Shiva Thandava Stotram

Shiva Tandava Stotram  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 (aka Vishrava), Ravana whose brother is Kubera. 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.

It is said that when he was 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.

The Stotram and its meaning

Jatatavee gala jjala pravaha pavitha sthale,

Gale avalabhya lambithaam bhujanga thunga malikaam,

Dama ddama dama ddama ninnadava damarvayam,

Chakara chanda thandavam thanothu na shiva shivam.

Meaning: 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 a hanging garland, and the Damaru drum making the sound of Damat Damat Damat Damat, Lord Shiva did the auspicious dance of Tandava and may He shower prosperity on us all.

Jata kataha sambhrama brama nillimpa nirjari,

Vilola veechi vallari viraja mana moordhani,

Dhaga dhaga daga jjwala lalata patta pavake,

Kishora Chandra shekare rathi prathi kshanam mama.

Meaning: I have a very deep interest in Lord Shiva, 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.

Dhara darendra nandini vilasa bhandhu bhandura,

Sphuradigantha santhathi pramodha mana manase,

Krupa kataaksha dhorani niruddha durdharapadi,

Kwachi digambare mano vinodhamethu vasthuni.

Meaning: May my mind seek happiness in the Lord Shiva, 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). 

Jataa bhujanga pingala sphurath phana mani prabha,

Kadamba kumkuma drava praliptha digwadhoo mukhe,

Madhandha sindhura sphurathwa guutthariya medhure,

Mano vinodhamadhbutham bibarthu bhootha bharthari.

Meaning: May I seek wonderful pleasure in Lord Shiva, 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.

Sahasra lochana prabhoothyasesha lekha shekhara,

Prasoona dhooli dhorani vidhu sarangri peetabhu,

Bhujangaraja Malaya nibhaddha jaataa jhootaka,

Sriyai chiraya jayatham chakora bandhu shekhara.

Meaning: May Lord Shiva give us prosperity, who has the moon (relative of the Chakora 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.

Lalata chathwara jwala dhananjaya sphulingabha,

Nipeetha pancha sayakam nama nnilimpanayakam,

Sudha mayookha lekhaya virajamana shekharam,

Maha kapali sampade, siro jataalamasthu nah.

Meaning: May we get the wealth of Siddhis from Shiva'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

Karala bhala pattika dhagga dhagga dhagga jjwala,

Ddhanan jayahuthi krutha prachanda pancha sayage ,

Dharadharendra nandhini kuchagra chithrapathraka,

Prakalpanaika shilpini, trilochane rathir mama.

Meaning: My interest is in Lord Shiva, 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.

Naveena megha mandali nirudha durdharah sphurath,

Kahoo niseedhi neethama prabhandha bandha kandharah,

Nilimpa nirjari darsthanothu kruthi sindhurah,

Kala nidhana bandhura sriyam jagat durandhara.

Meaning: May Lord Shiva 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.

Prafulla neela pankaja prapancha kalima prabha,

Valambhi kanta kandhali ruchi prabandha kandharam,

Smaracchidham puracchidham bhavacchidham makhacchidham,

Gajacchidhaandha kacchidham thamantha kacchidham bhaje.

Meaning: I pray to Lord Shiva, 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.

Agarva sarva mangalaa kalaa kadhamba manjari,

Rasa pravaaha maadhuri vijrumbhanaa madhu vratham,

Smaraanthakam, puraanthakam, bhavaanthakam, makhaanthakam,

Gajantha kaandha kaanthakam thamantha kaanthakam bhaje.

Meaning: I pray to Lord Shiva, 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.

Jayathwadha bravibrama  bramadh bujaamga maswasa,

Dvinirgamath, kramasphurath, karala bhala havya vaat,

Dhimi dhimi dhimi dhwanan mrudanga thunga mangala,

Dhwani krama pravarthitha prachanda thandawa shiva.

Meaning: Lord Shiva, 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.

Drusha dwichi thra thalpayor bhujanga moukthika srajo,

Garishta rathna loshtayo suhrudhwi paksha pakshayo,

Trunara vinda chakshusho praja mahee mahendrayo,

Samapravruthikah kadha sadashivam bhajamyaham.

Meaning: When will I worship Lord Sadashiva (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.

Kadha nilimpa nirjaree nikunja kotare vasan,

Vimuktha durmathee sadah sirasthamanjaleem vahan,

Vimukta lola lochano lalaama bhala lagnaka,

Shivethi manthamucharan sadhaa sukhee bhavamyaham.

Meaning: 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 Shiva and devoted in the God with glorious forehead with vibrating eyes.

Idham hi nithya meva muktha mutthamotthamam sthavam,

Patan, smaran broovan nnaro vishuddhimethi santhatham,

Hare Gurou subhakthimashu yathi naanyatha gathim,

Vimohinam hi dehinaam sushakarasya chithanam.

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

Poojavasana samaye dasha vakthra geetham,

Ya shambhu poojana param patathi pradhoshe,

Thasya sthiraam ratha gajendra thuranga yuktham,

Lakshmeem sadaiva sumukheem pradadathi shambu.

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

Ithi Ravana krutham,

Shiva thandava stotram,

Sampoornam

Meaning: Thus ends Shiva Thandava Storam by Ravana

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Shiva Thandava Stotram in Sanskrit with meaning PDF Format
Shiva Thandava Stotram in Telugu with meaning PDF Format
Shiva Thandava Stotram in English with meaning PDF Format
Shiva Thandava Stotram MP3