Shiva Tandava Stotra

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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 demon-king Ravana. Both the fourth and fifth quatrains of his 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.

[edit] Ravana

It is said that when he 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 India's 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.

[edit] Poetic characteristics

The stotra is in the Aryageeti (आर्यागीति) style, a variant of the Arya (आर्या) style. There are 32 syllables per half shloka: .. शिवताण्डवस्तोत्रम्..

              .. श्रीगणेशाय नमः ..

जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले matted hair-thick as forest-water-flow-consecrated-area

     गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् |
     in the throat-stuck-hanging-snake-lofty-garland 

डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं damat-damat-damat-damat-having sound-drum-this

     चकार चण्ड्ताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् || १||
     did-fierce-Tandava-may he shower-on us-Siva-auspiciousness 

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.

जटाकटाहसंभ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरी- matted hair-a well-agitation-moving-celestial river

    - विलोलवीचिवल्लरीविराजमानमूर्धनि |
     agitating-waves-rows-glorified-head 

धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाटपट्टपावके Dhagat dhagat dhagat-flaming-forehead-flat area-fire

     किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम || २||
     baby-moon-crest jewel-love-every moment-for me 

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.

धराधरेन्द्रनंदिनीविलासबन्धुबन्धुर King of mountains-daughter-sportive-kith-beautiful-

     स्फुरद्दिगन्तसन्ततिप्रमोदमानमानसे |
     glorious-horizon-all living beings-rejoicing-mind 

कृपाकटाक्षधोरणीनिरुद्धदुर्धरापदि compassion-look-continuous flow-obstructed-hardships

     क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे( क्वचिच्चिदंबरे) मनो विनोदमेतु वस्तुनि || ३||
     some time-in the omnipresent-mind-pleasure-may seek-in a thing 

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-persuasive (the directions are his clothes).

लताभुजङ्गपिङ्गलस्फुरत्फणामणिप्रभा creeping-snake-reddish brown-shining-hood-gem-luster-

     कदम्बकुङ्कुमद्रवप्रलिप्तदिग्वधूमुखे |
     variegated-red dye-melting-applied-directions-beloved-face 

मदान्धसिन्धुरस्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे intoxicated-elephant-glittering-skin-upper garment-covered

     मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि || ४||
     mind-pleasure-wonderful-may it seek-in him who supports all life 

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.

सहस्रलोचनप्रभृत्यशेषलेखशेखर Indra/Vishnu-and others-all-lined up-heads-

     प्रसूनधूलिधोरणी विधूसराङ्घ्रिपीठभूः |
     flower-dust-force-grayed-feet-seat 

भुजङ्गराजमालया निबद्धजाटजूटक snake-red-garland (with) tied-locked hair

     श्रियै चिराय जायतां चकोरबन्धुशेखरः || ५||
     for the prosperity-for a long time-may he be-Cakora bird-relative-on head 

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.

ललाटचत्वरज्वलद्धनञ्जयस्फुलिङ्गभा- forehead-flat area-flaming-fire-sparks-luster

    - निपीतपञ्चसायकं नमन्निलिम्पनायकम् |
    devoured-God of Love-bowing-Gods-leader 

सुधामयूखलेखया विराजमानशेखरं cool-rayed-crescent-beautiful-head

     महाकपालिसम्पदेशिरोजटालमस्तु नः  || ६||
     for the Siddhi-prosperity-head-locked hair-may it be-to us 

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

करालभालपट्टिकाधगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वल- dreadful-forehead-flat area-dhagat-dhagat-flaming

     द्धनञ्जयाहुतीकृतप्रचण्डपञ्चसायके |
     fire-offered-powerful-God of Love 

धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीकुचाग्रचित्रपत्रक- king of mountains-daughter-breast-tip-colorful-decorative lines

    - प्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनि त्रिलोचने रतिर्मम ||| ७||
    drawing-sole-artist - in the three-eyed -deep interest-mine 

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.

नवीनमेघमण्डली निरुद्धदुर्धरस्फुरत्- new-cloud-circle - obstructed-harsh-striking-

     कुहूनिशीथिनीतमः प्रबन्धबद्धकन्धरः |
     new moon-midnight-darkness-tightly-tied-neck 

निलिम्पनिर्झरीधरस्तनोतु कृत्तिसिन्धुरः celestial-river-wearing-may he bless-skin-red

     कलानिधानबन्धुरः श्रियं जगद्धुरंधरः || ८||
     moon-lovely-prosperity-universe-bearer of the burden 

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.

प्रफुल्लनीलपङ्कजप्रपञ्चकालिमप्रभा- well-opened-blue-lotus-universe-darkness-luster

    - वलम्बिकण्ठकन्दलीरुचिप्रबद्धकन्धरम् |
    hanging-inside-temple-luster-tied-neck 

स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिदं भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं Manmatha-killer-city-destroyer-mundane life -destroyer-sacrifice destroyer

     गजच्छिदांधकछिदं तमंतकच्छिदं भजे || ९||
     elephant-killer-demon-killer-him-destroyer of Lord Yama-I worship 

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.

अखर्व( अगर्व) सर्वमङ्गलाकलाकदंबमञ्जरी great-all-auspicious-art-variegated-bunch-

     रसप्रवाहमाधुरी विजृंभणामधुव्रतम् |
     enjoyment-flow-sweetness-flaring up-bees 

स्मरान्तकं पुरान्तकं भवान्तकं मखान्तकं Manmatha-destroyer-city-destroyer-worldly bond-destroyer -sacrifice-destroyer

     गजान्तकान्धकान्तकं तमन्तकान्तकं भजे || १०||
     elephant-killer-Andhaka-demon-killer-him-Yama-controller-I worship 

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.

जयत्वदभ्रविभ्रमभ्रमद्भुजङ्गमश्वस- victorious-foot-sky-whirling-roaming-snake-breath-

    - द्विनिर्गमत्क्रमस्फुरत्करालभालहव्यवाट् |
    coming out-shaking-evident-dreadful-forehead-fire 

धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिध्वनन्मृदङ्गतुङ्गमङ्गल Dhimid-dhimid-dhimid-sounding-drum-high-auspicious-

    ध्वनिक्रमप्रवर्तित प्रचण्डताण्डवः शिवः || ११||
    sound-series-caused-fierce-Tandava dance-Siva 

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.

स्पृषद्विचित्रतल्पयोर्भुजङ्गमौक्तिकस्रजोर्- touching-varied-ways-snake-embodied-garland

    - गरिष्ठरत्नलोष्ठयोः सुहृद्विपक्षपक्षयोः |
    most precious-gems-brilliance-friends-enemies-two wings 

तृष्णारविन्दचक्षुषोः प्रजामहीमहेन्द्रयोः grass-lotus-eyes people and the great emperor

    समप्रवृत्तिकः ( समं प्रवर्तयन्मनः) कदा सदाशिवं भजे || १२||
    equal-behaviour-always-Lord Siva-worship-I 

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

कदा निलिम्पनिर्झरीनिकुञ्जकोटरे वसन् when-celestial river-bush-hollow place(in)-living

    विमुक्तदुर्मतिः सदा शिरः स्थमञ्जलिं वहन् |
    released-bad mind-always-on the head-folded hands- 

विमुक्तलोललोचनो ललामभाललग्नकः agitation-shaking-eyes-the best-forehead-interested

    शिवेति मंत्रमुच्चरन् कदा सुखी भवाम्यहम् || १३||
    "Siva" -mantra-uttering-when-happy-will-be-I 

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.

इदम् हि नित्यमेवमुक्तमुत्तमोत्तमं स्तवं This-indeed-daily-thus-said-the best of the best-stotra

    पठन्स्मरन्ब्रुवन्नरो विशुद्धिमेतिसंततम् |
    reading-remembering-saying-a person-sanctity-gets-always 

हरे गुरौ सुभक्तिमाशु याति नान्यथा गतिं in Siva-in Guru-deep devotion-quickly-gets-no-other-way

    विमोहनं हि देहिनां सुशङ्करस्य चिंतनम् || १४||
    removal of delusion-indeed-for the people-blessed Siva's thought 

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.

पूजावसानसमये दशवक्त्रगीतं यः worship-end-time-Ravana-sung

    शंभुपूजनपरं पठति प्रदोषे |
    who-Siva-worship-dedicated-reads-early in the morning 

तस्य स्थिरां रथगजेन्द्रतुरङ्गयुक्तां to him-stable-chariot-elephant-horse-having

    लक्ष्मीं सदैव  सुमुखिं प्रददाति शंभुः || १५||
    Lakshmi-always-definitely-favourable-gives-Siva 

Early morning, at the end of Puja, whoever utters this stotra dedicated to the worship of Siva, Lord Siva blessed him with very stable Lakshmi (prosperity) with all the richness of chariots, elephants and horses.

इति श्रीरावण- कृतम् thus sri-Ravana-done शिव- ताण्डव- स्तोत्रम् Siva-tandava-stotra सम्पूर्णम् ends.

Thus ends the Siva-Tandava Stotra written by Ravana.

\Large 

The word-meanings and translation have been kindly provided by Dr. Sarasvati Mohan (samskrt@aol.com) and her students at Samskrit Academy, San Jose CA, USA. She teaches samskrit in the Bay area. The typing of these was done by Sarada Kalisetty

This stotram is in आर्यागीति; a variant of the आर्या. Please count the syllables! There should be 32 per half shloka. If not then there should be a mistake somewhere... Please try the 2nd half of both the 8th \ 9th shlokas first. They have already been broken. They are very rhythmic!

32 = 2+2, - , 2+2, --, 2+2, -, 2+2, --, 2+2, - -, 2+2, --, 2+2, -, 2+2, ----

then next half of the shloka following the same pattern. The '-' are the duration of the pauses.'2+2' represent 2 syllables + 2 syllables in quick succession.

The last shloka is not in आर्यागीति. It has been broken at the pause for each half verse.

[edit] External links

• English translation and meaning.
• Listen to Shiva Tandava Stotra sung in Sanskrit in streaming realplayer

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