शिवताण्डवस्तोत्रम् — Shiva Tandava Stotram

Composed by Ravana, King of Lanka

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The Origin Story

The Shiva Purana narrates that Ravana, emboldened by boons, attempted to uproot Mount Kailasa. As the mountain shuddered, Lord Shiva simply pressed his left big toe downward, pinning Ravana beneath the immense mass. Realizing his catastrophic arrogance, Ravana pulled out his own veins to string a rudra veena and sang these passionate, alliterative verses in praise of Shiva’s cosmic dance. Shiva was so enchanted by the raw beauty and devotion of the hymn that he released Ravana, blessed him with the Chandrahas sword, and named him “Ravana” (he who roars).

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Verse 1

जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले
गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् ।
डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं
चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration:
Jaṭā-ṭavī-galaj-jala-pravāha-pāvita-sthale
Gale’valambya lambitāṁ bhujaṅga-tuṅga-mālikām |
Ḍamaḍ-ḍamaḍ-ḍamaḍ-ḍaman-ninādavad-ḍamarvayaṁ
Cakāra caṇḍa-tāṇḍavaṁ tanotu naḥ śivaḥ śivam || 1 ||

Meaning:
With his neck consecrated by the stream of the Ganga flowing down the dense thicket of his matted hair; with a huge serpent suspended like a garland around his throat; with his damaru echoing in rhythmic beats Damad-damad-damad-damat — may Lord Shiva, who performs the fierce Tandava dance, expand our auspicious well-being!

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Verse 2

जटाकटाहसम्भ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरी-
विलोलवीचिवल्लरीविराजमानमूर्धनि ।
धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाटपट्टपावके
किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration:
Jaṭā-kaṭāha-sambhrama-bhraman-nilimpa-nirjharī-
Vilola-vīci-vallarī-virājamāna-mūrdhani |
Dhagad-dhagad-dhagaj-jvalal-lalāṭa-paṭṭa-pāvake
Kiśora-candra-śekhare ratiḥ pratikṣaṇaṁ mama || 2 ||

Meaning:
May my mind delight every second in Lord Shiva: on whose crest the celestial river Ganga churns waves of rolling spray within the cauldron of his locks; whose forehead radiates blazing fire with a roaring crackle (Dhagad-dhagad-dhagat); and who wears the young crescent moon like a jewel upon his crown!

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Verse 3

धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीविलासबन्धुबन्धुर-
स्फुरद्दिगन्तसन्ततिप्रमोदमानमानसे ।
कृपाकटाक्षधोरणीनिरुद्धदुर्धरापदि
क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे मनो विनोदमेतु वस्तुनि ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration:
Dharā-dharendra-nandinī-vilāsa-bandhu-bandhura-
Sphurad-dig-anta-santati-pramodamāna-mānase |
Kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-dhoraṇī-niruddha-durdharāpadi
Kvacid-digambare mano vinodam-etu vastuni || 3 ||

Meaning:
May my heart find joy in that Omnipresent Reality clad in the sky (Digambara): whose mind exults in the graceful presence of Parvati, daughter of the mountain king; whose glance of unbroken compassion arrests and terminates inescapable calamities for those who take refuge in Him!

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Verse 4

जटाभुजङ्गपिङ्गलस्फुरत्फणामणिप्रभा-
कदम्बकुङ्कुमद्रवप्रलिप्तदिग्वधूमुखे ।
मदान्धसिन्धुरस्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे
मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि ॥ ४ ॥

Meaning:
May my mind experience wonder in the Lord of all beings: who illuminates the faces of the quarters with the reddish-yellow lustre emanating from the gems on the hood of the serpents entangled in his locks; and who wears the upper mantle made of elephant hide, soft and resonant with cosmic power!

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Verse 5 to 8 (Cosmic Fire & Mastery over Desire)

• Verse 5: Praises Shiva who burnt Kamadeva (the god of desire) to ashes with the fire flashing from his third eye (Kāma-deha-pāvake).
• Verse 6: Describes the lotus feet of Shiva, rendered fragrant by the pollen dropping from the crowns of bowing celestials like Indra and Vishnu.
• Verse 7: Envisions the third eye consuming all illusions, while the crescent moon drips cooling ambrosia onto the burning forehead.
• Verse 8: Depicts the cosmic circle of the cosmos being supported effortlessly by Shiva’s neck as black as a streak of night clouds (Nīla-kaṇṭha).

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Verse 9 & 10 (Equanimity of Non-Duality)

दृषद्विचित्रतल्पयोर्भुजङ्गमौक्तिकस्रजोर्-
गरिष्ठरत्नलोष्टयोः सुहृद्विपक्षपक्षयोः ।
तृणारविन्दचक्षुषोः प्रजामहीमहेन्द्रयोः
समप्रवृत्तिकः कदा सदाशिवं भजाम्यहम् ॥ ९ ॥

Meaning:
When will I achieve equal vision (Sama-buddhi) towards a hard rock and a soft bed; towards a serpent and a pearl necklace; towards a priceless diamond and a clod of dirt; towards a friend and an enemy; towards a blade of grass and a lotus petal; towards an ordinary subject and a mighty emperor — and thus worship Lord Sadashiva in perfect stillness?

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Climax & Phala Shruti (Verses 14 & 15)

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

Meaning:
Whoever recites this song of the ten-headed Ravana dedicated to the worship of Shambhu at the conclusion of prayer during the evening twilight (Pradosha): to them, Lord Shambhu permanently bestows the radiant and smiling Goddess Lakshmi, accompanied by wealth, vehicles, and unshakeable inner prosperity!