Nataraja Stotram (Patanjali)
नटराज स्तोत्रम् (पतञ्जलि कृतम्)
Also known as: nataraja stotram · patanjali nataraja stotram · charanashringararahita nataraja stotram · sadanchita mudanchita nikunchita padam · para chidambara natam hridi bhaja · nataraja stotram patanjali krutam
Read in your language / script
✦ Meaning
The Nataraja Stotram, also called the Charanashringararahita Nataraja Stotram, is a sublime hymn of ten verses to Lord Shiva as Nataraja, the cosmic dancer of Chidambaram. It is attributed to the sage Patanjali, who, by tradition, composed it to win the Lord's darshan — fashioning it, as a poetic feat, without ever using the syllables 'charana' and 'shringa'. Each verse paints the dancing Lord in dense, musical Sanskrit and ends with the refrain 'para-cidambara-naṭaṁ hṛdi bhaja' — 'worship in your heart the Dancer of the supreme Chidambaram'. The closing verse promises liberation from the ocean of rebirth to those who recite it daily.
Origin & Story
Shaiva stotra tradition; the Chidambaram (Nataraja) tradition · Sage Patanjali (traditional attribution) · Ancient
By tradition, the great sage Patanjali — author of the Yoga Sutras and revered as an incarnation of Adishesha, the serpent of Vishnu — longed for the darshan of Lord Nataraja at Chidambaram. When Nandi, the gatekeeper, would not let him pass, Patanjali spontaneously poured out this hymn of praise, composing it with the astonishing constraint of never using the syllables 'charana' or 'shringa', so that it came to be called the Charanashringararahita Nataraja Stotram. Pleased by the depth and artistry of his devotion, Lord Shiva granted him the vision of the cosmic dance. The hymn has since been treasured at Chidambaram and among devotees of Nataraja.
✦ As told in scripture
Tradition holds that as Patanjali sang these verses, Lord Nataraja revealed to him the Ananda Tandava — the dance of bliss in the golden hall of Chidambaram, the 'space of consciousness' itself. It is said that sincere recitation grants the devotee an inward glimpse of that same dance shining in the lotus of the heart.
Complete Text with Meaning
Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited
सदञ्चितमुदञ्चितनिकुञ्चितपदं झलझलं चलितमञ्जुकटकं पतञ्जलिदृगञ्जनमनञ्जनमचञ्चलपदं जननभञ्जनकरम्। कदम्बरुचिमम्बरवसं परममम्बुदकदम्बकविडम्बकगलं चिदम्बुधिमणिं बुधहृदम्बुजरविं परचिदम्बरनटं हृदि भज॥१॥
Sadañcita-mudañcita-nikuñcita-padaṁ jhalajhalaṁ calita-mañju-kaṭakaṁ Patañjali-dṛg-añjanam-anañjanam-acañcala-padaṁ janana-bhañjana-karam। Kadamba-rucim-ambara-vasaṁ paramam-ambuda-kadambaka-viḍambaka-galaṁ Cid-ambudhi-maṇiṁ budha-hṛd-ambuja-raviṁ para-cidambara-naṭaṁ hṛdi bhaja॥1॥
Meaning:Worship in your heart the Dancer of the supreme Chidambaram — whose gracefully curved foot is raised in the dance while his lovely anklets jingle 'jhala-jhala'; who is the very delight of Patanjali's eyes, stainless and unmoving, who shatters the cycle of birth; radiant as the kadamba blossom, clad in the sky, his throat dark as a cluster of rain-clouds; the jewel from the ocean of consciousness, the sun to the lotus-hearts of the wise.
हरं त्रिपुरभञ्जनमनन्तकृतकङ्कणमखण्डदयमन्तरहितं विरिञ्चिसुरसंहतिपुरन्धरविचिन्तितपदं तरुणचन्द्रमकुटम्। परं पदविखण्डितयमं भसितमण्डिततनुं मदनवञ्चनपरं चिरन्तनममुं प्रणवसञ्चितनिधिं परचिदम्बरनटं हृदि भज॥२॥
Haraṁ tripura-bhañjanam-ananta-kṛta-kaṅkaṇam-akhaṇḍa-dayam-antarahitaṁ Viriñci-sura-saṁhati-purandhara-vicintita-padaṁ taruṇa-candra-makuṭam। Paraṁ pada-vikhaṇḍita-yamaṁ bhasita-maṇḍita-tanuṁ madana-vañcana-paraṁ Cirantanam-amuṁ praṇava-sañcita-nidhiṁ para-cidambara-naṭaṁ hṛdi bhaja॥2॥
Meaning:Worship the Dancer of supreme Chidambaram — Hara, destroyer of Tripura, wearing endless bracelets, of undivided compassion, without inner flaw; whose feet Brahma, the gods and Indra contemplate, crowned with the young moon; the Supreme who cut down Yama with his foot, his body adorned with ash, who outwitted Kama — the ancient one, the treasure gathered in the Pranava (Om).
अवन्तमखिलं जगदभङ्गगुणतुङ्गममतं धृतविधुं सुरसरि- त्तरङ्गनिकुरुम्बधृतिलम्पटजटं शमनदम्भसुहरं भवहरम्। शिवं दशदिगन्तरविजृम्भितकरं करलसन्मृगशिशुं पशुपतिं हरं शशिधनञ्जयपतङ्गनयनं परचिदम्बरनटं हृदि भज॥३॥
Avantam-akhilaṁ jagad-abhaṅga-guṇa-tuṅgam-amataṁ dhṛta-vidhuṁ sura-sarit- Taraṅga-nikurumba-dhṛti-lampaṭa-jaṭaṁ śamana-dambha-suharaṁ bhava-haram। Śivaṁ daśa-digantara-vijṛmbhita-karaṁ kara-lasan-mṛga-śiśuṁ paśupatiṁ Haraṁ śaśi-dhanañjaya-pataṅga-nayanaṁ para-cidambara-naṭaṁ hṛdi bhaja॥3॥
Meaning:Worship the Dancer of supreme Chidambaram — who protects the whole world, lofty in unbroken virtue, bearing the moon, whose matted locks eagerly hold the surging waves of the celestial river; who cuts down the arrogance of Death and removes worldly bondage; the auspicious one, his arms spreading to the ten directions, a fawn shining in his hand, Pashupati, Hara, whose eyes are the moon, fire and sun.
अनन्तनवरत्नविलसत्कटककिङ्किणिझलं झलझलं झलरवं मुकुन्दविधिहस्तगतमद्दललयध्वनिधिमिद्धिमितनर्तनपदम्। शकुन्तरथबर्हिरथनन्दिमुखदन्तिमुखभृङ्गिरिटिसङ्घनिकटं सनन्दसनकप्रमुखवन्दितपदं परचिदम्बरनटं हृदि भज॥४॥
Ananta-nava-ratna-vilasat-kaṭaka-kiṅkiṇi-jhalaṁ jhalajhalaṁ jhala-ravaṁ Mukunda-vidhi-hasta-gata-maddala-laya-dhvani-dhimid-dhimita-nartana-padam। Śakunta-ratha-barhi-ratha-nandi-mukha-danti-mukha-bhṛṅgi-riṭi-saṅgha-nikaṭaṁ Sananda-sanaka-pramukha-vandita-padaṁ para-cidambara-naṭaṁ hṛdi bhaja॥4॥
Meaning:Worship the Dancer of supreme Chidambaram — the countless gem-set bracelets and small bells ringing 'jhala-jhala'; his feet dancing 'dhimi-dhimi' to the rhythm of the maddala drum played in the hands of Vishnu and Brahma; surrounded by the hosts led by the peacock-riding (Skanda), the swan-riding (Brahma), elephant-faced Ganesha, Nandi, Bhringi and Riti; whose feet are revered by Sanandana, Sanaka and the great sages.
अनन्तमहसं त्रिदशवन्द्यचरणं मुनिहृदन्तरवसन्तममलं कबन्धवियदिन्द्ववनिगन्धवहवह्निमखबन्धुरविमञ्जुवपुषम्। अनन्तविभवं त्रिजगदन्तरमणिं त्रिनयनं त्रिपुरखण्डनपरं सनन्दमुनिवन्दितपदं सकरुणं परचिदम्बरनटं हृदि भज॥५॥
Ananta-mahasaṁ tridaśa-vandya-caraṇaṁ muni-hṛd-antara-vasantam-amalaṁ Kabandha-viyad-indu-avani-gandha-vaha-vahni-makha-bandhu-ravi-mañju-vapuṣam। Ananta-vibhavaṁ tri-jagad-antara-maṇiṁ tri-nayanaṁ tripura-khaṇḍana-paraṁ Sananda-muni-vandita-padaṁ sa-karuṇaṁ para-cidambara-naṭaṁ hṛdi bhaja॥5॥
Meaning:Worship the Dancer of supreme Chidambaram — of infinite splendour, his feet adored by the gods, the spotless spring blossoming within the hearts of sages; whose lovely form is befriended by the eight: ether, moon, earth, wind, fire, the sacrificer (water), the sun (and the soul); of boundless glory, the central jewel of the three worlds, three-eyed, intent on destroying Tripura, his feet praised by the sage Sananda, full of compassion.
अचिन्त्यमलिबृन्दरुचिबन्धुरगलं कुरितकुन्दनिकुरुम्बधवलं मुकुन्दसुरबृन्दबलहन्तृकृतवन्दनलसन्तमहिकुण्डलधरम्। अकम्पमनुकम्पितरतिं सुजनमङ्गलनिधिं गजहरं पशुपतिं धनञ्जयनुतं प्रणतरञ्जनपरं परचिदम्बरनटं हृदि भज॥६॥
Acintyam-ali-bṛnda-ruci-bandhura-galaṁ kurita-kunda-nikurumba-dhavalaṁ Mukunda-sura-bṛnda-bala-hantṛ-kṛta-vandana-lasantam-ahi-kuṇḍala-dharam। Akampam-anukampita-ratiṁ sujana-maṅgala-nidhiṁ gaja-haraṁ paśupatiṁ Dhanañjaya-nutaṁ praṇata-rañjana-paraṁ para-cidambara-naṭaṁ hṛdi bhaja॥6॥
Meaning:Worship the Dancer of supreme Chidambaram — of inconceivable nature, his throat lovely with the sheen of a swarm of bees, yet white as a cluster of blooming jasmine; shining as Vishnu, the slayer of demon-hosts, bows before him, wearing serpents as earrings; unshaken, having shown mercy to Rati, the treasury of blessings for the good, who slew the elephant-demon, Pashupati, praised by Arjuna, ever delighting those who bow to him.
परं सुरवरं पुरहरं पशुपतिं जनितदन्तिमुखषण्मुखममुं मृडं कनकपिङ्गलजटं सनकपङ्कजरविं सुमनसं हिमरुचिम्। असङ्घमनसं जलधिजन्मगरलं कबलयन्तमतुलं गुणनिधिं सनन्दवरदं शमितमिन्दुवदनं परचिदम्बरनटं हृदि भज॥७॥
Paraṁ sura-varaṁ pura-haraṁ paśupatiṁ janita-danti-mukha-ṣaṇmukham-amuṁ Mṛḍaṁ kanaka-piṅgala-jaṭaṁ sanaka-paṅkaja-raviṁ sumanasaṁ hima-rucim। Asaṅgha-manasaṁ jaladhi-janma-garalaṁ kabalayantam-atulaṁ guṇa-nidhiṁ Sananda-varadaṁ śamitam-indu-vadanaṁ para-cidambara-naṭaṁ hṛdi bhaja॥7॥
Meaning:Worship the Dancer of supreme Chidambaram — the Supreme, best of the gods, destroyer of the cities, Pashupati, who brought forth the elephant-faced and six-faced (Ganesha and Skanda); the gracious one with golden-tawny matted hair, a sun to the lotus-faced Sanaka, kindly, cool-rayed; of unattached mind, swallowing the poison born of the ocean, the peerless treasury of virtues, granting boons to Sananda, with a serene moon-like face.
अजं क्षितिरथं भुजगपुङ्गवगुणं कनकशृङ्गिधनुषं करलस- त्कुरङ्गपृथुटङ्कपरशुं रुचिरकुङ्कुमरुचिं डमरुकं च दधतम्। मुकुन्दविशिखं नमदवन्ध्यफलदं निगमबृन्दतुरगं निरुपमं सचण्डिकममुं झटितिसंहृतपुरं परचिदम्बरनटं हृदि भज॥८॥
Ajaṁ kṣiti-rathaṁ bhujaga-puṅgava-guṇaṁ kanaka-śṛṅgi-dhanuṣaṁ kara-lasat- Kuraṅga-pṛthu-ṭaṅka-paraśuṁ rucira-kuṅkuma-ruciṁ ḍamarukaṁ ca dadhatam। Mukunda-viśikhaṁ namad-avandhya-phaladaṁ nigama-bṛnda-turagaṁ nirupamaṁ Sa-caṇḍikam-amuṁ jhaṭiti-saṁhṛta-puraṁ para-cidambara-naṭaṁ hṛdi bhaja॥8॥
Meaning:Worship the Dancer of supreme Chidambaram — the birthless one, with the earth as his chariot, the great serpent for a bowstring, a golden-peaked bow, holding in his shining hands a fawn, the broad axe, lovely with vermilion lustre, and the damaru drum; with Vishnu as his arrow, granting unfailing fruit to those who bow, the Vedas as his steeds, peerless, accompanied by Chandika, who in an instant burned the three cities.
अनङ्गपरिपन्थिनमजं क्षितिधुरन्धरमलं करुणयन्तमखिलं ज्वलन्तमनलन्दधतमन्तकरिपुं सततमिन्द्रसुरवन्दितपदम्। उदञ्चदरविन्दकुलबन्धुशतबिम्बरुचिसंहतिसुगन्धिवपुषं पतञ्जलिनुतं प्रणवपञ्जरशुकं परचिदम्बरनटं हृदि भज॥९॥
Anaṅga-paripanthinam-ajaṁ kṣiti-dhurandharam-alaṁ karuṇayantam-akhilaṁ Jvalantam-analaṁ dadhatam-antaka-ripuṁ satatam-indra-sura-vandita-padam। Udañcad-aravinda-kula-bandhu-śata-bimba-ruci-saṁhati-sugandhi-vapuṣaṁ Patañjali-nutaṁ praṇava-pañjara-śukaṁ para-cidambara-naṭaṁ hṛdi bhaja॥9॥
Meaning:Worship the Dancer of supreme Chidambaram — the adversary of Kama, the birthless, the sustainer of the earth, showering grace upon all; blazing as fire, the enemy of Death (Yama), whose feet are ever worshipped by Indra and the gods; his fragrant body glowing with the lustre of a hundred suns, friends of the blossoming lotus; praised by Patanjali, the parrot in the cage of the Pranava (Om).
इति स्तवममुं भुजगपुङ्गवकृतं प्रतिदिनं पठति यः कृतमुखः सदः प्रभुपदद्वितयदर्शनपदं सुललितं चरणशृङ्गरहितम्। सरःप्रभवसम्भवहरित्पतिहरिप्रमुखदिव्यनुतशङ्करपदं स गच्छति परं न तु जनुर्जलनिधिं परमदुःखजनकं दुरितदम्॥१०॥
Iti stavam-amuṁ bhujaga-puṅgava-kṛtaṁ pratidinaṁ paṭhati yaḥ kṛta-mukhaḥ Sadaḥ prabhu-pada-dvitaya-darśana-padaṁ su-lalitaṁ caraṇa-śṛṅga-rahitam। Saraḥ-prabhava-sambhava-harit-pati-hari-pramukha-divya-nuta-śaṅkara-padaṁ Sa gacchati paraṁ na tu januḥ-jala-nidhiṁ parama-duḥkha-janakaṁ durita-dam॥10॥
Meaning:Whoever, with a purified mouth, recites daily this hymn composed by the foremost of serpents (Patanjali) — graceful, fashioned without the syllables 'charana' and 'shringa', a means to the constant vision of the Lord's two feet, whose feet are divinely praised by Brahma, Indra, Vishnu and others — he attains the Supreme, and never again falls into the ocean of births, the source of utmost sorrow and the giver of sin.
Word-by-Word Meaning
Click any word to hear its pronunciation
Benefits of Chanting Nataraja Stotram (Patanjali)
Invokes the grace of Lord Nataraja, the cosmic dancer who governs creation, preservation and dissolution through his dance
The closing phala-shruti promises freedom from the ocean of repeated birth to one who recites it daily
Grants the constant inner vision (darshan) of the Lord's two feet — the goal of the seeker
A profound meditation on Shiva as pure consciousness (Chid-ambara, the 'hall of consciousness') dancing within the heart
Carries the special grace of sage Patanjali, master of yoga, who is said to have composed it
Cultivates devotion, concentration and a refined ear for the music of Sanskrit through its rhythmic, dance-like meter
Especially powerful when recited before Nataraja, on Pradosham, and on Arudra Darshanam (the great Chidambaram festival)
How to Chant Nataraja Stotram (Patanjali)
This is a metrically intricate hymn (each line in a long, dancing meter); recite it slowly and with care, letting the rhythm 'jhala-jhala' and 'dhimi-dhimi' echo the Lord's dance. Sit before an image of Nataraja or visualise the cosmic dancer in the lotus of the heart. Chant all ten verses, ending each with the refrain 'para-cidambara-naṭaṁ hṛdi bhaja'. As the final verse asks, approach it daily with a 'purified mouth' (after rinsing and with a calm mind). It is held in special honour during Pradosham and the Arudra Darshanam festival at Chidambaram.
Frequently Asked Questions
You May Also Like
ॐ
Explore more sacred mantras with complete meaning and chanting guides