Shiva Tandava Stotram

The Shiva Tandava Stotram is a deeply powerful and rhythmic hymn that glorifies Lord Shiva’s cosmic dance, known as the Tāṇḍava. It is traditionally attributed to Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, who was a great devotee of Lord Shiva.
More information on the Shiva Tandava Stotram can be found at the end of this page.

जटाटवी गलज्जल प्रवाह पावितस्थले
गलेवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् ।
डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं
चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् ॥ १ ॥

jaṭāṭavī galajjala pravāha pāvitasthalē
galēvalambya lambitāṁ bhujaṅgatuṅgamālikām |
ḍamaḍḍamaḍḍamaḍḍamanninādavaḍḍamarvayaṁ
cakāra caṇḍatāṇḍavaṁ tanōtu naḥ śivaḥ śivam || 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.

जटाकटाहसम्भ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरी
विलोलवीचिवल्लरी विराजमानमूर्धनि ।
धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाट पट्‍टपावके
किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम ॥ २ ॥

jaṭākaṭāhasambhramabhramannilimpanirjharī
vilōlavīcivallarī virājamānamūrdhani |
dhagaddhagaddhagajjvalallalāṭa paṭ-ṭapāvakē
kiśōracandraśēkharē ratiḥ pratikṣaṇaṁ mama || 2 ||

The celestial river agitatedly moving 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 moon which is an ornament to his head,
Makes my mind love him each and every second.

धराधरेन्द्र नन्दिनी विलासबन्धु बन्धुर
स्फुरद्दिगन्त सन्तति प्रमोद मानमानसे ।
कृपाकटाक्षधोरणी निरुद्ध दुर्धरापदि
क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे मनोविनोदमेतु वस्तुनि ॥ ३ ॥

dharādharēndra nandinī vilāsabandhu bandhura
sphuraddiganta santati pramōda mānamānasē |
kr̥pākaṭākṣadhōraṇī niruddha durdharāpadi
kvaciddigambarē manōvinōdamētu vastuni || 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.

जटाभुजङ्ग पिङ्गल स्फुरत्फणा मणिप्रभा
कदम्ब कुङ्कुम द्रव प्रलिप्त दिग्वधूमुखे ।
मदान्ध सिन्धुर स्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे
मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि ॥ ४ ॥

jaṭābhujaṅga piṅgala sphuratphaṇā maṇiprabhā
kadamba kuṅkuma drava pralipta digvadhūmukhē |
madāndha sindhura sphurattvaguttarīyamēdurē
manō vinōdamadbhutaṁ bibhartu bhūtabhartari || 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 as souls or mythical beings guarding Kailasa.

सहस्रलोचन प्रभृत्यशेषलेख शेखर
प्रसूनधूलि धोरणी विधूसराङ्घ्रि पीठभूः ।
भुजङ्गराजमालया निबद्ध जाटजूटकः
श्रियै चिराय जायतां चकोरबन्धु शेखरः ॥ ५ ॥

sahasralōcana prabhr̥tyaśēṣalēkha śēkhara
prasūnadhūli dhōraṇī vidhūsarāṅghri pīṭhabhūḥ |
bhujaṅgarājamālayā nibaddha jāṭajūṭakaḥ
śriyai cirāya jāyatāṁ cakōrabandhu śēkharaḥ || 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 who a friend of Chakora*
Shower prosperity for ever on me.
* A mythical bird which lives by drinking moon light.

ललाट चत्वरज्वलद्धनञ्जय स्फुलिङ्गभा
निपीत पञ्चसायकं नमन्निलिम्पनायकम् ।
सुधामयूखलेखया विराजमान शेखरं
महाकपालि सम्पदे शिरोजटालमस्तु नः ॥ ६ ॥

lalāṭa catvarajvaladdhanañjaya sphuliṅgabhā
nipīta pañcasāyakaṁ namannilimpanāyakam |
sudhāmayūkhalēkhayā virājamāna śēkharaṁ
mahākapāli sampadē śirōjaṭālamastu naḥ || 6 ||

May he with the raging fire
In his forehead, who burnt the God of love,
May He who is forever being saluted by 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.

कराल फालपट्‍टिका धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वल-
-द्धनञ्जयाहुतीकृत प्रचण्ड पञ्चसायके ।
धराधरेन्द्र नन्दिनी कुचाग्र चित्रपत्रक-
-प्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनि त्रिलोचने रतिर्मम ॥ ७ ॥

karāla phālapaṭ-ṭikā dhagaddhagaddhagajjvala-
-ddhanañjayāhutīkr̥ta pracaṇḍa pañcasāyakē |
dharādharēndra nandinī kucāgra citrapatraka-
-prakalpanaikaśilpini trilōcanē ratirmama || 7 ||

May He in whose dreadful forehead, 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

नवीनमेघमण्डली निरुद्ध दुर्धर स्फुरत्
कुहू निशीथिनी तमः प्रबन्ध बद्ध कन्धरः ।
निलिम्प निर्झरीधरस्तनोतु कृत्तिसिन्धुरः
कलानिधान बन्धुरः श्रियं जगद्धुरन्धरः ॥ ८ ॥

navīnamēghamaṇḍalī niruddha durdhara sphurat
kuhū niśīthinī tamaḥ prabandha baddha kandharaḥ |
nilimpa nirjharīdharastanōtu kr̥ttisindhuraḥ
kalānidhāna bandhuraḥ śriyaṁ jagaddhurandharaḥ || 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.

प्रफुल्ल नील पङ्कज प्रपञ्च कालिमप्रभा-
-वलम्बि कण्ठ कन्दली रुचि प्रबद्ध कन्धरम् ।
स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिदं भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं
गजच्छिदान्धकच्छिदं तमन्तकच्छिदं भजे ॥ ९ ॥

praphulla nīla paṅkaja prapañca kālimaprabhā-
-valambi kaṇṭha kandalī ruci prabaddha kandharam |
smaracchidaṁ puracchidaṁ bhavacchidaṁ makhacchidaṁ
gajacchidāndhakacchidaṁ tamantakacchidaṁ bhajē || 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 yaga destroyers,
And him who destroyed elephant faced Asura and also God of death.,

अखर्व सर्वमङ्गला कलाकदम्बमञ्जरी
रसप्रवाह माधुरी विजृम्भणा मधुव्रतम् ।
स्मरान्तकं पुरान्तकं भवान्तकं मखान्तकं
गजान्तकान्धकान्तकं तमन्तकान्तकं भजे ॥ १० ॥

akharva sarvamaṅgalā kalākadambamañjarī
rasapravāha mādhurī vijr̥mbhaṇā madhuvratam |
smarāntakaṁ purāntakaṁ bhavāntakaṁ makhāntakaṁ
gajāntakāndhakāntakaṁ tamantakāntakaṁ bhajē || 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 yaga destroyers,
And him who destroyed elephant faced Asura and also God of death.

जयत्वदभ्र विभ्रम भ्रमद्भुजङ्गमश्वस-
-द्विनिर्गमत् क्रमस्फुरत् कराल फालहव्यवाट् ।
धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिध्वनन् मृदङ्ग तुङ्ग मङ्गल-
-ध्वनिक्रम प्रवर्तित प्रचण्ड ताण्डवः शिवः ॥ ११ ॥

jayatvadabhra vibhrama bhramadbhujaṅgamaśvasa-
-dvinirgamat kramasphurat karāla phālahavyavāṭ |
dhimiddhimiddhimidhvanan mr̥daṅga tuṅga maṅgala-
-dhvanikrama pravartita pracaṇḍa tāṇḍavaḥ śivaḥ || 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, dhimi, dhimi coming out the auspicious drum.

दृषद्विचित्र तल्पयोर्भुजङ्ग मौक्तिक स्रजो-
-र्गरिष्ठ रत्नलोष्ठयोः सुहृद्विपक्ष पक्षयोः ।
तृणारविन्द चक्षुषोः प्रजामही महेन्द्रयोः
समप्रवृत्तिकः कदा सदाशिवं भजाम्यहम् ॥ १२ ॥

dr̥ṣadvicitra talpayōrbhujaṅga mauktika srajō-
-rgariṣṭha ratnalōṣṭhayōḥ suhr̥dvipakṣa pakṣayōḥ |
tr̥ṇāravinda cakṣuṣōḥ prajāmahī mahēndrayōḥ
samapravr̥ttikaḥ kadā sadāśivaṁ bhajāmyaham || 12 ||

When will I be able to worship that eternal shiva,
With a feeling of equanimity towards 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.

कदा निलिम्पनिर्झरी निकुञ्जकोटरे वसन्
विमुक्त दुर्मतिः सदा शिरस्थमञ्जलिं वहन् ।
विलोल लोललोचनो ललामफाललग्नकः
शिवेति मन्त्रमुच्चरन् कदा सुखी भवाम्यहम् ॥ १३ ॥

kadā nilimpanirjharī nikuñjakōṭarē vasan
vimukta durmatiḥ sadā śirasthamañjaliṁ vahan |
vilōla lōlalōcanō lalāmaphālalagnakaḥ
śivēti mantramuccaran kadā sukhī bhavāmyaham || 13 ||

When will I live the 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?

इमं हि नित्यमेवमुक्तमुत्तमोत्तमं स्तवं
पठन् स्मरन् ब्रुवन्नरो विशुद्धिमेति सन्ततम् ।
हरे गुरौ सुभक्तिमाशु याति नान्यथा गतिं
विमोहनं हि देहिनां सुशङ्करस्य चिन्तनम् ॥ १४ ॥

imaṁ hi nityamēvamuktamuttamōttamaṁ stavaṁ
paṭhan smaran bruvannarō viśuddhimēti santatam |
harē gurau subhaktimāśu yāti nānyathā gatiṁ
vimōhanaṁ hi dēhināṁ suśaṅkarasya cintanam || 14 ||

This 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,
For remembering Lord Shiva, is a sure method of removal of detachment.

पूजावसानसमये दशवक्त्रगीतं
यः शम्भुपूजनपरं पठति प्रदोषे ।
तस्य स्थिरां रथगजेन्द्र तुरङ्गयुक्तां
लक्ष्मीं सदैव सुमुखीं प्रददाति शम्भुः ॥ १५ ॥

pūjāvasānasamayē daśavaktragītaṁ
yaḥ śambhupūjanaparaṁ paṭhati pradōṣē |
tasya sthirāṁ rathagajēndra turaṅgayuktāṁ
lakṣmīṁ sadaiva sumukhīṁ pradadāti śambhuḥ || 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.

इति श्रीदशकण्ठरावण विरचितं श्री शिव ताण्डव स्तोत्रम् ।

iti śrīdaśakaṇṭharāvaṇa viracitaṁ śrī śiva tāṇḍava stōtram |

Thus ends the Sri Shiva Tandava Stotram, composed by Sri Ravana, the ten-headed one.

Description

Shiva Tandava Stotram

The Shiva Tandava Stotram is a deeply powerful and rhythmic hymn that glorifies Lord Shiva’s cosmic dance, known as the Tāṇḍava. It is traditionally attributed to Ravana, the demon king of Lanka, who was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. The stotram vividly describes Shiva’s fierce, energetic, and awe-inspiring dance, which represents the creation, preservation, and destruction of the universe.

The Shiva Tāṇḍava Stotram glorifies the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva, known as the Tāṇḍava, which represents the cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction in the universe. The hymn celebrates Shiva’s dynamic and eternal nature, describing his fierce yet compassionate form in vivid imagery. It highlights his adornments, such as the crescent moon, serpent garlands, ashes smeared on his body, and the sacred Ganga flowing from his matted hair. The verses are a poetic expression of the divine balance between life and death, beauty and ferocity, and power and devotion. The stotram reflects Ravana’s deep reverence and surrender, showcasing the overwhelming power of Shiva’s cosmic dance and his transcendence over the material and spiritual realms.

The Shiva Tāṇḍava Stotram is written in Sanskrit and follows the Shikharini meter, characterized by a fast, rolling rhythm that mirrors the intensity and energy of Shiva’s cosmic dance. Each verse consists of intricately structured syllables, creating a rhythmic cadence that captures the essence of the Tāṇḍava. The hymn’s repetitive patterns and alliterative sounds enhance its musicality, making it both a devotional and aesthetic experience. The fast-paced rhythm reflects the dynamic movements of Shiva’s dance, symbolizing the pulsating rhythm of the cosmos. This structure not only adds to the poetic beauty of the stotram but also evokes a sense of divine energy and spiritual elevation in those who chant or listen to it.

Reciting or listening to the Shiva Tandava Stotram invokes Lord Shiva’s blessings, helps overcome obstacles, and inspires a sense of awe and devotion.

Other Shiva Shlokams

Shiva Tandava Stotram – Shiva – In Sanskrit, English Translation, Meaning, Significance and Audio.