Shiv Tandav Stotram: Powerful Shiv Mantra by Ravana

Shiva Tandava Stotram is a Hindu stotra or hymn created by Ravana, the great scholar and the supreme devotee of Lord Shiva. This stotram narrates the beauty, valour and power of the Mahadeva himself. This is one of the most effective and powerful Shiva mantras of all time, and contains 16 quatrains with 16 syllables per line. The lyrical alliteration and pronunciation creates resounding waves within the one reciting this hymn. Lord Shiva, also known as Bholenath, carries an innocent aura, which is devoid of all the worldly pleasures, and this hymn is dedicated to the lord himself by Lankapati Ravana to appease him. Let’s know the origin of Shiv Tandav Stotram and how it must be chanted.

Origin of Shiv Tandav Stotram

According to the mythological legends, Ravana, the King of Demons or Asuras, was a big devotee of Lord Shiva. Urged to bring Lord Shiva to Lanka, he started his journey to bring Kailasha, the humble abode of Lord Shiva, to Lanka on the advice of Narad Muni. Upon reaching the Kailasha, his powers and ego took over his wisdom, and out of haughtiness, he started to lift the mountain.

Seeing this, Lord Shiva decided to teach him a lesson, and placed his toe on the land, resulting in Ravana’s hand being crushed under the weight of the Kailash Parvat. In agonizing pain, he started shouting “Shankar Shankar’, which made the whole universe tremble in pain. Then, he started reciting Shiv Tandav Stotram, praising the Lord for his wisdom and power and asking for his forgiveness. Mahadeva, seeing his devotion, lifted his toe, freed him from his agonizing pain and blessed him with several boons. Hence, it is believed that just by reciting this mantra, one attains prosperity, power and virtue.

Shiv Tandav Stotram Lyrics (Sanskrit)

जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले गलेवलम्ब्यलम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम्‌।
डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं चकारचण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवो शिवम्‌ ॥1॥

Meaning- From his forest-like matted hair flows the holy Ganga and wets his throat, that Lord Shiva, whose neck contains the garlands of long snakes and who does the fierce Tandav on the “Damak Damak Damak Damak” beats of the Damru, may he blesses us all!

जटाकटाहसंभ्रमभ्रमन्निलिंपनिर्झरी विलोलवीचिवल्लरी विराजमानमूर्धनि।
धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाटपट्टपावके किशोरचंद्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं ममं ॥2॥

Meaning- Every moment with Lord Shiva is heavenly, as Nilimpa Nirjari (Maa Ganga) agitatedly moves around the mated forest presumed on his forehead, which shines bright with unsteady waves of fire and contains a crescent Moon adding to its ornamental glory. I hope for my love and appreciation for the Lord rises beyond.

धराधरेंद्रनंदिनी विलासबन्धुबन्धुरस्फुरद्दिगंतसंतति प्रमोद मानमानसे।
कृपाकटाक्षधोरणीनिरुद्धदुर्धरापदि क्वचिद्विगम्बरे मनोविनोदमेतु वस्तुनि ॥3॥

Meaning- I wish to seek happiness and comfort in Shiva, who is a fulfilling consort of Parvati, Mountain King Himalaya’s daughter, and the Lord rejoices at her attractive side-glances, in whose mind all the living beings and animals reside and whose blessings can resolve immense troubles. I wish to remain happy throughout the life by worshipping the Digambar Shiva.

जटाभुजंगपिंगलस्फुरत्फणामणिप्रभा कदंबकुंकुमद्रवप्रलिप्तदिग्वधूमुखे।
मदांधसिंधुरस्फुरत्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे मनोविनोदद्भुतं बिंभर्तुभूतभर्तरि ॥4॥

Meaning- I wish to attain jubilation while worshipping Lord Shiva, who is the ultimate protector of all creatures, whose matted hair is entwined with yellow snakes and a shining gem on his forehead disperses its light all around, whose face glows by standing besides his beautiful bride decorated with Kumkum, and who adorns the skin of an elephant blinded with ferociousness. The Lord of the ghosts makes my heart contented and happy.

सहस्रलोचनप्रभृत्यशेषलेखशेखर प्रसूनधूलिधोरणी विधूसरांघ्रिपीठभूः।
भुजंगराजमालयानिबद्धजाटजूटकः श्रियैचिरायजायतां चकोरबंधुशेखरः ॥5॥

Meaning- Lord Shiva, whose feet are graced by pollen dust from the flowers placed on the Indra and other gods’ forehead, whose matted hair is tied by the King of serpents, and who adorns a half-crescent Moon on his forehead; must bless us with prosperity for life.

ललाटचत्वरज्वलद्धनंजयस्फुलिङ्गभा निपीतपंचसायकंनमन्निलिंपनायकम्‌।
सुधामयूखलेखया विराजमानशेखरं महाकपालिसंपदे शिरोजटालमस्तुनः ॥6॥

Meaning- Lord Shiva, who eliminated the ego of Indra and other devtas and destroyed Lord Kama with the blazing fire on his forehead, is loved by all the Gods and adorns the enticing Moon and the ever-beautiful Ganga on his forehead. May he grant us the power to attain what we desire.

करालभालपट्टिकाधगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलद्धनंजया धरीकृतप्रचंडपंचसायके।
धराधरेंद्रनंदिनीकुचाग्रचित्रपत्रकप्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनी त्रिलोचनेरतिर्मम ॥7॥

Meaning- I wish to find pleasure in Lord Shiva, who destroyed Lord Kama with the blazing fire emerging from his forehead, and who enjoys creating art and painting on the front area of Parvati’s breasts cleverly (here, Parvati is synonymous to nature and painting means creation).

नवीनमेघमंडलीनिरुद्धदुर्धरस्फुरत्कुहुनिशीथनीतमः प्रबद्धबद्धकन्धरः।
निलिम्पनिर्झरीधरस्तनोतु कृत्तिसिंधुरः कलानिधानबंधुरः श्रियं जगंद्धुरंधरः ॥8॥

Meaning- May the Lord Mahadev, whose beautiful neck is surrounded by new locks of clouds and black in colour, just like a dark amavasya night; who wears the River Ganga, elephant-skin cloth and a curved, crescent Moon as his ornaments and bears the burden of the universe on his shoulders, bless us with financial prosperity.

प्रफुल्लनीलपंकजप्रपंचकालिमप्रभा विडंबि कंठकंध रारुचि प्रबंधकंधरम्‌।
स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिंद भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं गजच्छिदांधकच्छिदं तमंतकच्छिदं भजे ॥9॥

Meaning- Shiva, whose neck and shoulder blooms like a blue lotus or Neelkamal, who is the executor of Kamadeva and Tripurasur, the destroyer of worldly sorrows, Gajasur, Andhkasur, who is known as Daksha Yagya Vinashak, and who can conquer over death, I wish to worship him forever.

अखर्वसर्वमंगला कलाकदम्बमंजरी रसप्रवाह माधुरी विजृंभणा मधुव्रतम्‌।
स्मरांतकं पुरातकं भावंतकं मखांतकं गजांतकांधकांतकं तमंतकांतकं भजे ॥10॥

Meaning- I worship the one and only, Lord Shiva, who consumes the sweet nectar of Kadamba tree flowers, who grooms his devotees and is skillful in every sense, who destroyed Kamadeva, Tripurasur, Gajasur, Andhakasur etc. and is the epitome of death for Yamraj himself.

जयत्वदभ्रविभ्रमभ्रमद्भुजंगमस्फुरद्धगद्धगद्विनिर्गमत्कराल भाल हव्यवाट्।
धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिध्वनन्मृदंगतुंगमंगलध्वनिक्रमप्रवर्तित: प्रचण्ड ताण्डवः शिवः ॥11॥

Meaning- Hail victory to the Mahadeva Lord Shiva, whose forehead comprises of snakes travelling at a great speed and hissing, hereby leading to a brimming fire, and who is performing a fierce Tandav amidst the auspicious “dhimit dhimit dhimit” beats of the Damru. I bow to him!

दृषद्विचित्रतल्पयोर्भुजंगमौक्तिकमस्रजोर्गरिष्ठरत्नलोष्ठयोः सुह्रद्विपक्षपक्षयोः।
तृणारविंदचक्षुषोः प्रजामहीमहेन्द्रयोः समं प्रवर्तयन्मनः कदा सदाशिवं भजे ॥12॥

Meaning- I adore Shiva and am dedicated to Him, who treats everyone in this world- from a stone to soft bed, serpent or pearl garland, precious gemstone or a lump of dirt, friend or enemy, king or his public, a small blade of grass or beautiful lotus flower- equally!

कदा निलिंपनिर्झरी निकुञ्जकोटरे वसन्‌ विमुक्तदुर्मतिः सदा शिरःस्थमंजलिं वहन्‌।
विमुक्तलोललोचनो ललामभाललग्नकः शिवेति मंत्रमुच्चरन्‌ कदा सुखी भवाम्यहम्‌ ॥13॥

Meaning- Living in a tree’s hollow in the dense thicket of Ganga, free of ill-thoughts, adorning Anjali at the forehead and reciting the mantra of the one with innocent eyes and face, Shiva, when will I attain contentment?

निलिम्प नाथनागरी कदम्ब मौलमल्लिका-निगुम्फनिर्भक्षरन्म धूष्णिकामनोहरः।
तनोतु नो मनोमुदं विनोदिनींमहनिशं परिश्रय परं पदं तदंगजत्विषां चयः ॥14॥

Meaning- May Lord Shiva, whose physical attributes are defined beautifully by the fragrance of the flowers on the forehead of the Devtas and whose hair locks are decorated, bless the one reciting this pious mantra with happiness and prosperity.

प्रचण्ड वाडवानल प्रभाशुभप्रचारणी महाष्टसिद्धिकामिनी जनावहूत जल्पना।
विमुक्त वाम लोचनो विवाहकालिकध्वनिः शिवेति मन्त्रभूषगो जगज्जयाय जायताम्‌ ॥15॥

Meaning- The one who sings this pious shiv mantra created by the Dashanan or the Ten-Headed One at the time of Shiv-Parvati Vivah creates a Shakti (energy), which can destroy all the sins, spread mass welfare and end sufferings, and produces pleasant sound vibrations.

इमं हि नित्यमेव मुक्तमुक्तमोत्तम स्तवं पठन्स्मरन्‌ ब्रुवन्नरो विशुद्धमेति संततम्‌।
हरे गुरौ सुभक्तिमाशु याति नान्यथागतिं विमोहनं हि देहनां सुशंकरस्य चिंतनम् ॥16॥

Meaning- By reading, reciting, remembering or hearing the Shiv Tandav Stotram, the native attains purity, and becomes one with the Lord himself. One attains the state of moksha(salvation) and gets rid of distractions in life.

पूजावसानसमये दशवक्रत्रगीतं यः शम्भूपूजनपरम् पठति प्रदोषे।
तस्य स्थिरां रथगजेंद्रतुरंगयुक्तां लक्ष्मी सदैव सुमुखीं प्रददाति शम्भुः ॥17॥

Meaning- By reciting this Shiv Tandav Stotram created by Ravana after the completion of your daily prayers, Maa Lakshami graces your house with her presence and Lord Shambhu fulfills your life with chariots, elephants, horses etc.

॥ इति रावणकृतं शिव ताण्डव स्तोत्रं संपूर्णम्‌ ॥

Shiv Tandav Stotram Lyrics in English

jaṭāṭavīgalajjalapravāhapāvitasthale galevalambyalambitāṃ bhujaṅgatuṅgamālikām‌।
ḍamaḍḍamaḍḍamaḍḍamanninādavaḍḍamarvayaṃ cakāracaṇḍatāṇḍavaṃ tanotu naḥ śivo śivam‌॥1॥

jaṭākaṭāhasaṃbhramabhramanniliṃpanirjharī vilolavīcivallarī virājamānamūrdhani।
dhagaddhagaddhagajjvalallalāṭapaṭṭapāvake kiśoracaṃdraśekhare ratiḥ pratikṣaṇaṃ
mamaṃ॥2॥

dharādhareṃdranaṃdinī vilāsabandhubandhurasphuraddigaṃtasaṃtati pramoda mānamānase।
kṛpākaṭākṣadhoraṇīniruddhadurdharāpadi kvacidvigambare manovinodametu vastuni॥3॥

jaṭābhujaṃgapiṃgalasphuratphaṇāmaṇiprabhā kadaṃbakuṃkumadravapraliptadigvadhūmukhe।
madāṃdhasiṃdhurasphuratvaguttarīyamedure manovinodadbhutaṃ biṃbhartubhūtabhartari॥4॥

sahasralocanaprabhṛtyaśeṣalekhaśekhara prasūnadhūlidhoraṇī vidhūsarāṃghripīṭhabhūḥ।
bhujaṃgarājamālayānibaddhajāṭajūṭakaḥ śriyaicirāyajāyatāṃ cakorabaṃdhuśekharaḥ॥5॥

lalāṭacatvarajvaladdhanaṃjayasphuliṅgabhā nipītapaṃcasāyakaṃnamanniliṃpanāyakam‌।
sudhāmayūkhalekhayā virājamānaśekharaṃ mahākapālisaṃpade śirojaṭālamastunaḥ॥6॥

karālabhālapaṭṭikādhagaddhagaddhagajjvaladdhanaṃjayā dharīkṛtapracaṃḍapaṃcasāyake।
dharādhareṃdranaṃdinīkucāgracitrapatrakaprakalpanaikaśilpinī trilocaneratirmama॥7॥

navīnameghamaṃḍalīniruddhadurdharasphuratkuhuniśīthanītamaḥ prabaddhabaddhakandharaḥ।
nilimpanirjharīdharastanotu kṛttisiṃdhuraḥ kalānidhānabaṃdhuraḥ śriyaṃ jagaṃddhuraṃdharaḥ ॥8॥

praphullanīlapaṃkajaprapaṃcakālimaprabhā viḍaṃbi kaṃṭhakaṃdha rāruci prabaṃdhakaṃdharam‌।
smaracchidaṃ puracchiṃda bhavacchidaṃ makhacchidaṃ gajacchidāṃdhakacchidaṃ tamaṃtakacchidaṃ bhaje ॥9॥

akharvasarvamaṃgalā kalākadambamaṃjarī rasapravāha mādhurī vijṛṃbhaṇā madhuvratam‌।
smarāṃtakaṃ purātakaṃ bhāvaṃtakaṃ makhāṃtakaṃ gajāṃtakāṃdhakāṃtakaṃ tamaṃtakāṃtakaṃ bhaje ॥10॥

jayatvadabhravibhramabhramadbhujaṃgamasphuraddhagaddhagadvinirgamatkarāla bhāla havyavāṭ।
dhimiddhimiddhimidhvananmṛdaṃgatuṃgamaṃgaladhvanikramapravartita: pracaṇḍa tāṇḍavaḥ śivaḥ ॥11॥

dṛṣadvicitratalpayorbhujaṃgamauktikamasrajorgariṣṭharatnaloṣṭhayoḥ suhradvipakṣapakṣayoḥ।
tṛṇāraviṃdacakṣuṣoḥ prajāmahīmahendrayoḥ samaṃ pravartayanmanaḥ kadā sadāśivaṃ bhaje॥12॥

kadā niliṃpanirjharī nikuñjakoṭare vasan‌ vimuktadurmatiḥ sadā śiraḥsthamaṃjaliṃ vahan‌।
vimuktalolalocano lalāmabhālalagnakaḥ śiveti maṃtramuccaran‌ kadā sukhī bhavāmyaham‌॥13॥

nilimpa nāthanāgarī kadamba maulamallikā-nigumphanirbhakṣaranma dhūṣṇikāmanoharaḥ।
tanotu no manomudaṃ vinodinīṃmahaniśaṃ pariśraya paraṃ padaṃ tadaṃgajatviṣāṃ cayaḥ॥14॥

pracaṇḍa vāḍavānala prabhāśubhapracāraṇī mahāṣṭasiddhikāminī janāvahūta jalpanā।
vimukta vāma locano vivāhakālikadhvaniḥ śiveti mantrabhūṣago jagajjayāya jāyatām‌॥15॥

imaṃ hi nityameva muktamuktamottama stavaṃ paṭhansmaran‌ bruvannaro viśuddhameti saṃtatam‌।
hare gurau subhaktimāśu yāti nānyathāgatiṃ vimohanaṃ hi dehanāṃ suśaṃkarasya ciṃtanam ॥16॥

pūjāvasānasamaye daśavakratragītaṃ yaḥ śambhūpūjanaparam paṭhati pradoṣe।
tasya sthirāṃ rathagajeṃdraturaṃgayuktāṃ lakṣmī sadaiva sumukhīṃ pradadāti śambhuḥ ॥17॥

॥ iti rāvaṇakṛtaṃ śiva tāṇḍava stotraṃ saṃpūrṇam‌ ॥

When Shiv Tandav Stotram Must Be Recited?

Shiv Tandav Stotram must be recited under special circumstances, which are as follows:

When health problems are troubling you constantly.
When problems related to money or profession arises.
When obstacles related to tantra-mantra or enemies trouble you.
When you wish to achieve something big and special.
When any planet is afflicting in nature in the Kundli and undergoing any unfavourable dasha.

How To Recite Shiv Tandav Stotram?

It must be recited during the Pradosh Kaal or early in the morning for favourable results.
Firstly, fold your hands in front of Lord Shiva and offer him incense, diya and naivedya.
Now, recite the Shiv Tandav Stotram.
If you wish to attain desirable results, you should perform a dance.
After reciting, remember the Lord and pray.

Shiv Tandav Stotram Benefits

Wealth And Luxuries: Chanting this mantra on a regular basis can help the native attain what s/he desires. One gains wealth and leisure and also achieves materialistic pleasures.
Peace in the Family: Peace prevails within the household if Shiv Tandav Stotram is recited within the family. It brings happiness within the familial surrounding and helps a couple develop better mutual understanding.
Resolves Financial Problems: This Shiv Mantra is the ultimate solution to resolve money-related problems. One gets rid of loans and debts once s/he starts reciting this mantra with a devoted heart.
Riddance From Marriage Related Troubles: Single natives who are facing troubles or delay in marriage must chant this mantra for 51 days regularly to get rid of marital problems.
For Professional Growth: In case you are facing hard times in business or experiencing professional failures, reciting this mantra provides power and courage to fight off the obstacles.
Victory Against Court Cases or Enemies: Chanting this stotram ensures victory in legal matters. It also helps you dominate your enemies.
Blessings During Eclipses: One must chant this hymn 1008 times during an eclipse, lunar or solar, to attain the blessings of Lord Shiva.
Get Blessed With A Baby: This mantra chanted during the Pradosh Kaal and this works as a remedy for childless couples.

We hope that you find this article on Shiv Tandav Stotram informative. Thank you for staying connected to AstroSage.