Shiva Tandava Stotram
शिव तांडव स्तोत्रम्
✦ Meaning
The Shiva Tandava Stotram is a thunderous hymn composed by Ravana, the mighty devotee-king of Lanka, in praise of Shiva’s cosmic tandava dance. In rolling, drum-like meters it describes Shiva with the Ganga in his matted locks, serpents as garlands and the damaru’s beat. Reciting it is believed to grant unshakable devotion, strength, prosperity and the swift grace of Shiva.
Origin & Story
Composed independently · Ravana, King of Lanka · Treta Yuga (mythological era)
According to the Ramayana, Ravana was one of the greatest Shiva devotees. When he tried to lift Mount Kailash, Shiva pressed it down, crushing Ravana's fingers. In agony and devotion, Ravana composed the Shiva Tandava Stotram — so powerful that Shiva blessed him with an invincible sword.
✦ As told in scripture
Shiva was so moved by this stotram that he forgave Ravana for trying to uproot Kailash and granted him the Chandrahasa sword. This demonstrates that Shiva's love for genuine devotion transcends even acts of arrogance.
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Complete Text with Meaning
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जटाटवी गलज्जल प्रवाह पावितस्थले गलेवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् । डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् ॥
Jatatavi galajjala pravaha pavitasthale Galevalambya lambitam bhujangatungamalikam Damaddamaddamaddamanninadavaddamarvayam Chakara chandatandavam tanotu nah shivah shivam
Meaning:From the dense forest of his matted hair the holy Ganga's stream flows, sanctifying the ground; a lofty garland of serpents hangs upon his neck. Beating the damaru drum with the sound 'damad-damad-damad-daman', Shiva performed the fierce Tandava — may He spread auspiciousness upon us.
जटाकटाहसम्भ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरी विलोलवीचिवल्लरी विराजमानमूर्धनि । धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाट पट्टपावके किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम ॥
Jatakatahasambhramabhramannilimpanirjhari Vilolavichivallari virajamanamurdhani Dhagaddhagaddhagajjvalallalata pattapavake Kishorachandrashekhare ratih pratikshanam mama
Meaning:My mind delights every moment in Shiva — on whose head the celestial Ganga whirls amid the matted locks, on whose forehead the fire blazes 'dhagad-dhagad-dhagad', and who wears the crescent moon as his crest-jewel.
धराधरेन्द्र नन्दिनी विलासबन्धु बन्धुर स्फुरद्दिगन्त सन्तति प्रमोद मानमानसे । कृपाकटाक्षधोरणी निरुद्ध दुर्धरापदि क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे मनोविनोदमेतु वस्तुनि ॥
Dharadharendra nandini vilasabandhu bandhura Sphuraddiganta santati pramoda manamanase Kripakatakshadhorani niruddha durdharapadi Kvachiddigambare manovinodametu vastuni
Meaning:May my mind find delight in the sky-clad Shiva — the loving companion of Parvati (daughter of the mountain king), whose mind rejoices in all the worlds, and whose merciful sidelong glance holds back the direst calamities.
जटाभुजङ्ग पिङ्गल स्फुरत्फणा मणिप्रभा कदम्ब कुङ्कुम द्रव प्रलिप्त दिग्वधूमुखे । मदान्ध सिन्धुर स्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि ॥
Jatabhujanga pingala sphuratphana maniprabha Kadamba kunkuma drava pralipta digvadhumukhe Madandha sindhura sphurattvaguttariyamedure Mano vinodamadbhutam bibhartu bhutabhartari
Meaning:May my mind hold wondrous delight in Shiva, sustainer of beings — the glow of the gem-hooded tawny serpents in his matted hair smears the faces of the directions like kadamba-kunkuma paste, and the elephant-hide is his glistening upper garment.
सहस्रलोचन प्रभृत्यशेषलेख शेखर प्रसूनधूलि धोरणी विधूसराङ्घ्रि पीठभूः । भुजङ्गराजमालया निबद्ध जाटजूटकः श्रियै चिराय जायतां चकोरबन्धु शेखरः ॥
Sahasralochana prabhrityasheshalekha shekhara Prasunadhuli dhorani vidhusaranghri pithabhuh Bhujangarajamalaya nibaddha jatajutakah Shriyai chiraya jayatam chakorabandhu shekharah
Meaning:May Shiva grant us lasting prosperity — whose footstool is grey with the flower-pollen falling from the heads of Indra and all the bowing gods, whose matted hair is bound by the king of serpents, and who bears the moon (friend of the chakora) as his crest.
ललाट चत्वरज्वलद्धनञ्जय स्फुलिङ्गभा निपीत पञ्चसायकं नमन्निलिम्पनायकम् । सुधामयूखलेखया विराजमान शेखरं महाकपालि सम्पदे शिरोजटालमस्तु नः ॥
Lalata chatvarajvaladdhananjaya sphulingabha Nipita panchasayakam namannilimpanayakam Sudhamayukhalekhaya virajamana shekharam Mahakapali sampade shirojatalamastu nah
Meaning:May the matted locks of Shiva grant us great fortune — who drank up the five-arrowed Kama in the fire blazing on his forehead, before whom the lord of gods bows, and who is adorned by the nectar-rayed crescent moon.
कराल फालपट्टिका धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वल द्धनञ्जयाहुतीकृत प्रचण्ड पञ्चसायके । धराधरेन्द्र नन्दिनी कुचाग्र चित्रपत्रक प्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनि त्रिलोचने रतिर्मम ॥
Karala phalapattika dhagaddhagaddhagajjvala Ddhananjayahutikrita prachanda panchasayake Dharadharendra nandini kuchagra chitrapatraka Prakalpanaikashilpini trilochane ratirmama
Meaning:My delight is in the three-eyed Shiva — the one supreme artist who painted the designs upon Parvati's breast, into whose terrible forehead-fire the fierce five-arrowed Kama was offered as oblation.
नवीनमेघमण्डली निरुद्ध दुर्धर स्फुरत् कुहू निशीथिनी तमः प्रबन्ध बद्ध कन्धरः । निलिम्प निर्झरीधरस्तनोतु कृत्तिसिन्धुरः कलानिधान बन्धुरः श्रियं जगद्धुरन्धरः ॥
Navinameghamandali niruddha durdhara sphurat Kuhu nishithini tamah prabandha baddha kandharah Nilimpa nirjharidharastanotu krittisindhurah Kalanidhana bandhurah shriyam jagaddhurandharah
Meaning:May Shiva grant us prosperity — whose neck is dark as a bank of fresh clouds on a moonless midnight, who bears the Ganga and the elephant-hide, the resting-place of the moon, the bearer of the burden of the worlds.
प्रफुल्ल नील पङ्कज प्रपञ्च कालिमप्रभा वलम्बि कण्ठ कन्दली रुचि प्रबद्ध कन्धरम् । स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिदं भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं गजच्छिदान्धकच्छिदं तमन्तकच्छिदं भजे ॥
Praphulla nila pankaja prapancha kalimaprabha Valambi kantha kandali ruchi prabaddha kandharam Smarachchhidam purachchhidam bhavachchhidam makhachchhidam Gajachchhidandhakachchhidam tamantakachchhidam bhaje
Meaning:I worship Shiva — whose throat is dark and lovely like a full-blown blue lotus, like the cosmic gloom; the destroyer of Kama, of the three cities, of worldly existence, of Daksha's sacrifice, of the elephant-demon, of Andhaka, and even of Yama (death).
अखर्व सर्वमङ्गला कलाकदम्बमञ्जरी रसप्रवाह माधुरी विजृम्भणा मधुव्रतम् । स्मरान्तकं पुरान्तकं भवान्तकं मखान्तकं गजान्तकान्धकान्तकं तमन्तकान्तकं भजे ॥
Akharva sarvamangala kalakadambamanjari Rasapravaha madhuri vijrimbhana madhuvratam Smarantakam purantakam bhavantakam makhantakam Gajantakandhakantakam tamantakantakam bhaje
Meaning:I worship Shiva, the bee who drinks the sweet flowing nectar of the ever-auspicious blossoming flower of all the arts — the ender of Kama, of Tripura, of existence, of the sacrifice, of the elephant-demon, of Andhaka, and the very ender of Death.
जयत्वदभ्र विभ्रम भ्रमद्भुजङ्गमश्वस द्विनिर्गमत् क्रमस्फुरत् कराल फालहव्यवाट् । धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिध्वनन् मृदङ्ग तुङ्ग मङ्गल ध्वनिक्रम प्रवर्तित प्रचण्ड ताण्डवः शिवः ॥
Jayatvadabhra vibhrama bhramadbhujangamashvasa Dvinirgamat kramasphurat karala phalahavyavat Dhimiddhimiddhimidhvanan mridanga tunga mangala Dhvanikrama pravartita prachanda tandavah shivah
Meaning:May Shiva, who dances the fierce Tandava, be victorious — amid the hissing of the writhing serpents and the terrible fire blazing on his forehead, to the auspicious 'dhimid-dhimid' beat of the lofty mridanga drum.
दृषद्विचित्र तल्पयोर्भुजङ्ग मौक्तिक स्रजो र्गरिष्ठ रत्नलोष्ठयोः सुहृद्विपक्ष पक्षयोः । तृणारविन्द चक्षुषोः प्रजामही महेन्द्रयोः समप्रवृत्तिकः कदा सदाशिवं भजाम्यहम् ॥
Drishadvichitra talpayorbhujanga mauktika srajo Rgarishtha ratnaloshthayoh suhridvipaksha pakshayoh Trinaravinda chakshushoh prajamahi mahendrayoh Samapravrittikah kada sadashivam bhajamyaham
Meaning:When, with an equal eye toward a couch of stones and a bed of jewels, a serpent and a pearl-garland, gravel and precious gems, friend and foe, a blade of grass and a lotus-eyed beauty, the common people and the mighty emperor — shall I worship Sadashiva?
कदा निलिम्पनिर्झरी निकुञ्जकोटरे वसन् विमुक्त दुर्मतिः सदा शिरस्थमञ्जलिं वहन् । विलोल लोललोचनो ललामफाललग्नकः शिवेति मन्त्रमुच्चरन् कदा सुखी भवाम्यहम् ॥
Kada nilimpanirjhari nikunjakotare vasan Vimukta durmatih sada shirasthamanjalim vahan Vilola lolalochano lalamaphalalagnakah Shiveti mantramuchcharan kada sukhi bhavamyaham
Meaning:When, dwelling in a hollow amid the thickets by the Ganga, free of evil thought, ever bearing folded hands upon my head, my restless eyes purified, reciting the mantra 'Shiva' — when shall I become truly happy?
इमं हि नित्यमेवमुक्तमुत्तमोत्तमं स्तवं पठन् स्मरन् ब्रुवन्नरो विशुद्धिमेति सन्ततम् । हरे गुरौ सुभक्तिमाशु याति नान्यथा गतिं विमोहनं हि देहिनां सुशङ्करस्य चिन्तनम् ॥
Imam hi nityamevamuktamuttamottamam stavam Pathan smaran bruvannaro vishuddhimeti santatam Hare gurau subhaktimashu yati nanyatha gatim Vimohanam hi dehinam sushankarasya chintanam
Meaning:Reciting, remembering or reading this most excellent hymn daily, a person is ever purified and swiftly attains deep devotion to Hara and the Guru; there is no other way — the contemplation of Shankara surely dispels the delusion of embodied beings.
पूजावसानसमये दशवक्त्रगीतं यः शम्भुपूजनपरं पठति प्रदोषे । तस्य स्थिरां रथगजेन्द्र तुरङ्गयुक्तां लक्ष्मीं सदैव सुमुखीं प्रददाति शम्भुः ॥
Pujavasanasamaye dashavaktragitam Yah shambhupujanaparam pathati pradoshe Tasya sthiram rathagajendra turangayuktam Lakshmim sadaiva sumukhim pradadati shambhuh
Meaning:Whoever, at dusk (Pradosh) after completing the worship of Shambhu, recites this song by the ten-faced Ravana — upon him Shambhu bestows enduring Lakshmi (prosperity), complete with chariots, elephants and horses.
॥ इति श्रीरावणकृतं शिवताण्डवस्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Iti shriravanakritam shivatandavastotram sampurnam
Meaning:Thus concludes the Shiva Tandava Stotram composed by the ten-headed Ravana.
Word-by-Word Meaning
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Benefits of Chanting Shiva Tandava Stotram
Invokes the fierce protective energy of Lord Shiva
Destroys negativity, evil eye and dark energies
Grants immense courage, fearlessness and inner strength
Highly powerful for spiritual transformation and awakening
Pleases Lord Shiva deeply — said to be his favorite stotram
Removes obstacles and enemies when chanted with devotion
How to Chant Shiva Tandava Stotram
This is a powerful stotram composed by Ravana himself in praise of Lord Shiva. Chant with deep concentration and reverence. Best recited during Pradosh Kaal (evening twilight). Light a diya and offer bilva leaves if possible. The rhythm and power of the Sanskrit is essential — try to maintain the cadence even if you use transliteration.
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