Shiva Tandava Stotra

Transliteration (IAST)

jaṭāṭavī-galaj-jala-pravāha-pāvita-sthale gale'valambya lambitāṃ bhujaṅga-tuṅga-mālikām ḍamaḍ-ḍamaḍ-ḍamaḍ-ḍaman-ninādavaḍ-ḍamarvayaṃ cakāra caṇḍa-tāṇḍavaṃ tanotu naḥ śivaḥ śivam

English meaning

On whose neck — sanctified by the streaming current of the forest of his matted hair — hangs a tall garland of the king of serpents, and whose damaru sounds "ḍamaḍ-ḍamaḍ-ḍamaḍ-ḍaman" — who performed the fierce tandava — may that Shiva bestow auspiciousness upon us.

Transliteration (IAST)

jaṭā-kaṭāha-sambhrama-bhraman-nilimpa-nirjharī- vilola-vīci-vallarī-virājamāna-mūrdhani dhagad-dhagad-dhagaj-jvalal-lalāṭa-paṭṭa-pāvake kiśora-candra-śekhare ratiḥ pratikṣaṇaṃ mama

English meaning

On whose head, in the cauldron of his matted locks, the celestial Ganga whirls and dances — her tendril-like waves swaying brightly above — on whose forehead the fire crackles "dhagad-dhagad-dhagat" — on Shiva, crowned with the young moon, may my devotion grow at every moment.

Transliteration (IAST)

dharā-dharendra-nandinī-vilāsa-bandhu-bandhura sphurad-diganta-santati-pramodamāna-mānase kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-dhoraṇī-niruddha-durdharāpadi kvacid digambare mano vinodam etu vastuni

English meaning

In Shiva — the loving consort of the daughter of the mountain (Parvati), whose mind delights in the hosts of beings sparkling at every horizon, whose stream of compassionate side-glances dispels the most unbearable calamities — in that One clad only in the directions, may my mind ever find joy.

Transliteration (IAST)

jaṭā-bhujaṅga-piṅgala-sphurat-phaṇā-maṇi-prabhā- kadamba-kuṅkuma-drava-pralipta-dig-vadhū-mukhe madāndha-sindhura-sphurat-tvag-uttarīya-medure mano vinodam adbhutaṃ bibhartu bhūta-bhartari

English meaning

The radiance of the gem on the hood of the tawny serpent in his matted hair paints saffron-paste upon the faces of the women of the directions — his upper garment is the hide of the rut-blinded elephant. In Shiva, the sustainer of all beings, may my mind hold wondrous delight.

Transliteration (IAST)

sahasra-locana-prabhṛty-aśeṣa-lekha-śekhara- prasūna-dhūlī-dhoraṇī vidhūsarāṅghri-pīṭha-bhūḥ bhujaṅga-rāja-mālayā nibaddha-jāṭa-jūṭaka śriyai cirāya jāyatāṃ cakora-bandhu-śekharaḥ

English meaning

The pollen-streams of flowers from the crowns of countless gods, beginning with Indra of a thousand eyes, turn the dust at his foot-rest grey with their fragrance. His matted lock-bundle is bound with a garland of the king of serpents. May He, the moon-crested kinsman of the chakora bird, grant lasting prosperity.

Transliteration (IAST)

lalāṭa-catvara-jvalad-dhanañjaya-sphuliṅga-bhā- nipīta-pañca-sāyakaṃ naman-nilimpa-nāyakam sudhā-mayūkha-lekhayā virājamāna-śekharaṃ mahā-kapāli-sampade-śiro-jaṭālam astu naḥ

English meaning

The flame of fire blazing in his forehead's expanse swallowed up the five arrows of Kamadeva. Before whom the leader of the gods bows. Whose crest-jewel is the streak of nectar-rays (the moon). May the matted-haired great Skull-bearer grant us all opulence.

Transliteration (IAST)

karāla-bhāla-paṭṭikā-dhagad-dhagad-dhagaj-jvala- d-dhanañjayāhutī-kṛta-pracaṇḍa-pañca-sāyake dharā-dharendra-nandinī-kucāgra-citra-patraka- prakalpanaika-śilpini tri-locane ratir mama

English meaning

On the dread tablet of his forehead the fire roars "dhagad-dhagad-dhagat", into which the fierce Five-Arrowed One (Kama) was offered as oblation. He alone is the artist who decorates the breast of the mountain-king's daughter with intricate leaf-designs — in that Three-eyed One, my devotion abides.

Transliteration (IAST)

navīna-megha-maṇḍalī niruddha-durdhara-sphurat- kuhū-niśīthinī-tamaḥ prabandha-baddha-kandharaḥ nilimpa-nirjharī-dharas tanotu kṛtti-sindhuraḥ kalā-nidhāna-bandhuraḥ śriyaṃ jagad-dhuraṃdharaḥ

English meaning

On whose neck the darkness of the new-moon midnight is bound, like a freshly-formed cloud-mass — who bears the celestial Ganga, who is clad in the elephant-hide, who is graceful with the digit of the moon — bearer of the burden of the worlds — may He bestow lasting prosperity.

Transliteration (IAST)

praphulla-nīla-paṅkaja-prapañca-kālima-prabhā- valambi-kaṇṭha-kandalī-ruci-prabaddha-kandharam smaracchidaṃ puracchidaṃ bhavacchidaṃ makhacchidaṃ gajacchidāndhakacchidaṃ tam antakacchidaṃ bhaje

English meaning

Whose neck is wreathed in the dark splendour of the blossomed blue lotus — who slew Kama, who burned Tripura, who cuts off rebirth, who shattered Daksha's sacrifice, who slew the elephant-demon, who killed Andhaka, who conquered Death itself — Him I worship.

Transliteration (IAST)

akharva-sarva-maṅgalā-kalā-kadamba-mañjarī- rasa-pravāha-mādhurī vijṛmbhaṇā-madhuvratam smarāntakaṃ purāntakaṃ bhavāntakaṃ makhāntakaṃ gajāntakāndhakāntakaṃ tam antakāntakaṃ bhaje

English meaning

A bee drunk on the streaming sweetness of the kadamba-cluster of Parvati's every art and grace — destroyer of Kama, destroyer of Tripura, destroyer of worldly bondage, destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice, destroyer of the elephant-demon, destroyer of Andhaka, destroyer of Death himself — Him I worship.

Transliteration (IAST)

jayatvad-abhra-vibhrama-bhramad-bhujaṅgama-śvasad- vinirgamat-krama-sphurat-karāla-bhāla-havya-vāṭ dhimid-dhimid-dhimi-dhvanan-mṛdaṅga-tuṅga-maṅgala- dhvani-krama-pravartita pracaṇḍa-tāṇḍavaḥ śivaḥ

English meaning

May Shiva be victorious — whose dread brow-fire blazes from the breath of the serpents whirling on his cloud-like form, whose fierce tandava is set in motion by the resonant auspicious drumbeat — "dhimi-dhimi-dhimi" — of the lofty mridanga.

Transliteration (IAST)

dṛṣad-vicitra-talpayor bhujaṅgamauktika-srajor gariṣṭha-ratna-loṣṭhayoḥ suhṛd-vipakṣa-pakṣayoḥ tṛṇāravinda-cakṣuṣoḥ prajā-mahī-mahendrayoḥ sama-pravṛttikaḥ kadā sadāśivaṃ bhajāmy aham

English meaning

When — looking on a richly-strewn bed and a stone with one same eye, on a serpent and a pearl-necklace, on a precious gem and a clod of earth, on friend and enemy, on a blade of grass and a lotus, on a common subject and a great king — when shall I worship Sadashiva with that perfectly equal regard?

Transliteration (IAST)

kadā nilimpa-nirjharī-nikuñja-koṭare vasan vimukta-durmatiḥ sadā śiraḥ-stham añjaliṃ vahan vimukta-lola-locano lalāma-bhāla-lagnakaḥ śiveti mantram uccaran kadā sukhī bhavāmy aham

English meaning

When, dwelling in a bower-cave by the celestial Ganga, with all wrong thinking dropped, my joined palms ever raised above my head, eyes still and gaze fixed upon his marked forehead, chanting the mantra "Shiva!" — when shall I, indeed, become truly happy?

Transliteration (IAST)

idaṃ hi nityam evam ukta-muttamottamaṃ stavaṃ paṭhan smaran bruvan naro viśuddhim eti santatam hare gurau subhaktim āśu yāti nānyathā gatiṃ vimohanaṃ hi dehināṃ suśaṅkarasya cintanam

English meaning

One who recites, recalls, or speaks this most-supreme hymn daily as it has been declared attains continuous purification. He swiftly attains true devotion to Hara, the supreme Guru, and to no other path — for the contemplation of the Auspicious One dispels the delusion of all embodied beings.

Transliteration (IAST)

pūjāvasāna-samaye daśavaktra-gītaṃ yaḥ śambhu-pūjana-paraṃ paṭhati pradoṣe tasya sthirāṃ ratha-gajendra-turaṅga-yuktāṃ lakṣmīṃ sadaiva sumukhīṃ pradadāti śambhuḥ

English meaning

At the close of evening worship (pradosha), one who recites this hymn — sung by the ten-faced one (Ravana) — with his mind absorbed in worshipping Shambhu (Shiva), to him Shambhu grants forever a steady, fair-faced Lakshmi — with chariots, tusker elephants, and horses.