Shiva Tandava Stotra (ि◌शवता डव तो म्) 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 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 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. Attraction was as pure as a love of mother
and child.

Ravana's great-grandfather was Brahma (God of Ultimate Knowledge). 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 crushing Ravana's fingers in the process. That is when Ravana
sings "Tandav Stotra" and he was spared and blessed with invulnerability against all beings
of heaven and earth except humans.
.. ि◌शवता डव तो म् ..
Shiva Tandava Stotra

I जटाटवीगल ल वाहपाि◌वत थले

matted hair-thick as forest-water-flow-consecrated-area
गलेऽवल य लम्ि◌बतां भुज गतु गमाि◌लकाम् |
in the throat-stuck-hanging-snake-lofty-garland
डम म म मन्ि◌ननादव मवयं
damad-damad-damad-damad-having sound-drum-this
चकार च ता डवं तनोतु नः ि◌शवः ि◌शवम् ||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.

II जटाकटाहसं म मन्ि◌िनलि पनझरी-

पनझरी-
matted hair-a well-agitation-moving-celestial river
- ि◌वलोलवीि◌चव लरीि◌वराजमानमू
लरीि◌वराजमानमू धन |
agitating-waves-rows-glorified-head
धग ग ग वल ललाटप पावके
Dhagad-dhagad-dhagat-flaming-forehead-flat area-fire
ि◌कशोरच शेखरे रतः ि त णं 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.

III धराधरे नन्ि◌दनीि◌वलासब धुब धुर

King of mountains-daughter-sportive-kith-beautiful-
फु रद् ि◌दग तसि तत मोदमानमानसे |
glorious-horizon-all living beings-rejoicing-mind
कृ पाकटा धोरणीि◌न दु धरािपद
compassion-look-continuous flow-obstructed-hardships
चद् ि◌दग बरे मनो ि◌वनोदमेतु व तुि◌न ||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).
 IV जटाभुजि गप गल फु र फणािमण भा
creeping-snake-reddish brown-shining-hood-gem-luster-
कद बकु कु म वि लि द वधूमुखे |
variegated-red dye-melting-applied-directions-beloved-face
मदाि धस धुर फु र वगु रीयमेद ु रे
intoxicated-elephant-glittering-skin-upper garment-
covered
मनो ि◌वनोदम भुतं ि◌बभतु भूतभ तर ||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.

V सह लोचन भृ यशेषलेखशेखर
Indra/Vishnu-and others-all-lined up-heads-
सूनधूि◌लधोरणी ि◌वधूसरा घ्ि◌रपीठभूः |
flower-dust-force-grayed-feet-seat
भुज गराजमालया ि◌नब जाटजूटकः टकः
snake-red-garland (with) tied-locked hair
श्ि◌रयै ि◌चराय जायतां चकोरब धुशेखरः ||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.

VI ललाटच वर वल न य फु ि◌ल गभा-

गभा-
forehead-flat area-flaming-fire-sparks-luster
- ि◌नपीतप सायकं नमन्ि◌िनल पनायकम् |
devoured-God of Love-bowing-Gods-leader
सुधामयूखलेखया ि◌वराजमानशेखरं
cool-rayed-crescent-beautiful-head
महाकपाि◌लस पदेि◌शरोजटालम तु 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.
 VII करालभालपट्ि◌टकाधग ग ग वल-
वल-
dreadful-forehead-flat area-dhagat-dhagat-flaming
न या तीकृ त च डप सायके |
fire-offered-powerful-God of Love
धराधरे नन्ि◌दनीकु चाि च प क-
क-
king of mountains-daughter-breast-tip-colorful-decorative
lines
- क पनै कशल्ि◌िपन त्ि◌रलोचने रतमम ||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.

VIII नवीनमेघम डली ि◌न दु धर फु रत्-

new-cloud-circle - obstructed-harsh-striking-
कु ि◌नशीि◌थनीतमः ब धब क धरः |
new moon-midnight-darkness-tightly-tied-neck
ि◌िनलि पनझरीधर
पनझरीधर तनोतु कृ त्ि◌ितस धुरः
celestial-river-wearing-may he bless-skin-red
कलाि◌नधानब धुरः श्ि◌रयं जग धुरंधरः ||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.

IX फु लनीलप कज प काि◌लम भा-

भा-
well-opened-blue-lotus-universe-darkness-luster
- वलम्ि◌बक ठक दली ि◌च ब क धरम् |
hanging-inside-temple-luster-tied-neck
मरच्ि◌छदं पुरच्ि◌छदं भवच्ि◌छदं मखच्ि◌छदं
Manmatha-killer-city-destroyer-mundane life -destroyer-
sacrifice destroyer
गजच्ि◌छदांध कछदं तमंतकच्ि◌छदं 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.
 X अखवसवम गलाकलाकदंबम री
great-all-auspicious-art-variegated-bunch-
रस वाहमाधुरी ि◌वजृंभणामधु तम् |
enjoyment-flow-sweetness-flaring up-bees
मरा तकं पुरा तकं भवा तकं मखा तकं
Manmatha-destroyer-city-destroyer-worldly bond-
destroyer -sacrifice-destroyer
गजा तका धका तकं तम तका तकं 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.

XI जय वदि व म म भुज गम स-
स-
victorious-foot-sky-whirling-roaming-snake-breath-
- द् ि◌िवनगम म फु र करालफालह वाट् |
coming out-shaking-evident-dreadful-forehead-fire
ि◌िधमद् ि◌िधमद् ि◌िधम वन मृद गतु गम गल
Dhimid-dhimid-dhimid-sounding-drum-high-auspicious-
ि वन म वर्ि◌तत च डता डवः ि◌शवः ||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.

XII पृषद् ि◌िवच त पयोभुज गमौक्

गमौक् ि◌तक जोर्-
touching-varied-ways-snake-embodied-garland
- िगर र लो योः सु द् ि◌वप प योः |
most precious-gems-brilliance-friends-enemies-two wings
तृ णा रव दच ुषोः जामहीमहे योः
grass-lotus-eyes people and the great emperor
सम वृत्ि◌तकः (समं वतय मनः)
मनः) कदा सदाि◌शवं 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.
 XIII कदा ि◌िनलि पनझरीि◌नकु कोटरे वसन्
when-celestial river-bush-hollow place(in)-living
ि◌वमु दु मतः सदा ि◌शरः थमि लं वहन् |
released-bad mind-always-on the head-folded hands-
ि◌वमु लोललोचनो (ि◌वलोललोललोचनो
ि◌वलोललोललोचनो)) ललामफालल कः
agitation-shaking-eyes-the best-forehead-interested
ि◌शवेि◌त मं मु रन् कदा सुखी भवा यहम् ||१३||
"Siva"-this-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.

XIV इदम् ि◌ह ि◌न यमेवमु मु मो मं तवं

This-indeed-daily-thus-said-the best of the best-stotra
पठ मर ुव रो ि◌वशुद ् ि◌धमेि◌तसंततम् |
reading-remembering-saying-a person-sanctity-gets-always
हरे गुरौ सुभक् ि◌तमाशु याि◌त ना यथा िगतं
in Siva-in Guru-deep devotion-quickly-gets-no-other-way
ि◌वमोचनं ि◌ह देि◌हनां सुश कर य ि◌चंतनम् ||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.

XV पूजावसानसमये दशव गीतं यः

worship-end-time-Ravana-sung
शंभुपूजनपरं प ठत दोषे |
he-who-Siva-worship-dedicated-reads-early in the morning
त य स्ि◌थरां रथगजे तुर गयु ां
to him-stable-chariot-elephant-horse-having
ल म सदैव सुमुि◌खं ददाि◌त 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.

इि◌त ी रावणकृ तम् ि◌शवता डव तो म् स पूणम्

thus sri Ravana-done Siva-tandava-stotra ends.

Thus ends the auspicious Siva-Tandava Stotra written by Ravana.