Shiv Tandav Stotra or Stotram was sung by Ravana in praise of Lord Shiva. Ravana is known as “Vidvaan” which means a highly knowledgeable person and he was also a great devotee of Lord Shiva. The beautifully written verses describe the magnificence and power of Lord Shiva and it is mesmerizing to hear this composition. This Stotra being in the Sanskrit language is a bit difficult to learn but it can be sung by anyone to please the supreme God.
Shiva is known as the God of the Gods and this magical Stotram is extremely powerful. Each line of the Stotra is so meaningful and the beauty of it lies in the way it tells us about God’s supremacy. The rhythm of the entire Stotra simply takes the listener into a completely different world of spirituality.
While there are many different stories about the origin of Shiv Tandav Stotram, here is the real story of how this Stotra came into existence:
Ravana had won Pushpak Vimaan (flying chariot) over Kuber, his brother and while doing parikrama of the universe, he was passing by Kailas Mountain. His flying chariot couldn’t pass over the mountain since Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati were resting there. He was angry, so he decided to uproot Kailas mountain and the world experienced high turmoil due to this action.
As he uplifted the mountain, he wasn’t able to move. Lord Shiva then reacted by pressing His toe on the mountain and that is when Ravana started crying with pain as he couldn’t come out from there. The sound of his crying was called “Raav” as he cried with great distress.
As everyone heard Ravana crying, Narad Muni came there and advised him to apologize to Shiva. Ravana started chanting shlokas to please God and stayed in pain for 14 days until Pradosh Kaal. On the evening of Pradosh Kaal, he sang Shiv Tandav Stotram to praise the Lord, and Shiva was so engrossed in it that He forgave him.
Followed by this incident, Shiva named him “Ravana,” and before that, He was known as “Lankapati” and “Dashanan.”
Benefits of Shiva Tandav Stotra:
When you recite or sing Shiva Tandav Stotra with devotion, you can experience the power it gives you. It develops a positive aura full of energy and makes you feel inclined towards spirituality. It gives you strength, mental clarity and you can feel the presence of Lord Shiva. It is sung by many devotees, and they feel a sense of oneness with the Almighty. Even listening to the Stotra brings positive vibrations.
Shiv Tandav Stotra
Jatatavee galajjala pravaha pavitasthale,
Gale avalabhya lambithaam bhujanga tunga malikaam,
Damaddamaddama ddama ninnadava damarvayam,
Chakara chanda tandavam tanotu na shivh shivam (1)
Jata kataha sambhramabhramanillimpa nirjari,
Vilola veechi vallari viraja mana moordhani,
Dhaga dhaga dhaga jjwala lalata patta pavake,
Kishora Chandra shekare ratih prati kshanam mama (2)
Dhara dharendra nandini vilasa bhandhu bhandura,
Sphuradriganta santati pramoda mana manase,
Kripa kataksha dhorani niruddha durdharapadi,
Kwachi digambare mano vinodametu vastuni (3)
Jata bhujanga pingala sphurat phana mani prabha,
Kadamba kumkuma drava pralipta digwadhu mukhe,
Madhandha sindhura sphuratwagu uttariyamedure,
Manovinodamadbhutam bibhartu bhoota bhartari (4)
Lalata chatwara jwaladdhanam jaya sphulingaya,
Nipeeta pancha sayakam namannilimpanayakam,
Sudha mayookha lekhaya virajamana shekharam,
Maha kapali sampade, sirijjatalamastunah (5)
Sahastralochana prabhrityashesha lekha shekhara,
Prasoona dhooli dhorani vidhu saranghripeethabhuh,
Bhujangaraja Malaya nibaddha jaata jootakah,
Shriyai chiraya jayatam chakora bandhu shekharah (6)
Karala bhala pattika dhagaddhadhagaddha gajjwala,
Ddhananjayahuti kruta prachanda panchasayake ,
Dharadharendra nandini kuchagra chithrapathraka,
Prakalpanaikashilpini, trilochane ratirmama (7)
Naveena megha mandali niruddha durdharatsphurat,
Kuhuh nisheethineetamah prabhandha baddha kandharah,
Nilimpa nirjhari dharastanotu krutti sundarah,
Kalanidhana bandhurah shriyam jagat durandharah (8)
Prafulla neela pankaja prapancha kalimaprabha,
Valambi kantha kandali ruchi prabandha kandharam,
Smarchchhidam purachchhidam bhavachchhidam makhachchhidam,
Gajachchhidandha kachchhidam tamant kachchhidam bhaje (9)
Akharva sarva mangalaa kalaa kadamba manjari,
Rasa pravaha madhuri vijrumbhane madhuvritam,
Smrantakam, purantakam, bhavantakam, makhantakam,
Gajantakandhakantakam tamantakantakam bhaje (10)
Jayatwadabhra vibhrama bhramadbujanga mashwasad,
Vinirgamat, kramasphurat, karala bhala havya vaat,
Dhimiddhimiddhimi maddhwanan mridanga tunga mangala,
Dhwani krama pravartitah prachanda tandawah shivah (11)
Drushadwichitra talpayor bhujanga mauktikastrajor,
Garishtha ratna loshtayoh suhrid wipaksha pakshayoh,
Trinara vinda chakshushoh praja mahee mahendrayoh,
Samapravrittikah katha sadashivam bhajamyaham (12)
Kada nilimpa nirjharee nikunja kotare vasan,
Vimukta durmatih sada shirahstha manjali vahan,
Vilola lola lochane lalama bhala lagnakah,
Shiveti mantra muchcharan kada sukhee bhavamyaham (13)
Nilimpnath naagaree kadamb mauli mallika,
nigumpha nirbharkshanm dhooshnika manoharah.
tanotu no manomudam vinodineem maharshinam,
parshriyam param padam tadanjatvisham chayah (14)
prachanda wadavaanal prabha shubh pracharinee,
mahaasht siddhi kaaminee janavahoot jalpana.
vimukta vaam lochano vivaah kaalikdhvanih,
shiveti mantra bhooshano jagajjayaay jaaytaam (15)
Imam hi nitya meva mukta muttamottamstavam,
Pathantaram bhunannaro vishuddhmeti santatam,
Hare Gurau sa bhaktimashu yati nanyatha gati,
Vimohanam hi dehinaa tu shankarasya chitanam (16)
Poojavasana samaye dasha vaktra geetam,
Yah shambhu poojana param pathati pradoshe,
Tasyasthiraam ratha gajendra turanga yuktaam,
Lakshmeem sadaiva sumukheem pradadaati shambuh (17)
The Shiv Tandav Stotra can be chanted by everyone as the only thing that matters is pure devotion.
