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ॐ SanatanPath

Shiva Tandava Stotram

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जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम्। डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम्॥१॥ जटाकटाहसम्भ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरी विलोलवीचिवल्लरीविराजमानमूर्धनि। धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाटपट्टपावके 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॥ कराललभालपट्टिकाधगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वल द्धनञ्जयाहुतीकृतप्रचण्डपञ्चसायके। धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीकुचाग्रचित्रपत्रक प्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनि त्रिलोचने रतिर्मम॥७॥ नवीनमेघमण्डली निरुद्धदुर्धरस्फुर त्कुहूनिशीथिनीतमःप्रबन्धबद्धकन्धरः। निलिम्पनिर्झरीधरस्तनोतु कृत्तिसिन्धुरः कलानिधानबन्धुरः श्रियं जगद्धुरन्धरः॥८॥ प्रफुल्लनीलपङ्कजप्रपञ्चकालिमप्रभा वलम्बिकण्ठकन्दलीरुचिप्रबद्धकन्धरम्। स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिदं भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं गजच्छिदान्धकच्छिदं तमन्तकच्छिदं भजे॥९॥ जयत्वदभ्रविभ्रमभ्रमद्भुजङ्गमश्वस द्विनिर्गमत्क्रमस्फुरत्करालभालहव्यवाट्। धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिध्वनन्मृदङ्गतुङ्गमङ्गल ध्वनिक्रमप्रवर्तितप्रचण्डताण्डवः शिवः॥१०॥
Transliteration

jaṭāṭavīgalajjalapravāhapāvitasthale gale'valambya lambitāṃ bhujaṅgatuṅgamālikām | ḍamaḍḍamaḍḍamaḍḍamanninādavaḍḍamarvayaṃ cakāra caṇḍatāṇḍavaṃ tanotu naḥ śivaḥ śivam ||1|| jaṭākaṭāhasambhramabhramannilimpanirjharī vilolavīcivallarīvirājamānamūrdhani | dhagaddhagaddhagajjvalallalāṭapaṭṭapāvake kiśoracandraśekhare ratiḥ pratikṣaṇaṃ mama ||2|| dharādharendranandīnīvilāsabandhubandhura sphuraddigantasantatipramodamānamānase | kṛpākaṭākṣadhoraṇīniruddhadurdharāpadi kvaciddigambare mano vinodametu vastuni ||3|| jaṭābhujaṅgapiṅgalasphuratphaṇāmaṇiprabhā kadambakuṅkumadravapraliptadigvadhūmukhe | madāndhasindhurasphurattvaguttarīyamedure mano vinodamadbhutaṃ bibhartu bhūtabhartari ||4|| sahasralocanaprabhṛtyaśeṣalekhaśekhara prasūnadhūlidhoraṇī vidhūsarāṅghripīṭhabhūḥ | bhujaṅgarājamālayā nibaddhajāṭajūṭaka śriyai cirāya jāyatāṃ cakorabandhuśekharaḥ ||5|| lalāṭacatvarajvaladdhanañjayasphuliṅgabhā nipītapañcasāyakaṃ namannilimpanāyakam | sudhāmayūkhalekhayā virājamānaśekharaṃ mahākapālisampadeśirojaṭālamastu naḥ ||6|| karālabhālapaṭṭikādhagaddhagaddhagajjvala ddhanañjayāhutīkṛtapracaṇḍapañcasāyake | dharādharendranandīnīkucāgracitraptraka prakalpanaikaśilpini trilocane ratirmama ||7|| navīnameghamaṇḍalī niruddhadura-sphura tkuhūniśīthinītamaḥprabandhatabaddhakandhraḥ | nilimpanirjharīdharastanotu kṛttisindhurah kalānidhānabandhurah śriyaṃ jagaddhruandharaḥ ||8|| praphullanīlapaṅkajaprapañcakālimaprabhā valambikaṇṭhakandalīruciprabad'dhakandharam | smaracchidaṃ puracchidaṃ bhavacchidaṃ makhacchidaṃ gajacchidāndhakacchidaṃ tamantakacchidaṃ bhaje ||9|| jayatvadabhravibhramabhramadbhujaṅgamaśvasa dvinirgamatkramasphuratkarālabhālahavyavāṭ | dhimiddhimiddhimidhvananmṛdaṅgatuṅgamaṅgala dhvanikramapravartitapracaṇḍatāṇḍavaḥ śivaḥ ||10||

Translation

With the holy waters of the Ganga flowing from the dense forest of his matted hair purifying his neck, with a tall garland of serpents hanging from his neck, performing the fierce Tandava dance to the rhythmic beats of the damaru drum — dam-dam-dam-dam — may Lord Shiva bestow auspiciousness upon us. Upon whose head the celestial river Ganga, whirling in the deep cavern of matted hair, shines with her playful, dancing waves like a creeper; upon whose forehead blazes the fire with a dhagad-dhagad-dhagad sound — may my love grow every moment for that Lord who wears the crescent moon upon his head. He who is gracefully handsome like a kinsman in the playful company of the daughter of the mountain king (Parvati), whose mind rejoices in the expanding progeny across all directions, whose stream of compassionate glances wards off insurmountable calamities — may my mind find delight in that entity who is Digambara (clothed by the directions themselves). The radiance of the gems on the hoods of the tawny serpents in his matted hair paints the faces of the brides of the directions as if anointed with liquid kadamba and saffron; he who wears the glistening hide of a maddened elephant as his upper garment — may my mind find wondrous delight in that Lord of all beings. He whose footstool is grey with the dust of flowers that fall from the crowns of Indra and all the gods, whose matted locks are bound by the king of serpents as a garland — may that Lord who wears the friend of the Chakora bird (the moon) upon his crest bring us lasting prosperity. The brilliance of the fire blazing on the altar of his forehead consumed the five arrows of Kamadeva (the god of love); before him bow all the chiefs of the gods; upon his crest shines the crescent moon with its nectarean rays — may the matted locks of that great skull-bearing Lord bestow prosperity upon us. Upon whose terrifying forehead the fire blazes dhagad-dhagad-dhagad, consuming the mighty five arrows of Kamadeva as an oblation; who is the sole artist that paints beautiful designs upon the bosom of the daughter of the mountain king (Parvati) — in that three-eyed Lord is my love. Whose throat is bound by the darkness of the new moon night, blocked by banks of fresh dark clouds (his throat is blue like dark clouds); who bears the celestial river Ganga, who wears the elephant's hide, who is adorned by the moon — may that bearer of the world's burden bestow prosperity upon us. Whose throat gleams with the dark lustre of a fully bloomed blue lotus, whose neck is bound by the beautiful glow of the blue mark (from drinking poison) — I worship him who destroyed Kamadeva (Smara), who destroyed the three cities (Tripura), who cuts the bonds of worldly existence, who destroyed the sacrifice of Daksha, who slew the elephant demon and the demon Andhaka, and who conquered Yama, the god of death. Victory to Lord Shiva whose terrifying forehead-fire flares from the breath of the serpents whirling in wild frenzy upon his brow, who performs the fierce Tandava dance set to the rhythm of the auspicious, thundering mridanga drum sounding dhimid-dhimid-dhimi!

Introduction

The Shiva Tandava Stotram is one of the most powerful hymns ever composed in praise of Lord Shiva. It was authored by Ravana, the king of Lanka, who was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. This stotram vividly describes Shiva’s Tandava — the cosmic dance of creation and destruction — with unmatched rhythmic intensity.

Ravana was a great scholar, a master of the Vedas, and a accomplished musician. According to legend, when Ravana attempted to lift Mount Kailash, Lord Shiva pressed the mountain down with his toe, trapping Ravana’s arm beneath it. In agony, Ravana composed this stotram to appease Lord Shiva, who was so pleased that he released Ravana and granted him the divine sword Chandrahasa.

Significance

The Shiva Tandava Stotram is renowned for its complex Sanskrit compound words and thundering rhythm that evokes the power of Shiva’s dance. The stotram’s metre creates a pulsating cadence that mirrors the cosmic beats of Shiva’s damaru (drum). It is considered one of the most powerful Shiva stotrams and is believed to bestow courage, strength, and divine protection upon the reciter.

How to Recite

  • This stotram is especially beneficial when recited on Mondays or on Shivaratri.
  • Before recitation, offer water to a Shiva Linga and meditate upon Lord Shiva.
  • The stotram should be chanted with correct pronunciation and a rhythmic cadence to fully experience its power.
  • Daily recitation during the month of Shravana (July-August) is considered highly auspicious.