Shiva Tandava Stotram is a powerful Sanskrit hymn that glorifies the fierce, cosmic dance of Lord Shiva known as the Tāṇḍava. It was composed by Ravana, the mighty king of Lanka and a devoted follower of Lord Shiva.
🕉️ What Is Shiva Tandava Stotram?
Shiva Tandava Stotram is a devotional composition of 16 rhythmic verses, each resonating with intense energy, poetic brilliance, and deep spiritual meaning. The stotram describes the majesty, power, and beauty of Lord Shiva as he performs his cosmic dance — a dance that symbolizes the eternal cycles of creation, preservation, and destruction in the universe.
It is not just a hymn; it’s an experience — filled with divine vibration (spanda), intricate Sanskrit phonetics, and the majestic imagery of Shiva as Nataraja (Lord of the Dance).
The universe is not still—it pulses, expands, contracts, and transforms. At the heart of this cosmic play is Lord Shiva, performing the Tandava, the dance of creation, preservation, and destruction. The Shiva Tandava Stotram, composed by Ravana, the mighty devotee and king of Lanka, is a hymn that captures this cosmic energy in divine poetry and powerful vibration.
Chanting the Shiva Tandava Stotram is not just recitation—it’s an invocation of Shiva’s strength, rhythm, and the fire of transformation. Whether you are a spiritual seeker, a yogi, or someone navigating life’s chaos, this stotram brings inner power, clarity, and divine protection.
📜 Shiva Tandava Stotram Lyrics (Sanskrit with English Meaning)
Here are the first few powerful verses of the Shiva Tandava Stotram:
🕉️ Sanskrit:
जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले
गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् ।
डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं
चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् ॥१॥
You can download the complete Shiva Tandava Stotram Lyrics pdf from here.
🌿 English Transliteration:
Jatatavigalajjala pravahapavitasthale
Galeavalambya lambitam bhujanga-tungamalikam
Damad damad damaddama ninadavadamarvayam
Chakara chandataandavam tanotu nah shivah shivam.
May Lord Shiva bless us with His fierce Tandava dance, whose matted locks drip holy water, around which serpents dance, and whose drum resounds through the cosmos, shaking the very pillars of creation.
🙏 Origin of Shiva Tandava Stotram
The stotram was composed by Ravana, the legendary king of Lanka and a devout Shiva bhakta. According to the scriptures, he created this hymn after attempting to lift Mount Kailash and realizing Shiva’s supreme power. As a gesture of devotion, Ravana sang this powerful stotram, merging rhythm, reverence, and rage into one cosmic chant.
🔥 Spiritual & Mental Benefits of Chanting Shiva Tandava Stotram
✅ 1. Awakens Inner Power (Shakti)
The stotram’s intense vibration ignites the kundalini energy, enhancing personal strength and spiritual courage.
✅ 2. Removes Negativity and Fear
The Tandava represents the destruction of ignorance and ego. Chanting it regularly clears mental fog, fear, and emotional blockages.
✅ 3. Boosts Confidence and Mental Clarity
The fierce rhythm aligns your energy with Shiva’s fearless presence—especially powerful for students, speakers, and performers.
✅ 4. Aligns You with Cosmic Cycles
Shiva’s dance is the rhythm of the universe. Chanting this stotram tunes your energy with the cycles of creation and transformation.
✅ 5. Powerful for Meditation and Focus
The intense rhythm of the stotram enhances concentration, especially during full moon or Pradosha nights (auspicious for Shiva).
🕉️ Meanings of Shiva Tandava Stotram
🔥 1. Cosmic Dance of Shiva
The Tandava is not just a dance—it’s the rhythmic heartbeat of the universe. It represents Shiva’s divine role in creation, preservation, and destruction, emphasizing that life is a continual flow of energy and change.
Meaning: Everything is transient, yet divine. Shiva dances within every transformation.
🐍 2. The Imagery of Divine Power
The stotram vividly describes Shiva’s form:
- Matted hair with flowing Ganga
- Crescent moon adorning his head
- Serpents as ornaments
- Tiger skin as his garment
- Damru (drum) beating with cosmic rhythm
Meaning: Shiva transcends all opposites—he is serene yet fierce, ascetic yet royal.
🌌 3. Shiva as the Supreme Consciousness
Throughout the verses, Shiva is praised as the ultimate source of energy and consciousness, beyond time and space, untouched by dualities like good and evil, pleasure and pain.
Meaning: Shiva is the stillness behind all motion—the eternal witness and cosmic Self (Ātman).
🔱 4. Destruction of Ego and Ignorance
Ravana composed this hymn after his ego was humbled. The Tandava symbolizes the destruction of ignorance (Avidya), helping the devotee surrender pride and awaken to truth.
Meaning: Real strength comes not from power, but from surrender to the divine.
💫 5. Vibration and Energy
The poetic structure of the stotram is filled with intense Sanskrit syllables like “Damad Damad Damaddama,” which create a vibrational impact on the body and mind. It stimulates energy centers (chakras) and helps dissolve blockages.
Meaning: Sound is divine. Each syllable is a key to unlocking inner power.
🧘♂️ 6. Devotion and Bhakti
Although written by a powerful king, the stotram expresses complete devotion and humility. It teaches that no matter who you are, true greatness comes from bhakti (devotion) to the Supreme.
Meaning: Bowing to Shiva means bowing to the divinity within ourselves.
🔱 Shiva Tandava and the Chakras
Each verse of the stotram vibrates with Shiva’s cosmic frequency that energizes specific chakras:
| Chakra | Energy Affected | Stotram Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Root (Muladhara) | Grounding, Fearlessness | Awakens stability and boldness |
| Solar Plexus (Manipura) | Power, Transformation | Burns ego, enhances willpower |
| Third Eye (Ajna) | Intuition, Awareness | Clears mental clouds, sharpens insight |
🎧 How to Chant the Shiva Tandava Stotram
🔔 Tips for Beginners:
- Start with the first 3 to 5 verses and gradually build up.
- Use a slow, rhythmic pace to absorb the vibration.
- Chant during early morning or sunset, facing east.
🎵 Recommended Tools:
- Shiva Tandava Stotram audio tracks
- Sanskrit transliteration guide
- Visualization of Shiva in Nataraja form while chanting
🗝️ Key Takeaways
- Shiva Tandava Stotram is a powerful hymn praising the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva.
- It was composed by Ravana, showcasing Shiva as the force of creation and dissolution.
- Regular chanting enhances courage, clarity, and spiritual awakening.
- Each verse resonates with different chakras and purifies the energy field.
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It’s ideal for seekers on the path of transformation, devotion, and consciousness expansion.
FAQ: Shiva Tandava Stotram
Q: Can beginners chant Shiva Tandava Stotram?
A: Absolutely. Start slowly and focus on pronunciation and feeling. Over time, the rhythm and meaning will sink in.
Q: When is the best time to chant it?
A: Early morning, during twilight (Sandhya), or on Mondays and Pradosha days are most auspicious.
Q: Is it okay to chant without knowing Sanskrit?
A: Yes, chanting with devotion matters more. Use transliterations and focus on intonation and vibration.
Q: Is Shiva Tandava Stotram good for meditation?
A: Yes, it enhances focus, balances energy, and deepens inner silence after chanting.
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