Shiv Tandav Stotram Lyrics (शिव तांडव स्तोत्र)

According to Hindu texts, at least 8 types of Tandavas are present as mentioned below:

1. Rudra Tandav – Ferocious Dance.
2. Ananda Tandav – Happy Dance.
3. Tripura Tandav – Dance as Anthaka (destroyer) of three cities [explained in the later part of this narrative]
4. Sandhya Tandav – Evening Dance (Pradosha Kala).
5. Samhara Tandav– Destroying Dance.
6. Kalika Tandav – Dance with Kali.
7. Uma Tandav – Dance with Uma (Parvathi Devi).
8. Gauri Tandav – Dance with Gauri, the creator of three worlds.

Mahadev Tandav Stotram is a rhythmic poem having 16 quatrains in total. Each line has 16 syllables with short syllable (Laghu) and long syllable (Guru) alternating. The Stotram offers salutations to Lord Shiva on his Tandav.

Shivji Ka Tandav Stotram is authored and recited by Ravana, the Demon King and an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. The legend is that Ravana, who had lifted Kailasa (the abode of Lord Shiva) with arrogance was suppressed by its weight and he had recited ‘Shankar ji ka Tandav Stotram‘ to come out of the burden.

He was even gifted with the weapon named “Chandrahas” by Lord Shiva after the recitation of this stotram.

जटाटवी गल ज्जल प्रवाह पावित स्थले
गलेऽ वलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजंग तुंग मालिकाम्‌।
डमड्डम ड्डम ड्डम निनादवड्डमर्वयं
चकार चंड तांडवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम ॥१॥

jatatavi gala jjala pravaha pavita sthale
gale’ valambya lambitam bhujanga tunga malikam।
damaddama ddama ddama ninadavaddamarvayam
chakara chanda tandavam tanotu nah shivah shivama ॥1॥

Meaning: Lord Shiva, from Whose matted twisted hair locks Which appear like a forest, gushes the tricking water immersing and purifying the cobras Which are adorned as long garlands around His neck, who has fiercely danced to the peculiar ‘Damad Damad’ high sounds of the Drum and such Blissful Shiva may shower His blessings.

जटा कटाह संभ्रम भ्रम न्निलिंप निर्झरी
विलोल वीचि वल्लरी विराज मान मूर्धनि ।
धगद्धगद्धग ज्ज्वलल्ल लाट पट्ट पावके
किशोर चंद्र शेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं ममं ॥२॥

jata kataha sambhrama bhrama nnilimpa nirjari
vilola vichi vallari viraja mana murdhani ।
dhagaddhagaddhaga jjvalalla lata patta pavake
kishora chandra shekhare ratih pratikshanam mamam ॥2॥

Meaning: Lord Shiva Whose head holds the flowing River Ganges like a creeper, whose waving matted hair locks contain brightness, whose forehead has fiercely blazing fire (third eye) and Who has a young moon on his head at Whose presence I derive pleasure at every moment.

धरा धरेंद्र नंदिनी विलास बंधु वंधुर-
स्फुरदृगंत संतति प्रमोद मान मानसे ।
कृपा कटाक्ष धारणी निरुद्ध दुर्ध रापदि
कवचिद्विगम्बरे मनो विनोदमेतु वस्तुनि ॥३॥

dhara dharendra nandini vilasa bandhu vandhura-
sphuradriganta santati pramoda mana manase ।
kripa kataksha dharani niruddha durdha rapadi
kavachidvigambare mano vinodametu vastuni ॥3॥

Meaning: Lord Shiva, who has the sacred heart embracing the life of all the living beings in the widespread universe, who joyfully plays with the daughter of the Mountain King (Parvatha Raja), Whose merciful glimpses alleviate the sorrows, who adorns the Directions (East, West, North, South) as his costume and at the sight of such Lord Shiva, I’m blissful.

जटा भुजं गपिंगल स्फुरत्फणा मणि प्रभा-
कदंब कुंकुम द्रव प्रलिप्त दिग्व धूमुखे ।
मदांध सिंधुर स्फुरत्वगुत्तरी यमेदुरे
मनो विनोद द्भुतं बिंभर्तु भूत भर्तरि ॥४॥

jata bhujam gapingala sphuratphana mani prabha-
kadamba kunkuma drava pralipta digva dhumukhe ।
madandha sindhura sphuratvaguttari yamedure
mano vinoda dbhutam bimbhartu bhuta bhartari ॥4॥

Meaning: Lord Shiva, who is the foundation of life, who has adorned the brightness emanating Cobra like a creeper around His neck with the brightness reflecting as dazzle on the faces of all the worshippers from various directions and Who sits wearing elephant skin on His Divine form and my heart cherishes such sight.

सहस्र लोचन प्रभृत्य शेष लेख शेखर-
प्रसून धूलि धोरणी विधू सरांघ्रि पीठभूः ।
भुजंग राज मालया निबद्ध जाट जूटकः
श्रिये चिराय जायतां चकोर बंधु शेखरः ॥५॥

sahasra lochana prabhritya shesha lekha shekhara-
prasuna dhuli dhorani vidhu saranghri pithabhuh ।
bhujanga raja malaya nibaddha jata jutakah
shriye chiraya jayatam chakora bandhu shekharah ॥5॥

Meaning: Lord Shiva, Who wears moon [Indra who has 1000 eyes who is a friend of chakor (beautiful eyed bird)] on his head, Whose hair lock is tied with snakes, Whose feet are in ash colour due to the constant falling of pollens worn in the heads of Hari (Lord Vishnu), Indra and other Gods (the flowers fall from their heads to Lord Shiva’s feet as they continually bow and worship Lord Shiva) and may such Lord Shiva bless us with all opulence.

ललाट चत्वरज्वलद्धनंजयस्फुरिगभा-
निपीतपंचसायकं निमन्निलिंपनायम्‌ ।
सुधा मयुख लेखया विराजमानशेखरं
महा कपालि संपदे शिरोजयालमस्तू नः ॥६॥

lalata chatvarajvaladdhananjayasphurigabha-
nipitapanchasayakam nimannilimpanayam ।
sudha mayukha lekhaya virajamanashekharam
maha kapali sampade shirojayalamastu nah ॥6॥

Meaning: Lord Shiva, Whose blazing fire in the third eye dissolved the arrows of Manmadha (Kaama Deva), Who beautifully adorns young moon on his head, Who is always worshipped by Devas and may we humbly surrender to the blissful hair locks of such Lord Shiva to attain our wishes.

कराल भाल पट्टिकाधगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वल-
द्धनंजया धरीकृतप्रचंडपंचसायके ।
धराधरेंद्र नंदिनी कुचाग्रचित्रपत्रक-
प्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनि त्रिलोचने मतिर्मम ॥७॥

karala bhala pattikadhagaddhagaddhagajjvala-
ddhananjaya dharikritaprachandapanchasayake ।
dharadharendra nandini kuchagrachitrapatraka-
prakalpanaikashilpini trilochane matirmama ॥7॥

Meaning: Lord Shiva, who has three eyes, whose blazing fire in the third eye has burnt Manmadha, who writes on the breasts of Parvathi Devi and to such Lord Shiva, I humbly surrender.

नवीन मेघ मंडली निरुद्धदुर्धरस्फुर-
त्कुहु निशीथिनीतमः प्रबंधबंधुकंधरः ।
निलिम्पनिर्झरि धरस्तनोतु कृत्ति सिंधुरः
कलानिधानबंधुरः श्रियं जगंद्धुरंधरः ॥८॥

navina megha mandali niruddhadurdharasphura-
tkuhu nishithinitamah prabandhabandhukandharah ।
nilimpanirjari dharastanotu kritti sindhurah
kalanidhanabandhurah shriyam jaganddhurandharah ॥8॥

Meaning: Lord Shiva, Whose neck is dark like a crowd of clouds, Who adorns crescent moon on his head, Who bears river Ganga on his head, Who wears elephant skin as a costume, Who bears and supports the whole World and may such Lord Shiva expand my prosperity.

प्रफुल्ल नील पंकज प्रपंचकालिमच्छटा-
विडंबि कंठकंध रारुचि प्रबंधकंधरम्‌
स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिंद भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं
गजच्छिदांधकच्छिदं तमंतकच्छिदं भजे ॥९॥

praphulla nila pankaja prapanchakalimachchhata-
vidambi kanthakandha raruchi prabandhakandharam
smarachchhidam purachchhinda bhavachchhidam makhachchhidam
gajachchhidandhakachchhidam tamantakachchhidam bhaje ॥9॥

Meaning: Lord Shiva, Whose neck is dark, Whose throat glows like the series of blue lotuses, Who scorched Manmadha, Who torched the three cities (iron-walled city on earth, silver walled city in the sky and the gold walled city in the heaven all established by Demon Architect Mayasura), Who snips worldly ties in us, Who has destroyed the Havan (home) of Daksha, Who has killed Andhaka, Who has cut of demon Gaja, Who has kicked Yama and to such Lord Shiva, we offer our humble salutations.

अखर्व सर्वमङ्गलाकलाकदम्बमञ्जरी
रसप्रवाहमाधुरी विजृम्भणामधुव्रतम् ।
स्मरान्तकं पुरान्तकं भवान्तकं मखान्तकं
गजान्तकान्धकान्तकं तमन्तकान्तकं भजे ॥१०॥

agarva sarvamangala kalakadambamanjari-
rasapravaha madhuri vijrimbhana madhuvratam ।
smarantakam puratakam bhavantakam makhantakam
gajantakandhakantakam tamantakantakam bhaje ॥10॥

Meaning: Lord Shiva, who adorns the sweet-scented bunch of flowers, who has destroyed Manmadha, three cities, Daksha’s Havan, Demon Gaja, Andhaka & Yama and to such Lord Shiva, we offer our humble salutations.

जयत्वदभ्रविभ्रम भ्रमद्भुजंगमस्फुर-
द्धगद्धगद्वि निर्गमत्कराल भाल हव्यवाट्-
धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमि नन्मृदंगतुंगमंगल-
ध्वनिक्रमप्रवर्तित प्रचण्ड ताण्डवः शिवः ॥११॥

jayatvadabhravibhrama bhramadbhujangamasphura-
ddhagaddhagadvi nirgamatkarala bhala havyavat-
dhimiddhimiddhimi nannridangatungamangala-
dhvanikramapravartita prachanda tandavah shivah ॥11॥

Meaning: Lord Shiva is in His divine form whereby He dances in tune with the ‘dhimi dhimi’ sounds of mrudanga (percussion instrument), has a fire in His third eye on the forehead and His ornament cobra spews fire.

दृषद्विचित्रतल्पयोर्भुजङ्गमौक्तिकस्रजोर्
गरिष्ठरत्नलोष्ठयोः सुहृद्विपक्षपक्षयोः ।
तृणारविन्दचक्षुषोः प्रजामही महेन्द्रयोः
समं प्रवृत्तिक: कदा सदाशिवं भजाम्यहम ॥१२॥

drishadvichitratalpayorbhujanga mauktikamasrajo-
rgarishtharatnaloshtayoh suhridvipakshapakshayoh ।
trinaravindachakshushoh prajamahimahendrayoh
samam pravartayanmanah kada sadashivam bhaje ॥12॥

Meaning: Lord Shiva, when will get the equal vision to treat varied things such as king & common people, lotus eyes & grass eyes, snake & a pearl garland, gems & lump of dirt and friend & enemy as one?

कदा निलिम्पनिर्झरीनिकुञ्जकोटरे वसन्
विमुक्तदुर्मतिः सदा शिरःस्थमञ्जलिं वहन् ।
विमुक्तलोललोचनो ललामभाललग्नकः
शिवेति मंत्रमुच्चरन् कदा सुखी भवाम्यहम् ॥१३॥

kada nilimpanirjari nikujakotare vasan
vimuktadurmatih sada shirahsthamanjalim vahan।
vimuktalolalochano lalamabhalalagnakah
shiveti mantramuchcharankada sukhi bhavanyaham॥13॥

Meaning: Lord Shiva, when am I going to live in the hollow (cave) on the banks of river Ganges? When am I going to lift my hands above my head melting all my sinful characteristics chanting your nama all the time? Lord Shiva with the dynamic eye on the forehead, please tell me.

निलिंपनाथनागरीकदम्बमोलमल्लिक:
निगुम्फनिर्भरक्षरन्मधूष्णिकामनोहरः ।
तनोतु नो मनोमुदं विनोदिनीमहर्निशं
परिश्रयं परं पदं तदंगजत्विषां चयः ॥१४॥

nilimpa nathanagari kadamba maulamallika-
nigumphanirbhaksharanma dhushnikamanoharah ।
tanotu no manomudam vinodinimmahanisham
parishraya param padam tadangajatvisham chayah ॥14॥

Meaning: Lord Shiva, the various parts of whose divine form is as bright as the string of fragrant flowers adorning the twisted & matted hair locks, may always bless us with eternal happiness and pleasure.

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

prachanda vadavanala prabha shubha pracharani
mahashtasiddhikamini janavahuta jalpana ।
vimukta vama lochano vivahakalikadhvanih
shiveti mantrabhushago jagajjayaya jayatam ॥15॥

Meaning: Lord Shiva, the passionate energy which does away all the sins and spreads benevolence to all and the enchanting resonating sounds emanating from the chanting of Shiva Mantra during the wedding of Shiva and Parvathi may prevail and wipe out the sufferings and sins of the world.

इमं हि नित्यमेवमुक्तमुत्तमोत्तमं स्तवं
पठन्स्मरन्ब्रुवन्नरो विशुद्धिमेति संततम् ।
हरे गुरौ सुभक्तिमाशु याति नान्यथा गतिं
विमोहनं हि देहिनां सुशङ्करस्य चिंतनम् ॥16॥

imam hi nityameva muktamuktamottama stavam
pathansmaran bruvannaro vishuddhameti santatam।
hare gurau subhaktimashu yati nanyatha gatim
vimohanam hi dehana tu shankarasya chintanama ॥16॥

Meaning: Lord Shiva, those reading and reciting this eternal stotram may be blessed with your benevolence and be sanctified. There is no other way to get the blessings of Lord Shankara.

पूजावसानसमये दशवक्त्रगीतं
यः शम्भुपूजनपरं पठति प्रदोषे ।
तस्य स्थिरां रथगजेन्द्रतुरङ्गयुक्तां
लक्ष्मीं सदैव सुमुखिं प्रददाति शम्भुः॥

puja’vasanasamaye dashavakratragitam
yah shambhupujanamidam pathati pradoshe ।
tasya sthiram rathagajendraturangayuktam
lakshmi sadaiva sumukhim pradadati shambhuh ॥

Meaning: Lord Shiva, those who recite this stotram sung by Ravana in the evenings at the time of pradosha at the end of the prayer of Shambu (Lord Shiva) may be blessed with all wealth and abundance.

॥ इति शिव तांडव स्तोत्रं संपूर्णम्‌॥

Idhi Shiv Tandav Stotram Sampoornam

Meaning: Shiv Tandav Stotram is completed.