Shri Shiva Tandava Stotram

Shri Shiva Tandava Stotram is one of the most energetic, rhythmic, and poetic masterpieces in Sanskrit literature. Composed in the vigorous Panchachamara meter, this hymn praises Lord Shiva during His cosmic dance (Tandava). The stotram was composed by Lankeshwara Ravana, the king of Lanka and a devoted scholar of Shiva.

The scriptural context of this hymn is famous. Driven by pride, Ravana attempted to lift Mount Kailash, the abode of Shiva and Parvati. Lord Shiva gently pressed His big toe down, trapping Ravana's arms beneath the mountain. Realizing his arrogance, Ravana wept (Roruyamana) and composed this electrifying 15-verse stotram playing his own severed arm as a Veena. Pleased by Ravana's sublime poetry and devotion, Shiva lifted the mountain, released him, and bestowed upon him the divine sword Chandrahasa.

Each verse of the Shiva Tandava Stotram generates intense spiritual energy, depicting the roaring Ganges in Shiva's matted hair, the crescent moon on His forehead, the third eye blazing with cosmic fire, and the rhythmic beat of His Damaru drum.

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According to traditional belief and the Phalashruti verses of this hymn, daily recitation of Shri Shiva Tandava Stotram grants immense blessings:

• Attainment of Wealth and Power (Raja Sampat): Bestows prosperity, leadership status, and material abundance.
• Destruction of Pride and Ego: Transforms arrogance into humility and pure devotion.
• Removal of Planetary Afflictions and Poverty (Daridrya Dahana): Shields against malefic planetary impacts and poverty.
• Vak Siddhi and Poetic Excellence: Grants powerful speech, artistic rhythm, and scholarly mastery.
• Destruction of Sins and Fear of Death: Eradicates past sins and removes fear of untimely death.
• Attainment of Shiva's Abode (Shiva Loka Prapti): Grants ultimate liberation and residence in Kailasha.

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Verse 1

Jaṭā-Ṭavī-Galaj-Jala-Pravāha-Pāvita-Sthale
Gale 'valambya Lambitāṃ Bhujaṅga-Tuṅga-Mālikām ।
Ḍamad-Ḍamad-Ḍamad-Ḍaman-Ninādavad-Ḍamarvayaṃ
Cakāra Caṇḍa-Tāṇḍavaṃ Tanotu Naḥ Śivaḥ Śivam ॥ 1 ॥

Verse 2

Jaṭā-Kaṭāha-Sambhrama-Bhraman-Nilimpa-Nirjharī-
Vilola-Vīci-Vallarī-Virājamāna-Mūrdhani ।
Dhagadhagadhaga-Jjvalal-Lalāṭa-Paṭṭa-Pāvake
Kishora-Candra-Śekhare Ratiḥ Pratikṣaṇaṃ Mama ॥ 2 ॥

Verse 3

Dharā-Dhara-Nandinī-Vilāsa-Bandhu-Bandhura-
Sphurad-Diganta-Santati-Pramoda-Māna-Mānase ।
Kṛpā-Kaṭākṣa-Dhoraṇī-Niruddha-Durdharāpadi
Kvacid-Digambare Mano Vinodam-Etu Vastuni ॥ 3 ॥

Verse 4

Jaṭā-Bhujaṅga-Piṅgala-Sphurat-Phaṇā-Maṇi-Prabhā-
Kadamba-Kuṅkuma-Drava-Pralipta-Dig-Vadhū-Mukhe ।
Madāndha-Sindhura-Sphurat-Tvag-Uttarīya-Medure
Mano Mano-Dhare Mano-Ramāstu Vastuni ॥ 4 ॥

Verse 5

Sahasra-Locana-Prabhṛty-Aśeṣa-Leka-Śekhara-
Prasūna-Dhūli-Dhoranī-Vidhūsarāṅghri-Pīṭhabhūḥ ।
Bhujaṅga-Rāja-Mālayā Nibaddha-Jāṭa-Jūṭakaḥ
Śriyai Cirāya Jāyatāṃ Cakorabandhu-Śekharaḥ ॥ 5 ॥

Verse 6

Lalāṭa-Catvarajvala-Ddhanañjaya-Sphuliṅgabhā-
Nipīta-Pañcasāyakaṃ Naman-Nilimpa-Nāyakam ।
Sudhā-Mayūkha-Lekhayā Virājamāna-Śekharaṃ
Mahā-Kapāli-Sampade Śiro-Jaṭālam-Astu Naḥ ॥ 6 ॥

Verse 7

Karāla-Bhāla-Paṭṭikā-Dhagadhagadhaga-Jjvala-
Ddhanañjayā-Hutī-Kṛta-Pracaṇḍa-Pañcasāyake ।
Dharā-Dhara-Nandinī-Stana-Agra-Citra-Patraka-
Prakalpana-Eka-Śilpini Trilocane Rati-Mama ॥ 7 ॥

Verse 8

Navīna-Megha-Maṇḍalī-Niruddha-Durdhara-Sphurat-
Kuhū-Niśīthinī-Tamaḥ-Prabandha-Baddha-Kandharaḥ ।
Nilimpa-Nirjharī-Dharaḥ Kaniṣṭha-Pāvaka-Prabhaḥ
Kāladhara-Gaja-Cchidā-Bhidaṃ Cchidābhidam-Astu Naḥ ॥ 8 ॥

Verse 9

Dhūrjaṭi-Giri-Maṇḍalī-Pravāha-Pāvita-Sthale
Phulla-Kalla-Nipāka-Sphurad-Diganta-Santati-Pramoda-Mānase ।
Smarāntakaṃ Purāntakaṃ Bhavāntakaṃ Makhāntakaṃ
Gajāntakāndhakāntakaṃ Tam-Antakāntakaṃ Bhaje ॥ 9 ॥

Verse 10

Jayatvadabhra-Vibhrama-Bhramad-Bhujaṅga-Maspurat-
Dhung-Dhung-Dhi-Dhi-Dhim-Dhimi-Dhvanan-Mṛdaṅga-Tāṅga-Nirghamaḥ ।
Kuliṅga-Cāru-Melana-Krama-Pravartita-Pracaṇḍa-Tāṇḍavaḥ
Śivo Śivāya Caṇḍikā-Tāṇḍava-Vyagrā-Jayaḥ ॥ 10 ॥

Verse 11

Dṛṣad-Vicitra-Talpayor-Bhujaṅga-Muktikā-Srajor-
Garā-Maṇi-Loṣṭha-Pakṣayor-Tṛṇāravinda-Cakṣuṣoḥ ।
Sunis-Trika-Pakṣayoh-Prajā-Mahī-Mahendra-Yoh
Sama-Pravṛttikaḥ Sadā Śivaṃ Bhajāmy-Ahaṃ Kadhā ॥ 11 ॥

Verse 12

Kadā Nilimpa-Nirjharī-Nikunja-Koṭare Vasan
Vimukta-Durmatiḥ Sadā Śiraḥ Stha-Mañjaliṃ Vahan ।
Vimukta-Lola-Locanaṃ Lalāṭa-Bhāla-Lagnakam
Iti Mantra-Muccaran-Kadā Sukhaṃ Sakhāmy-Aham ॥ 12 ॥

Verse 13

Imām-Evam-Nityam-Evam-Ukta-Muttamaṃ Stavaṃ
Paṭhan-Smaran-Bruvan-Naro Viśuddhim-Eti Santatam ।
Hare Gurau Subhaktim-Āśu Yāti Nānyathā Gatiṃ
Vimohanaṃ Hi Dehināṃ Suśaṅkarasya Cīntanam ॥ 13 ॥

Verse 14

Pūjā-Vasāna-Samaye Daśavaktra-Gītaṃ
Yaḥ Śambhu-Pūjana-Paraṃ Paṭhati Pradoṣe ।
Tasya Sthirāṃ Ratha-Gajendra-Turaṅga-Yuktāṃ
Lakṣmīṃ Sadaiva Sumukhīṃ Pradadāti Śambhuḥ ॥ 14 ॥

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Whoever recites this Shiva Tandava Stotram composed by the ten-headed Ravana (Dasha-Vaktra-Gitam) at the end of evening worship (Pradosha) will be blessed by Lord Sambhu with permanent wealth, horses, elephants, chariots, and steady devotion (Sthiram Lakshmim Sadaiva Sumukhim Pradadati Shambhuh).

Chanting, remembering, or speaking these sublime verses cleanses the mind of all impurities and leads the devotee directly to the lotus feet of Lord Hara.

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Om Namah Shivaya!
Karacharaṇa Kṛtaṃ Vākkāyajaṃ Karmajaṃ Vā Śravaṇa Nayanajaṃ Vā Mānasaṃ Vāparādham ।
Vihitamavihitaṃ Vā Sarvametat Kṣamasva Jaya Jaya Karuṇābdhe Śrī Mahādeva Śambho ॥

O Supreme Lord Mahadeva Shambhu! The ocean of mercy!
Forgive all my sins committed by hands, feet, speech, body, eyes, ears, or mind. Victory to You, O Shankara!

Om Shanti! Shanti! Shanti!

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Lankeshwara Ravana was the king of Lanka, a grandson of Sage Pulastya, and a master scholar of Vedic lore and music. He was a master player of the Veena and an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva.

Though Ravana possessed immense tapas and knowledge, his tragic flaw was pride (Ahankara). The composition of Shiva Tandava Stotram represents the exact moment when Ravana's ego was crushed by Lord Shiva, transforming his pride into ecstatic devotion (Bhakti).

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Shiva Tandava Stotram is celebrated for its unmatched sound vibration and spiritual depth:

1. Rhythm of the Cosmic Dance: The meter mimics the energetic beat of Shiva's Damaru drum (Damad-Damad-Damad-Damat) and the roaring waves of Ganga in His matted locks.
2. Equanimity of Mind: Verse 11 (Drisad Vicitra Talpayor...) contains a profound Advaitic message—praying for the state of mind where one sees no difference between a bed of stones or flowers, a serpent or a pearl necklace, a friend or an enemy, clay or gold.
3. Pradosha Worship: Verse 14 highlights that reciting this hymn during Pradosha (sunset period of the 13th lunar day) yields supreme spiritual and material rewards.

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• Verse 1: May Lord Shiva extend auspiciousness to us, whose matted hair is purified by the flowing Ganga and around whose neck hangs a giant snake.
• Verse 2: May my mind find constant joy in Lord Shiva, on whose forehead blazes the cosmic fire and on whose head shines the young crescent moon.
• Verse 3: May my mind rejoice in the Supreme Being who is the companion of Parvati, whose grace removes all unbearable calamities.
• Verse 4: May my mind find delight in Shiva, whose neck is anointed with saffron-red light from the jewels on serpent hoods.
• Verse 5: May Lord Shiva bestow long-lasting prosperity, whose footstool is greyed by the flower dust from the crowns of worshipping gods.
• Verses 6–10: Describing Shiva burning Kama (god of desire), wearing the skull garland, dancing with Chandika to the beat of Mridanga (Dhung-Dhung-Dhi-Dhi-Dhim).
• Verses 11–14: Praying for equal vision (Samadrishti), living in Kailasha caves, and the Phalashruti promise of lasting wealth and liberation.

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