Shiva Tandava Stotram
Complete Lyrics, Meaning & Story

Jatatavigalajjala pravahapavitasthale

jatā-ṭavī-galaj-jala-pravāha-pāvita-sthale

Shiva's matted locks pour down like the torrential Ganga, purifying everything it touches. His neck is adorned with the serpent king Vasuki — coiled, sacred, hissing softly. Ravana opens with an image of almost impossible beauty: the wild forest of Shiva's hair, through which a river flows.

Galat-phala-prabhava-vrinda-vandita-sri-ganesha

galat-phala-prabhāva-vṛnda-vanditā śrī-gaṇeśa

Ravana describes the forest streams as streams of divine fruit-juice pouring down, worshipping Ganesha. The half-moon on Shiva's forehead glows like a lamp in the dark matted hair — kala (crescent moon) amid the twisted locks.

Dhara dhara samindra vallari bhushita-skandha

dharā-dharendra-vallari-bhūṣita-skandha

The mountain king Himalaya's daughter Parvati clings to Shiva's shoulder like a creeper. The tiger-skin cloak, the ash-smeared body — Shiva is simultaneously the ascetic and the lord of the universe. The verse is an intimate picture of their union.

Kalas thalah kala bhasita bhujanga

kalā-ṭhālī-bhūṣita-bhujaṅga-rāja-nirmita

Shiva wears a garland of skulls (Mundamala) and the king of serpents (Vasuki) as his sacred thread. The contrast is terrifying and beautiful: the lord of death wears death's symbols as ornaments, transforming them into icons of liberation.

Praphulla nila pankaja prapancha kalimba chaya

praphulla-nīla-paṅkaja-prapañca-kālimba-cchāya

Shiva's throat shines dark blue like a blooming blue lotus — this is Neelakantha, who drank the Halahala poison at the churning of the ocean. That action that would have killed any other being becomes in Shiva an adornment, a mark of grace and sacrifice.

Sphurat-karana-nitamba-kunda-mandita-sundaram

sphurad-varuṇa-nitamba-kunda-maṇḍita-sundaram

The Tandava itself begins in this verse — Shiva begins his cosmic dance, his waist adorned with bells and the tiger skin that sways as he moves. The earth trembles. Mountains shake. The rhythm of his footfall is the beat of creation.

Javadvipana durvipana dugdha dugdha dandanaha

javā-dvipa-na-durvi-pā-na-dugdhā-dugdha-daṇḍanāha

The poison of time (Kala) and the terror of death itself bow before Shiva. He is Mahakala — greater than time and death. His Tandava encompasses creation, preservation, and dissolution simultaneously.

Sataghni nishkala muda muda muda

śatāghni-nishkala-mudā-mudā-mudā

Ravana is now in ecstasy — the repeated 'muda, muda, muda' (joy, joy, joy) expresses the inexpressible bliss of witnessing Shiva's dance. The verse breaks the usual poetic structure to become almost a primal cry of devotion.

Kratau supeshalantarae kratavyasundaram

kratau-supeśalāntare-kratavya-sundaram

Shiva is the master of all sacrifices (yajnas). His divine form is the most beautiful object of meditation for those who yearn for liberation. The verse places Shiva at the center of Vedic ritual and beyond it.

Drikul bhuta chandana sthale khagadhipa

dṛk-kūl-bhūta-candana-sthale-khagādhipa

The sandalwood paste on Shiva's body, the garuda (eagle) that serves as a vehicle of meditation — this verse weaves the three great gods (Shiva with sandal paste, Vishnu's vahana the eagle, Brahma's lotus) into a vision of unified divinity.

Drishadvichittra talpayor bhujau sira silpa

dṛṣad-vicitra-talpayorbhujāṃ śiras-śilpa

The universe is Shiva's carpet — he dances on the most beautiful and strange terrain. Mountains are his footstool, the sky his stage. The dance encompasses all of space.

Savana parishkritam suraasanaani

savāna-pariṣkṛtaṃ surāsanāni

The gods — Brahma, Vishnu, Indra — all bow before Shiva's dance. Their thrones are merely footstools compared to the cosmic stage of Shiva's Tandava. The verse asserts Shiva's absolute supremacy in the Shaiva theology.

Phalendu shekharam kripa nidhanam

phaleṇḍu-śekharam-kṛpā-nidhānam

Shiva is Chandrashekhara — moon-crowned. He is the ocean of compassion (karuna). Despite his terrifying form — with skulls, serpents, and matted hair — he is ultimately the compassionate father of the universe.

Mano vinoda madbhutam bibirsha bhushanam

mano-vinoda-madhutam-bibhrata-bhūṣaṇam

Ravana's mind is filled with wonder (moda) and the stotram rises in intensity. The beauty of Shiva described so far — the river in his hair, the moon on his forehead, the serpents as jewellery — fills even Ravana's powerful, intellectual mind with childlike delight.

Suvarna mandira kalyana suraakhyam

suvarṇa-mandira-kalyāṇa-surākhyam

Shiva's dwelling — Kailash — is described as a golden temple of supreme auspiciousness. This is Ravana's home also in spirit; he was so devoted that he tried to uproot Kailash to bring it to Lanka.

Vibhakta trinay devam vishva karan meva cha

vibhakta-trinetraṃ devam-viśva-kāraṇam-eva-ca

Shiva is Trinayana — three-eyed. The third eye of wisdom that opens to destroy ignorance (and which destroyed Kama Deva when he disturbed Shiva's meditation). He is the ultimate cause (karan) of the universe.

Imam hi nityam eva muktim idham

imaṃ hi nityam-eva-muktim-idham

The final verse — the Phala-shruti (fruit of recitation): whoever recites this Shiva Tandava Stotram daily with devotion will be freed from all bondage, attain the grace of Mahadeva, and ultimately reach Kailash. Ravana ends with a promise, not a request.