Shiva Tandava Stotram
Composed by Ravana
Ravana's electrifying hymn celebrating the cosmic dance and boundless power of Lord Shiva.
About Shiva Tandava Stotram
The Shiva Tandava Stotram is one of the most sonically powerful hymns in Sanskrit literature, composed by the mighty king Ravana in praise of Lord Shiva. The poem describes the cosmic Tandava dance of Shiva — a dance that sustains, destroys, and recreates the universe — through vivid, rapid-fire imagery of Shiva's matted locks, the Ganga, the crescent moon, serpents, and the drum (damaru).
The stotram is renowned for its complex, cascading meter (dharita or pramanaika) which mimics the relentless rhythm of the Tandava itself. The verses build in intensity, each one piling image upon thunderous image: fire, rivers, celestial beings, and the roar of drums all swirling around the cosmic dancer.
Ravana's devotion, despite his flaws, is considered exemplary in this context — a reminder that Shiva is accessible to all who approach him with genuine surrender. Chanting the Shiva Tandava Stotram is said to fill the devotee with energy, courage, and the transformative grace of Shiva.
Source: Shiva Purana tradition
Verses
Sanskrit
जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् । डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् ॥
Transliteration
Jaṭāṭavī Galajjala Pravāha Pāvita Sthale Gale'valambya Lambitāṃ Bhujaṅga Tuṅga Mālikām | Ḍamaḍ Ḍamaḍ ḌamaḍḌaman Ninādavaḍḍamarvayaṃ Cakāra Caṇḍa Tāṇḍavaṃ Tanotu Naḥ Śivaḥ Śivam ||
Meaning
May Lord Shiva, whose throat is purified by the stream of water flowing from the forest of matted locks, who wears a garland of lofty serpents around his neck, and who performed the fierce Tandava dance to the sound of the damaru drum going dam-dam-dam — may He bestow auspiciousness upon us.
Sanskrit
जटाकटाहसम्भ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरी- विलोलवीचिवल्लरीविराजमानमूर्धनि । धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाटपट्टपावके किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम ॥
Transliteration
Jaṭākaṭāha Sambhrama Bhramannilinpa Nirjarī Vilola Vīci Vallarī Virāja Māna Mūrdhani | Dhagad Dhagad Dhagajjvallal Lalāṭa Paṭṭa Pāvake Kiśora Candra Śekhare Ratiḥ Pratikṣaṇaṃ Mama ||
Meaning
May my devotion, at every moment, rest in Lord Shiva whose head is adorned with the playfully swirling waves of the Ganga surging from the whirlpool of his matted locks, and whose forehead blazes with roaring fire going dhagad-dhagad-dhagad, and on whose crown rests the crescent moon.
Sanskrit
धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीविलासबन्धुबन्धुर- स्फुरद्दिगन्तसन्ततिप्रमोदमानमानसे । कृपाकटाक्षधोरणीनिरुद्धदुर्धरापदि क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे मनो विनोदमेतु वस्तुनि ॥
Transliteration
Dharādhara Indra Nandinī Vilāsa Bandhu Bandhura Sphurad Diganta Santati Pramoda Māna Mānase | Kṛpā Kaṭākṣa Dhoraṇī Niruddha Durdhara Āpadi Kvacid Digambare Mano Vinodametu Vastuni ||
Meaning
May my mind find delight in Lord Shiva — the sky-clad one — whose heart rejoices in the playful sport of Parvati, daughter of the mountain king, filling the expanse of all directions with bliss, and whose compassionate glance cuts off even the most terrible calamities.
Sanskrit
जटाभुजङ्गपिङ्गलस्फुरत्फणामणिप्रभा- कदम्बकुङ्कुमद्रवप्रलिप्तदिग्वधूमुखे । मदान्धसिन्धुरस्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि ॥
Transliteration
Jaṭā Bhujaṅga Piṅgala Sphurat Phaṇā Maṇi Prabhā Kadamba Kuṅkuma Drava Praliptta Dig Vadhū Mukhe | Madāndha Sindhura Sphurat Tvag Uttarīya Medure Mano Vinodamadbhutaṃ Bibhartu Bhūta Bhartari ||
Meaning
May my mind find wondrous delight in the Lord of all beings, Shiva — whose reddish-brown serpents in his matted locks radiate jewelled light from their hoods, colouring the faces of the directions like saffron paste, and who wears as his upper garment the shining skin of a maddened elephant.
Benefits of Reciting Shiva Tandava Stotram
- ✓Fills the devotee with immense energy, courage, and fearlessness
- ✓Invokes the protective grace of Shiva against enemies and evil forces
- ✓Purifies and elevates the mind through its powerful sound vibrations
- ✓Destroys deep-seated pride and ego, as it did for Ravana himself
- ✓Grants boons related to strength, eloquence, and mastery of arts
- ✓Regular recitation is said to lead to liberation and union with Shiva