेवमुक्तमुत्तमोत्तमं स्तवं पठन्स्मरन्ब्रुवन्नरो विशुद्धिमेतिसंततम् । हरे गुरौ सुभक्तिमाशु याति नान्यथा गतिं विमोहनं हि देहिनां सुशङ्करस्य चिन्तनम् ॥१४॥ पूजावसानसमये दशवक्त्रगीतं यः शम्भुपूजनपरं पठति प्रदोषे । तस्य स्थिरां रथगजेन्द्रतुरङ्गयुक्तां लक्ष्मीं सदैव सुमुखीं प्रददाति शम्भुः ॥१५॥ इति श्रीरावण – कृतम् शिव – ताण्दव स्तोत्रम् सम्पूर्णम्
Shiv Tandav Stotra
Lyrics In English and Meaning
One can see the devotion of Ravana towards lord Shiva going through the lyrics of Shiva Tandava Stotram. One can see how great Lord Shiva is from the words of Ravana in this Shiva Stotram, who himself was one of the most powerful beings in that era.
The Lyrics of Shiv Tanadav Stotra in English with the meaning of each stanza.
Stanza 1
Jatatavigalajjala pravahapavitasthale
Galeavalambya lambitam bhujangatungamalikam
Damad damad damaddama ninadavadamarvayam
Chakara chandtandavam tanotu nah shivah shivam .. 1
From the forest of his matted lock, water flows and wets his neck,
On which hangs the greatest of snake-like a garland,
And his drum incessantly plays damat, damat, damat, damat,
And Shiva is engaged in the very vigorous manly dance,
To bless and shower, prosperity on all of us.
Stanza 2
Jatakatahasambhrama bhramanilimpanirjhari
Vilolavichivalara ivirajamanamurdhani
Dhagadhagadhagajjva lalalatapattapavake
Kishorachandrashekhare ratih pratikshanam mama .. 2
The celestial river agitatedly moved through his matted hair,
Which makes his head shine with those soft waves,
And his forehead shining like a brilliant fire-daga daga,
And the crescent of the moon which is an ornament to his head,
Makes my mind love him each and every second.
Stanza 3
Dharadharendrana ndinivilasabandhubandhura
Sphuradigantasantati pramodamanamanase
Krupakatakshadhorani nirudhadurdharapadi
Kvachidigambare manovinodametuvastuni .. 3
The consort of the ever-sportive daughter of the mountain,
Whose mind rejoices at her side long glances,
With the stream of merciful look which removes hardships,
Makes my mind take pleasure in him who wears the directions as apparel.
Stanza 4
Jatabhujangapingala sphuratphanamaniprabha
Kadambakunkumadrava praliptadigvadhumukhe
Madandhasindhurasphura tvagutariyamedure
Mano vinodamadbhutam bibhartu bhutabhartari .. 4
He, with the shining lustrous gem on the hood
Of the serpent entwining his matted locks,
He, who is with his bride whose face is decorated
By the melting of red saffron Kumkum,
And He who wears on his shoulder the hide
Of the elephant which was blind with ferociousness,
Makes my mind happy and contented,
In him who is the leader of Bhoothas*.
* can be taken to mean souls or mythical beings guarding Kailasa.
Stanza 5
Sahasralochanaprabhritya sheshalekhashekhara
Prasunadhulidhorani vidhusaranghripithabhuh
Bhujangarajamalaya nibaddhajatajutaka
Shriyai chiraya jayatam chakorabandhushekharah .. 5
May he whose foot stool is decorated
By the ever flowing flower dust.
Falling the bent head of Indra and other Gods,
And may He, whose matted locks are tied by the king of serpents,
And may he, whose head is decorated
By the crescent moon a friend of Chakora*
Shower prosperity forever on me.
* A mythical bird that lives by drinking moonlight.
Stanza 6
Lalatachatvarajvala dhanajnjayasphulingabha
Nipitapajnchasayakam namannilimpanayakam
Sudhamayukhalekhaya virajamanashekharam
Mahakapalisampade shirojatalamastunah .. 6
May he with the raging fire
In his forehead, who burnt the God of love,
May He who is forever being saluted by the king of devas,
And may he who has collected
The cool ambrosia-like crescent moon on his head,
And may he who wears the collection of skulls,
Bless us to create wealth for us.
Stanza 7
Karalabhalapattika dhagaddhagaddhagajjvala
Ddhanajnjaya hutikruta prachandapajnchasayake
Dharadharendranandini kuchagrachitrapatraka
Prakalpanaikashilpini trilochane ratirmama .. 7
May He in whose dreadful forehead, the fire burns “Dhahaga”, “Dhaga,”
May He who burnt the one with five arrows* as an offering to fire,
May He who is the only one who can write decorative lines,
On the tip of the breasts of the daughter of the mountain,
And May He with three eyes makes mind enjoy in him.
* The God of love
Stanza 8
Navinameghamandali niruddhadurdharasphurat
Kuhunishithinitamah prabandhabaddhakandharah
Nilimpanirjharidharastanotu kruttisindhurah
Kalanidhanabandhurah shriyam jagaddhurandharah .. 8
May He whose black neck is as dark
As several layers of new clouds,
Packed closely on the night of the new moon.
May He who wears the celestial river on his head,
May He who killed the Gajasura with an elephant head,
May He who is very handsome because of the crescent that he wears,
And May he who carries the entire burden of the world,
Bless us with all sorts of wealth.
Stanza 9
Praphullanilapan kajaprapajnchakalimaprabha
Valambikanthakandali ruchiprabaddhakandharam
Smarachchidam purachchhidam bhavachchidam makhachchidam
Gajachchidandhakachidam tamamtakachchidam bhaje .. 9
I salute him, who shines with a black neck
Similar to the well-opened blue lotus,
On which all the temples depend for prayer,
And him who destroyed God of love, the three cities,
The worldly problems and Yagnas destroyers,
And he who destroyed the elephant-faced Asura and also the God of death.
Stanza 10
Akharvagarvasarvamangala kalakadambamajnjari
Rasapravahamadhuri vijrumbhanamadhuvratam
Smarantakam purantakam bhavantakam makhantakam
Gajantakandhakantakam tamantakantakam bhaje .. 10
I salute him who is like the bee who drinks the sweetened honey,
That flows from the flower bunch of collection of arts of the Goddess,
And him who destroyed God of love, the three cities,
The worldly problems and Yagnas destroyers,
And he who destroyed the elephant-faced Asura and also the God of death.
Stanza 11
Jayatvadabhravibhrama bhramadbhujangamashvasa
Dvinirgamatkramasphurat karalabhalahavyavat
Dhimid dhimid dhimidhvanan mrudangatungamangala
Dhvanikramapravartita prachandatandavah shivah .. 11
Victory to the great Shiva, who has the fire burning in his forehead,
Which is increased by the breath of the snake wandering in the sky,
And to Him who dances to the changing tunes and fierce sound,
Of Dhimi, dhimmi, dhimmi coming out the auspicious drum.
Stanza 12
Drushadvichitratalpayor bhujangamauktikasrajor
Garishtharatnaloshthayoh suhrudvipakshapakshayoh
Trushnaravindachakshushoh prajamahimahendrayoh
Samapravrutikahsamam pravartayanmanahkada sadashivam bhaje .. 12
When will I be able to worship that eternal Shiva,
With a feeling of equanimity towards a snake and a garland,
Towards great gems and dirt or friends and enemies,
Or Towards a blade of grass and lotus-like eyes,
Or emperor and ordinary men.
Stanza 13
Kada nilimpanirjharinikujnjakotare vasanh
Vimuktadurmatih sada shirah sthamajnjalim vahanh
Vimuktalolalochano lalamabhalalagnakah
Shiveti mantramuchcharan sada sukhi bhavamyaham .. 13
When will I live a life of pleasure, meditating on Shiva,
Sitting near a hollow place near the celestial river Ganga,
Releasing all my bad thoughts and with hands clasped above my head,
After releasing all passion for the pretty women with shifting eyes?
Stanza 14
Idam hi nityamevamuktamuttamottamam stavam
Pathansmaranbruvannaro vishuddhimetisantatam
Hare gurau subhaktimashu yati nanyatha gatim
Vimohanam hi dehinam sushankarasya chintanam .. 14
This is greater than the great prayer if read,
Remembered, or recited daily by man,
Will make him pure, eternal,
And he would get devotion to Shiva leading him to salvation,
Remembering Lord Shiva is a sure method of removal of detachment.
Stanza 15
Pujavasanasamaye dashavaktragitam
Yah shambhupujanaparam pathati pradoshhe
Tasya sthiram rathagajendraturangayuktam
Lakshmim sadaiva sumukhim pradadati shambhuh .. 15
He who sings this song composed by the ten-headed one,
At the end of every worship or,
Reads it after worship of Shiva on the Pradosha day,
Will get the blessing of Lord Shiva, chariots, elephants and horses,
As well as the affectionate sight of the god of wealth.
Thus ends the prayer of the dancing Shiva.
– Shiva Tandav Stotram, Composed by Ravana.
Timing and Benefits of Shiva Tandav Chanting
The recitation of Shiv Tandav Stotram can be done at any time, as there is no specific time restriction. However, there are certain occasions when chanting it can yield special benefits:
- Solar Eclipse or Lunar Eclipse: Chanting Om Namah Shivaya or Shiv Tandav Stotram during an eclipse is believed to alleviate the negative influences of planetary positions. The energy and effectiveness of spiritual practices, including chanting, meditation, and prayer, are said to be heightened during eclipse periods.
- Before Sunrise and After Sunset: The auspicious time known as Brahma Muhurta, which occurs during the early hours before sunrise, is considered highly conducive to spiritual activities. Chanting Shiv Tandav Stotram during this time is believed to enhance its impact and yield greater benefits. Similarly, during dusk, the lighting of lamps and offering prayers create a positive atmosphere that can enhance the experience of reciting the Stotram.
- Pradosh Vrat: Pradosh Kaal, which falls on the 13th day of the lunar fortnight (Trayodashi), is considered auspicious for Lord Shiva. Chanting Shiv Tandav Stotram during Pradosh Vrat is believed to be particularly beneficial, as it aligns with the energies of this sacred period.
Reciting Shiv Tandav Stotram on these occasions can enhance the spiritual experience and may bring about positive effects on one’s well-being and consciousness. However, it is important to note that the Stotram can be recited with devotion and reverence at any time, as its inherent power transcends specific timings.