Shiva Tandav Stotram "The Power Mantra"

Shiva Tandava Stotra (शिवताण्डवस्तोत्रम्) is a hymn of praise in the Hindu tradition that describes Shiva's power and beauty. It was sung by the son of Rishi Vishrawas, Ravana, whose brother is Kuber. Both the fourth and fifth quatrains of this hymn conclude with lists of Shiva's epithets as destroyer, even the destroyer of death itself. Alliteration and onomatopoeia create roiling waves of resounding beauty in this example of Hindu devotional poetry. In the final quatrain of the poem, after tiring of rampaging across the Earth, Ravana asks, "When will I be happy?" Because of the intensity of his prayers and ascetic meditation, of which this hymn was an example, Ravana received from Shiva the boon of indestructibility by all powers on heaven and earth — except by a human being. Disdaining the seeming weakness of humans, Ravana abducted the wife
of Rama, Lord Vishnu incarnate. India's great epic, the Ramayana, tells the story of this abduction and of the battle between Lord Rama and Ravana which shook the universe. It is said that when he became tired of rampaging across the earth, Ravana returned to Lord Shiva to request moksha, release from the bondage of endless rebirth. Shiva replied that he had granted Ravana the boon of indestructibility, and that Ravana must instead seek moksha from Lord Vishnu. In this version of Ravana's story, his battle with Rama can be interpreted as a pretext to attain death, and through death, liberation. Ravana's poignant cry in the final quatrain of poetry — "When will I be happy?" is echoed by modern man in his quest for earthly fulfillment and ultimate liberation from its bondage. A compelling and complex personality, Ravana is for many Hindus a legendary hero, a scholar of immense intelligence and the devoted husband of one of traditional five perfect women, Mandodari. Exploring the modern psychological aspects of this story, choreographer Janaki Patrik links Ravana's passionate devotion to Lord Shiva to his fatal flaw — passionate attraction to Rama's wife Sita. Ravana's great-grandfather was Brahma. He had advanced knowledge of mathematics, science and Ayurveda. He was obsessed with his powers and was egoistic, and to display and prove his powers he was about to move Mount Kailash (the abode of Shiva who was his ancestor god). He managed to lift the mountain but Shiva immediately placed it back just by pressing his toe crushing Ravana's fingers in the process. That is when Ravana sings "Tandav Stotra" and he was spared and blessed with chandrahas(moon sword by Lord Shiva)(estimated as one of the most powerful weapons in Hindu Mythology).

Shiva Tandav stotram In Sanskrit

जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले
गलेवलंब्य लंबितां भुजंगतुंगमालिकाम् ।
डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं
चकार चंडतांडवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् ॥ १ ॥

जटाकटाहसंभ्रमभ्रमन्निलिंपनिर्झरी-
-विलोलवीचिवल्लरीविराजमानमूर्धनि ।
धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाटपट्टपावके
किशोरचंद्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम ॥ २ ॥

धराधरेंद्रनंदिनीविलासबंधुबंधुर
स्फुरद्दिगंतसंततिप्रमोदमानमानसे ।
कृपाकटाक्षधोरणीनिरुद्धदुर्धरापदि
क्वचिद्दिगंबरे मनो विनोदमेतु वस्तुनि ॥ ३ ॥

जटाभुजंगपिंगलस्फुरत्फणामणिप्रभा
कदंबकुंकुमद्रवप्रलिप्तदिग्वधूमुखे ।
मदांधसिंधुरस्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे
मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि ॥ ४ ॥

सहस्रलोचनप्रभृत्यशेषलेखशेखर
प्रसूनधूलिधोरणी विधूसरांघ्रिपीठभूः ।
भुजंगराजमालया निबद्धजाटजूटक
श्रियै चिराय जायतां चकोरबंधुशेखरः ॥ ५ ॥

ललाटचत्वरज्वलद्धनंजयस्फुलिंगभा-
-निपीतपंचसायकं नमन्निलिंपनायकम् ।
सुधामयूखलेखया विराजमानशेखरं
महाकपालिसंपदेशिरोजटालमस्तु नः ॥ ६ ॥

करालफालपट्टिकाधगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वल-
द्धनंजयाधरीकृतप्रचंडपंचसायके ।
धराधरेंद्रनंदिनीकुचाग्रचित्रपत्रक-
-प्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनि त्रिलोचने मतिर्मम ॥ ७ ॥

नवीनमेघमंडली निरुद्धदुर्धरस्फुरत्-
कुहूनिशीथिनीतमः प्रबंधबंधुकंधरः ।
निलिंपनिर्झरीधरस्तनोतु कृत्तिसिंधुरः
कलानिधानबंधुरः श्रियं जगद्धुरंधरः ॥ ८ ॥

प्रफुल्लनीलपंकजप्रपंचकालिमप्रभा-
-विलंबिकंठकंदलीरुचिप्रबद्धकंधरम् ।
स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिदं भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं
गजच्छिदांधकच्छिदं तमंतकच्छिदं भजे ॥ ९ ॥

अगर्वसर्वमंगलाकलाकदंबमंजरी
रसप्रवाहमाधुरी विजृंभणामधुव्रतम् ।
स्मरांतकं पुरांतकं भवांतकं मखांतकं
गजांतकांधकांतकं तमंतकांतकं भजे ॥ १० ॥

जयत्वदभ्रविभ्रमभ्रमद्भुजंगमश्वस-
-द्विनिर्गमत्क्रमस्फुरत्करालफालहव्यवाट् ।
धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिध्वनन्मृदंगतुंगमंगल
ध्वनिक्रमप्रवर्तित प्रचंडतांडवः शिवः ॥ ११ ॥

दृषद्विचित्रतल्पयोर्भुजंगमौक्तिकस्रजोर्-
-गरिष्ठरत्नलोष्ठयोः सुहृद्विपक्षपक्षयोः ।
तृष्णारविंदचक्षुषोः प्रजामहीमहेंद्रयोः
समं प्रवर्तयन्मनः कदा सदाशिवं भजे ॥ १२ ॥

कदा निलिंपनिर्झरीनिकुंजकोटरे वसन्
विमुक्तदुर्मतिः सदा शिरःस्थमंजलिं वहन् ।
विमुक्तलोललोचनो ललाटफाललग्नकः
शिवेति मंत्रमुच्चरन् सदा सुखी भवाम्यहम् ॥ १३ ॥

इमं हि नित्यमेवमुक्तमुत्तमोत्तमं स्तवं
पठन्स्मरन्ब्रुवन्नरो विशुद्धिमेतिसंततम् ।
हरे गुरौ सुभक्तिमाशु याति नान्यथा गतिं
विमोहनं हि देहिनां सुशंकरस्य चिंतनम् ॥ १४ ॥

Shiva Tandav stotram Romanized:

Jatatavigalajjala pravahapavitasthale 
Galeavalambya lambitam bhujangatungamalikam 
Damad damad damaddama ninadavadamarvayam 
Chakara chandtandavam tanotu nah shivah shivam II1II

Jata kata hasambhrama bhramanilimpanirjhari 
Vilolavichivalarai virajamanamurdhani 
Dhagadhagadhagajjva lalalata pattapavake 
Kishora chandrashekhare ratih pratikshanam mama II2II

Dharadharendrana ndinivilasabandhubandhura 
Sphuradigantasantati pramodamanamanase 
Krupakatakshadhorani nirudhadurdharapadi 
Kvachidigambare manovinodametuvastuni II3II 

Jata bhujan gapingala sphuratphanamaniprabha 
Kadambakunkuma dravapralipta digvadhumukhe 
Madandha sindhu rasphuratvagutariyamedure 
Mano vinodamadbhutam bibhartu bhutabhartari II4II

Sahasra lochana prabhritya sheshalekhashekhara 
Prasuna dhulidhorani vidhusaranghripithabhuh 
Bhujangaraja malaya nibaddhajatajutaka 
Shriyai chiraya jayatam chakora bandhushekharah II5II

Lalata chatvarajvaladhanajnjayasphulingabha 
Nipitapajnchasayakam namannilimpanayakam 
Sudha mayukha lekhaya virajamanashekharam 
Maha kapali sampade shirojatalamastu nah II6II

Karala bhala pattikadhagaddhagaddhagajjvala 
Ddhanajnjaya hutikruta prachandapajnchasayake 
Dharadharendra nandini kuchagrachitrapatraka 
Prakalpanaikashilpini trilochane ratirmama II7II

Navina megha mandali niruddhadurdharasphurat 
Kuhu nishithinitamah prabandhabaddhakandharah 
Nilimpanirjhari dharastanotu krutti sindhurah 
Kalanidhanabandhurah shriyam jagaddhurandharah II8II

Praphulla nila pankaja prapajnchakalimchatha
Vdambi kanthakandali raruchi prabaddhakandharam 
Smarachchidam purachchhidam bhavachchidam makhachchidam 
Gajachchidandhakachidam tamamtakachchidam bhaje II9II 

Akharvagarvasarvamangala kalakadambamajnjari 
Rasapravaha madhuri vijrumbhana madhuvratam 
Smarantakam purantakam bhavantakam makhantakam 
Gajantakandhakantakam tamantakantakam bhaje II10II

Jayatvadabhravibhrama bhramadbhujangamasafur
Dhigdhigdhi nirgamatkarala bhaal havyavat 
Dhimiddhimiddhimidhva nanmrudangatungamangala 
Dhvanikramapravartita prachanda tandavah shivah II11II

Drushadvichitratalpayor bhujanga mauktikasrajor 
Garishtharatnaloshthayoh suhrudvipakshapakshayoh 
Trushnaravindachakshushoh prajamahimahendrayoh 
Sama pravartayanmanah kada sadashivam bhaje II12II

Kada nilimpanirjhari nikujnjakotare vasanh 
Vimuktadurmatih sada shirah sthamajnjalim vahanh 
Vimuktalolalochano lalamabhalalagnakah 
Shiveti mantramuchcharan sada sukhi bhavamyaham II13II

Imam hi nityameva muktamuttamottamam stavam 
Pathansmaran bruvannaro vishuddhimeti santatam 
Hare gurau subhaktimashu yati nanyatha gatim 
Vimohanam hi dehinam sushankarasya chintanam II14II

Shiva Tandav stotram English translation:
*1*
With his neck, consecrated by the flow of water flowing from the 
thick forest-like locks of hair, and on the neck, where the lofty snake 
is hanging garland, and the Damaru drum making the sound of 
Damat Damat Damat Damat, Lord Siva did the auspicious dance of 
Tandava and may He shower prosperity on us all.

*2*
I have a very deep interest in Lord Siva, whose head is glorified by 
the rows of moving waves of the celestial river Ganga, agitating in 
the deep well of his hair-locks, and who has the brilliant fire flaming 
on the surface of his forehead, and who has the crescent moon as a 
jewel on his head. 

*3*
May my mind seek happiness in the Lord Siva, in whose mind all the 
living beings of the glorious universe exist, who is the sportive 
companion of Parvati (daughter of the mountain king), who controls 
invincible hardships with the flow of his compassionate look, who is 
all-pervasive (the directions are his clothes).

*4*
May I seek wonderful pleasure in Lord Siva, who is supporter 
of all life, who with his creeping snake with reddish brown hood and 
with the luster of his gem on it spreading out variegated colors on the 
beautiful faces of the maidens of directions, who is covered with a 
glittering upper garment made of the skin of a huge intoxicated 
elephant. 

*5*
May Lord Siva give us prosperity, who has the moon (relative of the 
Cakora bird) as his head-jewel, whose hair is tied by the red snake- 
garland, whose foot-stool is grayed by the flow of dust from the 
flowers from the rows of heads of all the Gods, Indra/Vishnu and others. 

*6*
May we get the wealth of Siddhis from Siva's locks of hair, which 
devoured the God of Love with the sparks of the fire flaming in His 
forehead, who is bowed by all the celestial leaders, who is beautiful 
with a crescent moon 

*7*
My interest is in Lord Siva, who has three eyes, who has offered the 
powerful God of Love into the fire, flaming Dhagad Dhagad on the 
flat surface of his forehead who is the sole expert artist of drawing 
decorative lines on the tips of breasts of Parvati, the daughter of 
the mountain king. 

*8*
May Lord Siva give us prosperity, who bears the burden of this 
universe, who is lovely with the moon, who is red wearing the skin, 
who has the celestial river Ganga, whose neck is dark as midnight 
of new moon night covered by many layers of clouds. 


*9*
I pray to Lord Siva, whose neck is tied with the luster of the temples 
hanging on the neck with the glory of the fully-bloomed blue lotuses 
which looked like the blackness (sins) of the universe, who is the 
killer of Manmatha, who destroyed Tripuras, who destroyed the 
bonds of worldly life, who destroyed the sacrifice, who destroyed the 
demon Andhaka, the destroyer of the elephants, and who controlled 
the God of death, Yama. 


*10*
I pray to Lord Siva, who has bees flying all over because of the sweet 
honey from the beautiful bunch of auspicious Kadamba flowers, who 
is the killer of Manmatha, who destroyed Tripuras, who destroyed the 
bonds of worldly life, who destroyed the sacrifice, who destroyed the 
demon Andhaka, the killer of the elephants, and who controlled the 
God of death, Yama. 

*11*
Lord Siva, whose dance of Tandava is in tune with the series of loud 
sounds of drum making Dhimid Dhimid sounds, who has the fire 
on the great forehead, the fire that is spreading out because of the 
breath of the snake wandering in whirling motion in the glorious sky. 


*12*
When will I worship Lord Sadasiva (eternally auspicious) God, with 
equal vision towards the people and an emperor, and a blade of grass 
and lotus-like eye, towards both friends and enemies, towards the 
valuable gem and some lump of dirt, towards a snake and a garland 
and towards varied ways of the world 

*13*
When will I be happy, living in the hollow place near the celestial 
river, Ganga, carrying the folded hands on my head all the time, with 
my bad thinking washed away, and uttering the mantra of Lord Siva 
and devoted in the God with glorious forehead with vibrating eyes. 

*14*
Whoever reads, remembers and says this best stotra as it is said here, 
gets purified for ever, and obtains devotion in the great Guru Siva. 
For this devotion, there is no other way. Just the mere thought of 
Lord Siva indeed removes the delusion.