Shiv Tandav Stotram Lyrics, Meaning and Significance

The Shiva Tandava Stotram is a timeless hymn that celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva, known as Tandava. This dance symbolizes the eternal cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction, reflecting the dynamic nature of the universe. Composed by Ravana, this stotram is not just a devotional offering but also a profound expression of art, spirituality, and surrender.

The Story Behind the Composition

Ravana, a complex figure in Hindu mythology, is often remembered for his arrogance and role in the Ramayana. However, his devotion to Lord Shiva reveals a different facet of his personality. The Shiva Tandava Stotram was born out of a moment of humility and realization.

According to some scriptures, Ravana, in his pride, attempted to lift Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva. In response, Shiva gently pressed the mountain with his toe, trapping Ravana's fingers beneath it. Overwhelmed by pain and recognizing his folly, Ravana began singing a hymn in praise of Shiva. This hymn, filled with poetic brilliance and deep devotion, came to be known as the Shiva Tandava Stotram.

Pleased by Ravana's sincerity and the beauty of his composition, Shiva forgave him and granted him a boon. This story underscores the transformative power of devotion and the importance of humility before the divine.

The Spiritual Significance of Shiva Tandava Stotram

The Shiva Tandava Stotram holds immense spiritual significance for devotees of Lord Shiva. It is more than just a hymn; it is a medium to connect with the divine energy of Shiva and experience his cosmic dance.

Symbolism of Tandava: The Tandava dance represents the rhythmic flow of the universe, where destruction paves the way for new creation. Chanting the stotram helps devotees align with this cosmic rhythm, fostering balance and harmony in life.

Destruction of Negativity: The powerful vibrations of the stotram dispel negative energies, purifying the mind and surroundings.

Devotional Surrender: The stotram embodies the essence of bhakti (devotion), teaching devotees to surrender their ego and seek refuge in the divine.

Inner Transformation: By meditating on the verses, one can cultivate inner strength, clarity, and spiritual growth.

The Cultural and Artistic Legacy

The Shiva Tandava Stotram is not only a spiritual treasure but also a cultural and artistic masterpiece. Its lyrical beauty and profound meaning have inspired countless artists, musicians, and scholars over the centuries.

The stotram's verses vividly describe Shiva's majestic form, his third eye, the crescent moon on his head, the serpent around his neck, and the Ganga flowing from his matted locks. These descriptions serve as a source of inspiration for art, dance, and literature, keeping the tradition of Shiva worship alive.

Why Shiva Tandava Stotram Resonates Today

In today's fast-paced world, the Shiva Tandava Stotram offers a timeless message of balance, humility, and devotion. It reminds us that even in moments of despair or arrogance, sincere devotion can lead to redemption and divine grace. Whether chanted during worship, meditation, or simply listened to, the stotram has the power to uplift the soul and bring peace to the mind.

For devotees, the Shiva Tandava Stotram is not just a hymn but a pathway to experiencing the divine presence of Lord Shiva. Its significance lies in its ability to connect the individual soul with the universal consciousness, making it a cherished part of spiritual practice.

Shiv Tandav Stotram - Lyrics and Meaning in English

जटाटवी गलज्जल प्रवाह पावितस्थले
गलेवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् ।
डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं
चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् ॥ १ ॥

Jatatavigalajjala pravahapavitasthale
Galeavalambya lambitam bhujangatungamalikam
Damad damad damaddama ninadavadamarvayam
Chakara chandtandavam tanotu nah shivah shivam

With his neck purified by the stream of water flowing from his hair,
And on his neck, a serpent hanging like a lofty garland,
With the Damaru drum resounding, "Damat Damat Damat Damat,"
Lord Shiva performed his fierce Tandava. May he bless us with auspiciousness.

जटाकटाहसम्भ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरी
विलोलवीचिवल्लरी विराजमानमूर्धनि ।
धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाट पट्‍टपावके
किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम ॥ २ ॥

Jata kata hasambhrama bhramanilimpanirjhari
Vilolavichivalarai virajamanamurdhani
Dhagadhagadhagajjva lalalata pattapavake
Kishora chandrashekhare ratih pratikshanam mama

With his head glorified by the waves of the celestial Ganga,
Swirling and dancing in the tangled maze of his matted hair,
With the radiant fire blazing brightly on his forehead,
And the crescent moon resting as a crown—my devotion to Shiva deepens every moment.

धराधरेन्द्र नन्दिनी विलासबन्धु बन्धुर
स्फुरद्दिगन्त सन्तति प्रमोद मानमानसे ।
कृपाकटाक्षधोरणी निरुद्ध दुर्धरापदि
क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे मनोविनोदमेतु वस्तुनि ॥ ३ ॥

Dharadharendrana ndinivilasabandhubandhura
Sphuradigantasantati pramodamanamanase
Krupakatakshadhorani nirudhadurdharapadi
Kvachidigambare manovinodametuvastuni

May my mind find joy in Lord Shiva,
In whose heart the entire universe resides, filled with delight,
Who is the beloved companion of Parvati, the daughter of the mountain king,
Who dispels all insurmountable sorrows with his compassionate glance,
And who adorns the boundless sky as his garment.

जटाभुजङ्ग पिङ्गल स्फुरत्फणा मणिप्रभा
कदम्ब कुङ्कुम द्रव प्रलिप्त दिग्वधूमुखे ।
मदान्ध सिन्धुर स्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे
मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि ॥ ४ ॥

Jata bhujan gapingala sphuratphanamaniprabha
Kadambakunkuma dravapralipta digvadhumukhe
Madandha sindhu rasphuratvagutariyamedure
Mano vinodamadbhutam bibhartu bhutabhartari

May my mind find joy in Lord Shiva, the sustainer of all beings,
Whose coiled serpent, with its glowing gem and crimson hood,
Spreads a radiant light on the faces of the Goddesses of Directions,
And who wears the shimmering skin of an elephant—a symbol of his majestic might.

सहस्रलोचन प्रभृत्यशेषलेख शेखर
प्रसूनधूलि धोरणी विधूसराङ्घ्रि पीठभूः ।
भुजङ्गराजमालया निबद्ध जाटजूटकः
श्रियै चिराय जायतां चकोरबन्धु शेखरः ॥ ५ ॥

Sahasra lochana prabhritya sheshalekhashekhara
Prasuna dhulidhorani vidhusaranghripithabhuh
Bhujangaraja malaya nibaddhajatajutaka
Shriyai chiraya jayatam chakora bandhushekharah

May Lord Shiva, the source of prosperity, bless us,
Who wears the Moon as a radiant crown on his head,
Whose matted locks are bound by the king of serpents as a garland,
And whose feet are adorned by the dust of flowers,
Offered by the gods—Indra, Vishnu, and all others—seeking his grace.

ललाट चत्वरज्वलद्धनञ्जय स्फुलिङ्गभा
निपीत पञ्चसायकं नमन्निलिम्पनायकम् ।
सुधामयूखलेखया विराजमान शेखरं
महाकपालि सम्पदे शिरोजटालमस्तु नः ॥ ६ ॥

Lalata chatvarajvaladhanajnjayasphulingabha
nipitapajnchasayakam namannilimpanayakam
Sudha mayukha lekhaya virajamanashekharam
Maha kapali sampade shirojatalamastunah

May we attain the wealth of Siddhis from Shiva’s matted locks,
Who consumed the God of Love with the fiery sparks on his forehead,
Revered by all the leaders of the heavens,
And adorned with the radiant crescent moon—may his divine grace be upon us.

कराल फालपट्‍टिका धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वल-
-द्धनञ्जयाहुतीकृत प्रचण्ड पञ्चसायके ।
धराधरेन्द्र नन्दिनी कुचाग्र चित्रपत्रक-
-प्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनि त्रिलोचने रतिर्मम ॥ ७ ॥

Karala bhala pattikadhagaddhagaddhagajjvala
Ddhanajnjaya hutikruta prachandapajnchasayake
Dharadharendra nandini kuchagrachitrapatraka
Prakalpanaikashilpini trilochane ratirmama

My devotion is to Lord Shiva, the three-eyed one,
Who offered the fierce God of Love to the sacred fire,
Whose forehead blazes with a fiery glow, resounding "Dhagad, Dhagad,"
And who, as the supreme artist, adorns the tips of Parvati’s breasts—
The daughter of the mountain king—with exquisite beauty.

नवीनमेघमण्डली निरुद्ध दुर्धर स्फुरत्
कुहू निशीथिनी तमः प्रबन्ध बद्ध कन्धरः ।
निलिम्प निर्झरीधरस्तनोतु कृत्तिसिन्धुरः
कलानिधान बन्धुरः श्रियं जगद्धुरन्धरः ॥ ८ ॥

navina megha mandali niruddhadurdharasphurat
Kuhu nishithinitamah prabandhabaddhakandharah
nilimpanirjhari dharastanotu krutti sindhurah
Kalanidhanabandhurah shriyam jagaddhurandharah

May Lord Shiva, the bearer of the universe’s weight, bless us with prosperity,
Whose neck is dark as the night of the new moon, veiled by layers of clouds,
Who is adorned with the enchanting moon and the celestial Ganga on his head,
And who, radiant as the moon, sustains the world with his divine grace.

प्रफुल्ल नील पङ्कज प्रपञ्च कालिमप्रभा-
-वलम्बि कण्ठ कन्दली रुचि प्रबद्ध कन्धरम् ।
स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिदं भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं
गजच्छिदान्धकच्छिदं तमन्तकच्छिदं भजे ॥ ९ ॥

Praphulla nila pankaja prapajnchakalimchatha
Vdambi kanthakandali raruchi prabaddhakandharam
Smarachchidam purachchhidam bhavachchidam makhachchidam
Gajachchidandhakachidam tamamtakachchidam bhaje

I worship Lord Shiva, whose neck gleams with the radiance of fully bloomed blue lotuses,
Resembling the dark splendor of the universe, adorned with divine grace.
He is the destroyer of Manmatha, the demolisher of Tripura,
The liberator from worldly bonds, the disruptor of sacrifices,
The slayer of demons like Andhaka and Gajasura,
And the conqueror of death itself—I bow to him in devotion.

अखर्व सर्वमङ्गला कलाकदम्बमञ्जरी
रसप्रवाह माधुरी विजृम्भणा मधुव्रतम् ।
स्मरान्तकं पुरान्तकं भवान्तकं मखान्तकं
गजान्तकान्धकान्तकं तमन्तकान्तकं भजे ॥ १० ॥

Akharvagarvasarvamangala kalakadambamajnjari
Rasapravaha madhuri vijrumbhana madhuvratam
Smarantakam purantakam bhavantakam makhantakam
Gajantakandhakantakam tamantakantakam bhaje

I worship Lord Shiva, surrounded by bees drawn to the sweet fragrance
Of auspicious Kadamba flowers, a bouquet of divine beauty and grace.
He is the destroyer of Manmatha, the demolisher of Tripura,
The liberator from worldly bonds, the disruptor of sacrifices,
The slayer of demons like Andhaka and Gajasura,
And the conqueror of death itself—I bow to him in devotion.

जयत्वदभ्र विभ्रम भ्रमद्भुजङ्गमश्वस-
-द्विनिर्गमत् क्रमस्फुरत् कराल फालहव्यवाट् ।
धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिध्वनन् मृदङ्ग तुङ्ग मङ्गल-
-ध्वनिक्रम प्रवर्तित प्रचण्ड ताण्डवः शिवः ॥ ११ ॥

Jayatvadabhravibhrama bhramadbhujangamasafur
Dhigdhigdhi nirgamatkarala bhaal havyavat
Dhimiddhimiddhimidhva nanmrudangatungamangala
Dhvanikramapravartita prachanda tandavah shivah

Victory to Lord Shiva, whose fierce Tandava dance resonates
With the rhythmic beats of drums, sounding "Dhimid Dhimid,"
Whose great forehead blazes with fire, fanned by the breath
Of the serpent coiled around him, wandering the vast skies.
May his majestic dance, filled with power and grace,
Bring auspiciousness and triumph to all who worship him.

दृषद्विचित्र तल्पयोर्भुजङ्ग मौक्तिक स्रजो-
-र्गरिष्ठ रत्नलोष्ठयोः सुहृद्विपक्ष पक्षयोः ।
तृणारविन्द चक्षुषोः प्रजामही महेन्द्रयोः
समप्रवृत्तिकः कदा सदाशिवं भजाम्यहम् ॥ १२ ॥

Drushadvichitratalpayor bhujanga mauktikasrajor
Garishtharatnaloshthayoh suhrudvipakshapakshayoh
Trushnaravindachakshushoh prajamahimahendrayoh
Sama pravartayanmanah kada sadashivam bhaje

When will I worship Lord Sadashiva, the eternally auspicious one,
Who sees with equal vision the blade of grass and the lotus,
The gem and the dirt, the snake and the garland, friends and foes alike?
May I embrace his equanimity and attain his divine grace.

कदा निलिम्पनिर्झरी निकुञ्जकोटरे वसन्
विमुक्त दुर्मतिः सदा शिरस्थमञ्जलिं वहन् ।
विलोल लोललोचनो ललामफाललग्नकः
शिवेति मन्त्रमुच्चरन् कदा सुखी भवाम्यहम् ॥ १३ ॥

Kada nilimpanirjhari nikujnjakotare vasanh
Vimuktadurmatih sada shirah sthamajnjalim vahanh
Vimuktalolalochano lalamabhalalagnakah
Shiveti mantramuchcharan sada sukhi bhavamyaham

When will I find joy, dwelling in a cave by the celestial Ganga,
Hands clasped in reverence, my impure thoughts washed away,
Chanting the mantra of Shiva, devoted to his vibrant eyes and radiant forehead,
Living in blissful devotion to the Lord, my heart forever pure and free?

इमं हि नित्यमेवमुक्तमुत्तमोत्तमं स्तवं
पठन् स्मरन् ब्रुवन्नरो विशुद्धिमेति सन्ततम् ।
हरे गुरौ सुभक्तिमाशु याति नान्यथा गतिं
विमोहनं हि देहिनां सुशङ्करस्य चिन्तनम् ॥ १४ ॥

Imam hi nityameva muktamuttamottamam stavam
Pathansmaran bruvannaro vishuddhimeti santatam
Hare gurau subhaktimashu yati nanyatha gatim
Vimohanam hi dehinam sushankarasya chintanam

Whoever reads, remembers, and recites this supreme stotra daily
Will be forever purified and attain unwavering devotion to Lord Shiva, the supreme Guru.
For such devotion, there is no other path or refuge—
The mere thought of Shiva dispels all delusion and grants liberation.

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

Puja vasanasamaye dashavaktragitam
Yah shambhupujanaparam pathati pradoshhe |
Tasya sthiram rathagajendraturangayuktam
Lakshmim sadaiva sumukhim pradadati shambhuh ||15||

At the end of worship, during the sacred hour of Pradosh,
Whoever recites this hymn composed by the ten-headed Ravana,
Devoted to the worship of Lord Shambhu,
Will be blessed with steadfast wealth—chariots, elephants, and horses—
And eternal prosperity, bestowed by the grace of Lord Shiva.