Shiv Tandav Stotram: Meaning
The Shiv Tandav Stotram is a Sanskrit hymn traditionally attributed to Ravana, a devotee of Shiva. Its pounding panchachamara metre and repeated sounds ("damad-damad", "dhagad-dhagad", "dhimid-dhimid") imitate the drum and the cosmic dance itself. The early verses describe Shiva dancing, with the Ganga in his hair and fire on his forehead; later verses recall his victories and turn to the poet's longing for equanimity and a life of devotion. The notes give the plain sense of each long compound verse.
जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् । डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् ॥
jaṭāṭavīgalajjalapravāhapāvitasthale gale'valambya lambitāṃ bhujaṅgatuṅgamālikām । ḍamaḍḍamaḍḍamaḍḍamanninādavaḍḍamarvayaṃ cakāra caṇḍatāṇḍavaṃ tanotu naḥ śivaḥ śivam ॥
जटाटवी jaṭāṭavī forest of matted hair भुजङ्ग bhujaṅga serpent डमरु ḍamaru the hand drum चण्डताण्डवम् caṇḍatāṇḍavam the fierce Tandava dance शिवम् śivam welfare जिनकी जटा रूपी वन से बहती जलधारा से पवित्र हुए कंठ में लंबा, ऊँचा सर्प माला की तरह लटक रहा है, और जिनका डमरू "डमड्-डमड्" नाद कर रहा है, उन शिव ने प्रचंड तांडव किया; वे हमारा कल्याण करें।
With his neck sanctified by the streams of water flowing from the forest of his matted hair, and a great serpent hanging around it like a garland; with the damaru sounding "damad damad damad", Shiva performed the fierce tandava dance. May he grant us auspiciousness.
From the forest of his matted hair the Ganga flows, purifying the ground; around his neck hangs a tall garland of serpents; his drum sounds "damad-damad": in this way Shiva performed the fierce Tandava dance. May that Shiva grant us welfare. The rolling, drum-like rhythm of the Sanskrit imitates the dance itself.
जटाकटाहसम्भ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरीविलोलवीचिवल्लरीविराजमानमूर्धनि । धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाटपट्टपावके किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम ॥
jaṭākaṭāhasambhramabhramannilimpanirjharīvilolavīcivallarīvirājamānamūrdhani । dhagaddhagaddhagajjvalallalāṭapaṭṭapāvake kiśoracandraśekhare ratiḥ pratikṣaṇaṃ mama ॥
निलिम्पनिर्झरी nilimpanirjharī the river of the gods (Ganga) ललाटपट्टपावके lalāṭapaṭṭapāvake the fire on the forehead किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे kiśoracandraśekhare crowned with the young moon रतिः ratiḥ love, delight जिनका सिर जटा रूपी कड़ाह में घूमती देव-नदी (गंगा) की चंचल लहरों से शोभित है, जिनके ललाट पर "धगद्-धगद्" अग्नि जल रही है और जो बालचंद्र धारण किए हैं, उनमें मेरी प्रीति क्षण-क्षण बढ़े।
His head is adorned with the waves of the celestial river, swirling in the cauldron of his matted hair; the fire blazes "dhagad dhagad" on the plate of his forehead, and he wears the young crescent moon. May my delight in him grow every moment.
His head is adorned with the waves of the heavenly river whirling in the cauldron of his hair; fire blazes "dhagad-dhagad" on his forehead; the young crescent moon is on his crown: may my love for him grow at every moment.
धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीविलासबन्धुबन्धुर स्फुरद्दिगन्तसन्ततिप्रमोदमानमानसे । कृपाकटाक्षधोरणीनिरुद्धदुर्धरापदि क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे मनो विनोदमेतु वस्तुनि ॥
dharādharendranandinīvilāsabandhubandhura sphuraddigantasantatipramodamānamānase । kṛpākaṭākṣadhoraṇīniruddhadurdharāpadi kvaciddigambare mano vinodametu vastuni ॥
धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनी dharādharendranandinī daughter of the mountain king (Parvati) कृपाकटाक्ष kṛpākaṭākṣa glance of grace दिगम्बरे digambare the sky-clad one जिनका मन पर्वतराज-पुत्री (पार्वती) की लीलाओं से, जो दिशाओं को प्रकाशित करती हैं, आनंदित रहता है, और जो कृपा-दृष्टि की धारा से कठिन विपत्तियाँ रोक देते हैं, उन दिगंबर में मेरा मन रमे।
His mind rejoices in the play of the mountain-king's daughter (Parvati), which brightens all the directions; with the flow of his merciful glance he stops even the hardest calamities. May my mind find delight in that sky-clad one.
His mind delights in the playful companion of the daughter of the mountain king (Parvati) and in the radiant expanse of the directions; his glance of grace stops even hard calamities: may my mind find joy in that sky-clad one.
जटाभुजङ्गपिङ्गलस्फुरत्फणामणिप्रभा कदम्बकुङ्कुमद्रवप्रलिप्तदिग्वधूमुखे । मदान्धसिन्धुरस्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि ॥
jaṭābhujaṅgapiṅgalasphuratphaṇāmaṇiprabhā kadambakuṅkumadravapraliptadigvadhūmukhe । madāndhasindhurasphurattvaguttarīyamedure mano vinodamadbhutaṃ bibhartu bhūtabhartari ॥
फणामणिप्रभा phaṇāmaṇiprabhā the glow of the serpent-hood jewels सिन्धुर sindhura elephant भूतभर्तरि bhūtabhartari lord of beings जिनकी जटा के पिंगल सर्पों के फणों की मणियों की प्रभा दिशा रूपी वधुओं के मुख पर केसर जैसा रंग लगाती है, और जो मदमत्त हाथी की चमकती खाल ओढ़े हैं, उन भूतनाथ में मेरा मन अद्भुत आनंद पाए।
The gems on the hoods of the tawny serpents in his hair cast a glow like saffron on the faces of the directions; he wears the glossy skin of a maddened elephant as an upper garment. May my mind find wondrous joy in that lord of all beings.
The jewels on the hoods of the tawny serpents in his hair glow, painting the faces of the directions as if with saffron; he wears the hide of a maddened elephant: may my mind find wondrous joy in the lord of beings.
सहस्रलोचनप्रभृत्यशेषलेखशेखर प्रसूनधूलिधोरणी विधूसराङ्घ्रिपीठभूः । भुजङ्गराजमालया निबद्धजाटजूटकः श्रियै चिराय जायतां चकोरबन्धुशेखरः ॥
sahasralocanaprabhṛtyaśeṣalekhaśekhara prasūnadhūlidhoraṇī vidhūsarāṅghripīṭhabhūḥ । bhujaṅgarājamālayā nibaddhajāṭajūṭakaḥ śriyai cirāya jāyatāṃ cakorabandhuśekharaḥ ॥
सहस्रलोचन sahasralocana the thousand-eyed (Indra) अङ्घ्रिपीठ aṅghripīṭha footstool चकोरबन्धुशेखरः cakorabandhuśekharaḥ crowned with the moon जिनकी चरण-पीठिका इंद्र आदि सब देवताओं के सिर के फूलों की धूल से धूसर है, जिनका जटाजूट सर्पराज की माला से बँधा है, वे चंद्रशेखर चिरकाल तक समृद्धि दें।
His footstool is grey with pollen falling from the flowers on the heads of Indra and all the gods; his matted hair is tied with the king of serpents. May he who wears the moon on his head grant lasting prosperity.
His footstool is grey with the pollen of flowers from the heads of Indra and all the gods who bow to him; his matted hair is tied with the king of serpents: may he who wears the moon (friend of the chakora bird) bring lasting prosperity.
ललाटचत्वरज्वलद्धनञ्जयस्फुलिङ्गभानिपीतपञ्चसायकं नमन्निलिम्पनायकम् । सुधामयूखलेखया विराजमानशेखरं महाकपालिसम्पदेशिरोजटालमस्तु नः ॥
lalāṭacatvarajvaladdhanañjayasphuliṅgabhānipītapañcasāyakaṃ namannilimpanāyakam । sudhāmayūkhalekhayā virājamānaśekharaṃ mahākapālisampadeśirojaṭālamastu naḥ ॥
पञ्चसायकम् pañcasāyakam the five-arrowed (Kamadeva) धनञ्जय dhanañjaya fire सुधामयूख sudhāmayūkha the nectar-rayed (moon) जिनके विशाल ललाट पर जलती अग्नि की चिंगारियों ने कामदेव को भस्म कर दिया, जिन्हें देवराज नमन करते हैं, जिनका मस्तक चंद्र-कला से शोभित है, उन महाकपाली का जटा-मंडित सिर हमारी संपदा बने।
The fire blazing on the broad plain of his forehead consumed Kamadeva, god of love; the leader of the gods bows to him; his head shines with the crescent moon. May his head of matted locks, treasure of the great skull-bearer, be our wealth.
The fire flaming on the altar of his forehead consumed the five-arrowed god of love; the lord of the gods bows to him; his crown shines with a sliver of the nectar-rayed moon: may his matted hair, the wealth of the great skull-bearer, be for our good.
करालभालपट्टिकाधगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलद्धनञ्जयाहुतीकृतप्रचण्डपञ्चसायके । धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीकुचाग्रचित्रपत्रक प्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनि त्रिलोचने रतिर्मम ॥
karālabhālapaṭṭikādhagaddhagaddhagajjvaladdhanañjayāhutīkṛtapracaṇḍapañcasāyake । dharādharendranandinīkucāgracitrapatraka prakalpanaikaśilpini trilocane ratirmama ॥
आहुतीकृत āhutīkṛta made an oblation शिल्पिनि śilpini the artist त्रिलोचने trilocane in the three-eyed one जिन्होंने विकराल ललाट-पट्ट पर धधकती अग्नि में कामदेव की आहुति दी, और जो पर्वतराज-पुत्री के वक्ष पर चित्र-रचना करने वाले एकमात्र शिल्पी हैं, उन त्रिलोचन में मेरी प्रीति है।
He offered Kamadeva into the fire blazing on the fierce plate of his forehead; he alone is the artist who draws designs on the breasts of the mountain-king's daughter. My love is for that three-eyed one.
He offered the mighty god of love as an oblation into the fire blazing on his fearsome forehead; he alone is the artist who draws designs on the breast of the mountain's daughter: may my love be for the three-eyed one.
नवीनमेघमण्डलीनिरुद्धदुर्धरस्फुरत्कुहूनिशीथिनीतमःप्रबन्धबद्धकन्धरः । निलिम्पनिर्झरीधरस्तनोतु कृत्तिसिन्धुरः कलानिधानबन्धुरः श्रियं जगद्धुरन्धरः ॥
navīnameghamaṇḍalīniruddhadurdharasphuratkuhūniśīthinītamaḥprabandhabaddhakandharaḥ । nilimpanirjharīdharastanotu kṛttisindhuraḥ kalānidhānabandhuraḥ śriyaṃ jagaddhurandharaḥ ॥
कुहूनिशीथिनी kuhūniśīthinī new-moon midnight कृत्तिसिन्धुरः kṛttisindhuraḥ wearing the elephant hide जगद्धुरन्धरः jagaddhurandharaḥ bearer of the world's burden जिनका कंठ नए मेघों से ढकी अमावस्या की रात के अंधकार जैसा श्याम है, जो देव-नदी को धारण करते हैं, गज-चर्म ओढ़ते हैं, चंद्रमा से सुंदर हैं और जगत का भार उठाते हैं, वे हमें समृद्धि दें।
His neck is dark like a night of the new moon covered by dense new clouds; he bears the celestial river and wears an elephant hide; he is graceful with the moon. May he who bears the burden of the world grant us prosperity.
His throat is dark as a new-moon midnight covered by fresh rain clouds; he bears the heavenly river and wears the elephant hide; graceful with the moon, he bears the burden of the world: may he spread prosperity.
प्रफुल्ल नीलपङ्कज प्रपञ्च कालिम प्रभा वलम्बिकण्ठकन्दलीरुचिप्रबद्धकन्धरम् । स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिदं भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं गजच्छिदान्धकच्छिदं तमन्तकच्छिदं भजे ॥
praphulla nīlapaṅkaja prapañca kālima prabhā valambikaṇṭhakandalīruciprabaddhakandharam । smaracchidaṃ puracchidaṃ bhavacchidaṃ makhacchidaṃ gajacchidāndhakacchidaṃ tamantakacchidaṃ bhaje ॥
स्मरच्छिदम् smaracchidam destroyer of Kama मखच्छिदम् makhacchidam destroyer of (Daksha's) sacrifice अन्तकच्छिदम् antakacchidam destroyer of Death जिनका कंठ खिले नील-कमल की श्याम आभा से शोभित है, उन शिव को मैं भजता हूँ, जिन्होंने काम, त्रिपुर, संसार-बंधन और दक्ष-यज्ञ का नाश किया, गजासुर और अंधक को मारा, और यम का भी अंत किया।
His neck shines dark like a full-blown blue lotus. I worship him who destroyed Kama, Tripura, worldly bondage and Daksha's sacrifice, who slew the elephant demon and Andhaka, and who cut down Death itself.
His neck shines with the dark glow of full-blown blue lotuses. I worship him who cut down the god of love, the cities (Tripura), worldly bondage, Daksha's sacrifice, the elephant demon, Andhaka and Death itself.
अखर्वसर्वमङ्गलाकलाकदम्बमञ्जरी रसप्रवाहमाधुरी विजृम्भणामधुव्रतम् । स्मरान्तकं पुरान्तकं भवान्तकं मखान्तकं गजान्तकान्धकान्तकं तमन्तकान्तकं भजे ॥
akharvasarvamaṅgalākalākadambamañjarī rasapravāhamādhurī vijṛmbhaṇāmadhuvratam । smarāntakaṃ purāntakaṃ bhavāntakaṃ makhāntakaṃ gajāntakāndhakāntakaṃ tamantakāntakaṃ bhaje ॥
मधुव्रतम् madhuvratam the bee सर्वमङ्गला sarvamaṅgalā the all-auspicious (Parvati) अन्तकान्तकम् antakāntakam ender of Death जो सर्वमंगला (पार्वती) की कलाओं रूपी कदंब-मंजरी के रस-प्रवाह की मधुरता का पान करने वाले भ्रमर हैं, उन शिव को मैं भजता हूँ, जिन्होंने काम, त्रिपुर, भव-बंधन, दक्ष-यज्ञ, गजासुर, अंधक और यम का अंत किया।
He is like a bee drinking the sweet nectar of the flower-clusters of the arts of the undiminished, all-auspicious Parvati. I worship him who ended Kama, Tripura, worldly bondage, Daksha's sacrifice, the elephant demon, Andhaka and Death.
He is the bee drawn to the sweet nectar of the flower-cluster of the arts of the all-auspicious Parvati. I worship him who ended Kama, the cities, worldly bondage, the sacrifice, the elephant demon, Andhaka and Death.
जयत्वदभ्रविभ्रमभ्रमद्भुजङ्गमश्वसद्विनिर्गमत्क्रमस्फुरत्करालभालहव्यवाट् । धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिध्वनन्मृदङ्गतुङ्गमङ्गल ध्वनिक्रमप्रवर्तित प्रचण्डताण्डवः शिवः ॥
jayatvadabhravibhramabhramadbhujaṅgamaśvasadvinirgamatkramasphuratkarālabhālahavyavāṭ । dhimiddhimiddhimidhvananmṛdaṅgatuṅgamaṅgala dhvanikramapravartita pracaṇḍatāṇḍavaḥ śivaḥ ॥
मृदङ्ग mṛdaṅga the mridanga drum हव्यवाट् havyavāṭ fire प्रचण्डताण्डवः pracaṇḍatāṇḍavaḥ the fierce Tandava जिनके विकराल ललाट पर आकाश में तेज़ी से घूमते सर्पों की साँस से अग्नि फैल रही है, और मृदंग की "धिमिद्-धिमिद्" मंगल ध्वनि के क्रम से जो प्रचंड तांडव करते हैं, उन शिव की जय हो।
On his fearsome forehead the fire spreads with the breath of serpents moving swiftly across the sky; to the auspicious, rising beat of the mridanga, "dhimid dhimid dhimid", Shiva performs his fierce tandava. Victory to him!
Victory to Shiva, whose fierce Tandava is set in motion by the auspicious "dhimid-dhimid" of the mridanga drum, while the fire on his forehead flares with the hissing breath of the whirling serpents.
दृषद्विचित्रतल्पयोर्भुजङ्गमौक्तिकस्रजोर्गरिष्ठरत्नलोष्ठयोः सुहृद्विपक्षपक्षयोः । तृणारविन्दचक्षुषोः प्रजामहीमहेन्द्रयोः समप्रवृत्तिकः कदा सदाशिवं भजाम्यहम् ॥
dṛṣadvicitratalpayorbhujaṅgamauktikasrajorgariṣṭharatnaloṣṭhayoḥ suhṛdvipakṣapakṣayoḥ । tṛṇāravindacakṣuṣoḥ prajāmahīmahendrayoḥ samapravṛttikaḥ kadā sadāśivaṃ bhajāmyaham ॥
दृषद् dṛṣad stone तल्प talpa bed समप्रवृत्तिकः samapravṛttikaḥ with an equal attitude पत्थर और सुंदर शैया, सर्प और मोतियों की माला, बहुमूल्य रत्न और मिट्टी के ढेले, मित्र और शत्रु, तिनके और कमल-नयनी, प्रजा और राजा, सबके प्रति समभाव रखकर मैं कब सदाशिव को भजूँगा?
When will I worship Sadashiv with an equal mind towards a stone and a fine bed, a serpent and a pearl necklace, a precious gem and a lump of earth, friend and foe, a blade of grass and lotus-eyed beauty, common people and kings?
When shall I worship Sadashiva with an equal mind towards a stone and a fine bed, a serpent and a pearl necklace, precious gems and a clod of earth, friend and foe, a blade of grass and lotus eyes, ordinary people and kings? This verse turns from description to the poet's longing for equanimity.
कदा निलिम्पनिर्झरीनिकुञ्जकोटरे वसन् विमुक्तदुर्मतिः सदा शिरः स्थमञ्जलिं वहन् । विमुक्तलोललोचनो ललामभाललग्नकः शिवेति मंत्रमुच्चरन् कदा सुखी भवाम्यहम् ॥
kadā nilimpanirjharīnikuñjakoṭare vasan vimuktadurmatiḥ sadā śiraḥ sthamañjaliṃ vahan । vimuktalolalocano lalāmabhālalagnakaḥ śiveti maṃtramuccaran kadā sukhī bhavāmyaham ॥
निकुञ्जकोटरे nikuñjakoṭare in a hollow of a grove विमुक्तदुर्मतिः vimuktadurmatiḥ freed of bad thoughts अञ्जलिम् añjalim joined palms कब मैं देव-नदी के कुंजों की गुफा में रहते हुए, दुर्बुद्धि से मुक्त होकर, सदा सिर पर अंजलि बाँधे, चंचल नेत्रों को स्थिर कर, ललाट पर तिलक लगाए "शिव" मंत्र जपते हुए सुखी होऊँगा?
When will I be happy, living in a hollow of the groves by the celestial river, free of ill thoughts, ever holding my joined hands above my head, my restless eyes calm, chanting the mantra "Shiva" with the mark on my forehead?
When shall I be happy, living in a hollow by the heavenly river (Ganga), free of bad thoughts, always holding my joined hands above my head, my restless eyes stilled, chanting the mantra "Shiva"?
इमं हि नित्यमेवमुक्तमुत्तमोत्तमं स्तवं पठन्स्मरन्ब्रुवन्नरो विशुद्धिमेतिसन्ततम् । हरे गुरौ सुभक्तिमाशु याति नान्यथा गतिं विमोहनं हि देहिनां सुशङ्करस्य चिन्तनम् ॥
imaṃ hi nityamevamuktamuttamottamaṃ stavaṃ paṭhansmaranbruvannaro viśuddhimetisantatam । hare gurau subhaktimāśu yāti nānyathā gatiṃ vimohanaṃ hi dehināṃ suśaṅkarasya cintanam ॥
विशुद्धिम् viśuddhim purity सुभक्तिम् subhaktim deep devotion विमोहनम् vimohanam removal of delusion जो मनुष्य इस उत्तमोत्तम स्तोत्र को यहाँ कहे अनुसार नित्य पढ़ता, स्मरण करता या बोलता है, वह सदा शुद्ध रहता है और शीघ्र ही गुरु रूप हर (शिव) में भक्ति पाता है; इसके अतिरिक्त कोई गति नहीं। शंकर का चिंतन देहधारियों का मोह दूर करता है।
Whoever daily reads, remembers or recites this supreme hymn as told here is always purified and soon gains firm devotion to Hara, the guru; there is no other way. Meditation on Shankara removes the delusion of embodied beings.
Whoever constantly reads, remembers or recites this supreme hymn, as it has been told, is purified for ever, quickly gains deep devotion to Hara (Shiva) the guru, and has no other path; thinking of Shankara removes the delusion of embodied beings. The phalashruti begins here.
पूजावसानसमये दशवक्त्रगीतं यः शम्भुपूजनपरं पठति प्रदोषे । तस्य स्थिरां रथगजेन्द्रतुरङ्गयुक्तां लक्ष्मीं सदैव सुमुखीं प्रददाति शम्भुः ॥
pūjāvasānasamaye daśavaktragītaṃ yaḥ śambhupūjanaparaṃ paṭhati pradoṣe । tasya sthirāṃ rathagajendraturaṅgayuktāṃ lakṣmīṃ sadaiva sumukhīṃ pradadāti śambhuḥ ॥
दशवक्त्रगीतम् daśavaktragītam sung by the ten-headed (Ravana) प्रदोषे pradoṣe in the evening twilight स्थिराम् sthirām steady जो प्रदोष काल में पूजा के अंत में दशमुख (रावण) द्वारा गाया, शम्भु-पूजा में तत्पर यह स्तोत्र पढ़ता है, उसे शम्भु सदा रथ, हाथी और घोड़ों से युक्त स्थिर और प्रसन्न लक्ष्मी देते हैं।
Whoever, at the end of worship in the evening Pradosh time, recites this hymn sung by the ten-headed one (Ravana) and devoted to Shambhu's worship, Shambhu always grants them steady and gracious prosperity, with chariots, elephants and horses.
Whoever, devoted to Shiva's worship, reads this hymn sung by the ten-headed (Ravana) at the end of worship in the evening (pradosha), to him Shambhu always gives steady, favourable prosperity with chariots, elephants and horses. This verse names Ravana as the composer.
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- Sources
- Shiva Tandava Stotra, Wikipedia (2026)
- Tandava, Wikipedia (2026)