Nataraja Stotram (Patanjali)

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.