Shiva Thandava Stotram by Ravana, describing Lord Shiva’s power and beauty.

 

Shiva Thandava Stotram is a Sanskrit Stotra (hymn) that describes Lord Shiva's power and beauty. It is by Ravana, the King of Lanka, who is considered a great devotee of Shiva. It is believed that Ravana composed the hymn in praise of Shiva, pleading for moksha.

It is a spontaneous and extempore composition and singing of 1008 verses by Ravana to the accompaniment of music with his intestines as you will read later in this article. Resonance and formation of words in this rendering create rolling waves of resounding beauty in this example of devotional poetry.

You may listen to this wonderful rendition in the following video. It is a Photo Video of us - At Varanasi, alongside the mighty and holy River Ganga and its famous Ghats. In this Video, you can see River Ganga and many of its Ghats, including Dashashwamedha Ghat, Ganga Aarti, Harishchandra Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Singh Dwar (సింహద్వారం), the small and large, row and speed boats and many more places of interest. And in the background, you can listen to the centuries-old ‘Shiva Thandava Stotram’, rendered by the great singer Shankar Mahadevan.

VIDEO:

The basis of the Stotram is narrated as follows: After becoming the king of Lanka, Ravana thought he was invincible. One day as Ravana was watching the Himalayas from his aircraft (Pushpaka Vimanam) he saw Mount Kailasa (Kailasa Parvatham). He was unable to land or fly over it. Even after several attempts Ravana's plane could not achieve this. He then got down and made several attempts to climb it on foot but even this was not possible. After a while Ravana saw Lord Shiva’s Nandi the bull. He asked Nandi why he couldn't cross Mount Kailasa and Nandi said that this mountain is the abode of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, so no stranger can climb it. In pride, Ravana considered this as an insult and angrily tried to uproot the mountain with his hands and take it to Lanka. Due to his action the mountain started shaking. On seeing such a situation Parvati got nervous and complained to Shiva. So Shiva decided to teach Ravana a lesson. He applied his big toe with pressure on the mountain which caused it to come crashing down over Ravana's hands. Ravana groaned with pain and started apologizing. Realising the power of Shiva and out of agony he pulled out his hands, plucked out his intestines and played a tune and sang in praise of Lord Shiva, which, in time came to be known as the Shiva Thandava Stotram. Lord Shiva was pleased with his devotion and enamoured listening to the Stotram and the music and gave him blessings – Power and a celestial sword called Chandrahas.

Shiva Thandava Stotram – English Lyrics and Meaning:

Jatatavigalajjala pravahapavitasthale

Galeavalambya lambitam bhujangatungamalikam

Damad damad damaddama ninadavadamarvayam

Chakara chandtandavam tanotu nah shivah shivam

 

With his neck consecrated by the flow of water that flows from his hair,

And on his neck a snake, which is hung like a garland,

And the Damaru drum that emits the sound “Damat Damat Damat Damat”,

Lord Shiva did the auspicious dance of Tandava. May he give prosperity to all of us.

 

Jata kata hasambhrama bhramanilimpanirjhari

Vilolavichivalarai virajamanamurdhani

Dhagadhagadhagajjva lalalata pattapavake

Kishora chandrashekhare ratih pratikshanam mama

 

I have a deep interest in Shiva

Whose head is glorified by the rows of moving waves of the celestial Ganga river,

Which stir in the deep well of his hair in tangled locks.

Who has the brilliant fire burning on the surface of his forehead,

And who has the crescent moon as a jewel on his head.

 

Dharadharendrana ndinivilasabandhubandhura

Sphuradigantasantati pramodamanamanase

Krupakatakshadhorani nirudhadurdharapadi

Kvachidigambare manovinodametuvastuni

 

May my mind seek happiness in Lord Shiva,

In whose mind all the living beings of the glorious universe exist,

Who is the companion of Parvati (daughter of the mountain king),

Who controls unsurpassed adversity with his compassionate gaze, Which is all-pervading

And who wears the Heavens as his raiment.

 

Jata bhujan gapingala sphuratphanamaniprabha

Kadambakunkuma dravapralipta digvadhumukhe

Madandha sindhu rasphuratvagutariyamedure

Mano vinodamadbhutam bibhartu bhutabhartari

 

May I find wonderful pleasure in Lord Shiva, who is the advocate of all life,

With his creeping snake with its reddish brown hood and the shine of its gem on it

Spreading variegated colors on the beautiful faces of the Goddesses of the Directions,

Which is covered by a shimmering shawl made from the skin of a huge, inebriated elephant.

 

Sahasra lochana prabhritya sheshalekhashekhara

Prasuna dhulidhorani vidhusaranghripithabhuh

Bhujangaraja malaya nibaddhajatajutaka

Shriyai chiraya jayatam chakora bandhushekharah

 

May Lord Shiva give us prosperity,

Who has the Moon as a crown,

Whose hair is bound by the red snake-garland,

Whose footrest is darkened by the flow of dust from flowers

Which fall from the heads of all the gods – Indra, Vishnu and others.

 

Lalata chatvarajvaladhanajnjayasphulingabha

nipitapajnchasayakam namannilimpanayakam

Sudha mayukha lekhaya virajamanashekharam

Maha kapali sampade shirojatalamastunah

 

May we obtain the riches of the Siddhis from the tangled strands Shiva’s hair,

Who devoured the God of Love with the sparks of the fire that burns on his forehead,

Which is revered by all the heavenly leaders,

Which is beautiful with a crescent moon.

 

Karala bhala pattikadhagaddhagaddhagajjvala

Ddhanajnjaya hutikruta prachandapajnchasayake

Dharadharendra nandini kuchagrachitrapatraka

Prakalpanaikashilpini trilochane ratirmama

 

My interest is in Lord Shiva, who has three eyes,

Who offered the powerful God of Love to fire.

The terrible surface of his forehead burns with the sound “Dhagad, Dhagad …”

He is the only artist expert in tracing decorative lines

on the tips of the breasts of Parvati, the daughter of the mountain king.

 

navina megha mandali niruddhadurdharasphurat

Kuhu nishithinitamah prabandhabaddhakandharah

nilimpanirjhari dharastanotu krutti sindhurah

Kalanidhanabandhurah shriyam jagaddhurandharah

 

May Lord Shiva give us prosperity,

The one who bears the weight of this universe,

Who is enchanting with the moon,

Who has the celestial river Ganga

Whose neck is dark as midnight on a new moon night, covered in layers of clouds.

 

Praphulla nila pankaja prapajnchakalimchatha

Vdambi kanthakandali raruchi prabaddhakandharam

Smarachchidam purachchhidam bhavachchidam makhachchidam

Gajachchidandhakachidam tamamtakachchidam bhaje

 

I pray to Lord Shiva, whose neck is bound with the brightness of the temples

hanging with the glory of fully bloomed blue lotus flowers,

Which look like the blackness of the universe.

Who is the slayer of Manmatha, who destroyed the Tripura,

Who destroyed the bonds of worldly life, who destroyed the sacrifice,

Who destroyed the demon Andhaka, who is the destroyer of the elephants,

And who has overwhelmed the God of death, Yama.

 

Akharvagarvasarvamangala kalakadambamajnjari

Rasapravaha madhuri vijrumbhana madhuvratam

Smarantakam purantakam bhavantakam makhantakam

Gajantakandhakantakam tamantakantakam bhaje

 

I pray to Lord Siva, who has bees flying all around because of the sweet

Scent of honey coming from the beautiful bouquet of auspicious Kadamba flowers,

Who is the slayer of Manmatha, who destroyed the Tripura,

Who destroyed the bonds of worldly life, who destroyed the sacrifice,

Who destroyed the demon Andhaka, who is the destroyer of the elephants,

And who has overwhelmed the God of death, Yama.

 

Jayatvadabhravibhrama bhramadbhujangamasafur

Dhigdhigdhi nirgamatkarala bhaal havyavat

Dhimiddhimiddhimidhva nanmrudangatungamangala

Dhvanikramapravartita prachanda tandavah shivah

 

Shiva, whose dance of Tandava is in tune with the series of loud

sounds of drum making the sound “Dhimid Dhimid”,

Who has fire on his great forehead, the fire that is spreading out because of the

breath of the snake, wandering in whirling motions in the glorious sky.

 

Drushadvichitratalpayor bhujanga mauktikasrajor

Garishtharatnaloshthayoh suhrudvipakshapakshayoh

Trushnaravindachakshushoh prajamahimahendrayoh

Sama pravartayanmanah kada sadashivam bhaje

 

When will I be able to worship Lord Sadashiva, the eternally auspicious God,

With equanimous vision towards people or emperors,

Towards a blade of grass and a lotus, towards friends and enemies,

Towards the most precious gem and a lump of dirt,

Toward a snake or a garland and towards the varied forms of the world?

 

Kada nilimpanirjhari nikujnjakotare vasanh

Vimuktadurmatih sada shirah sthamajnjalim vahanh

Vimuktalolalochano lalamabhalalagnakah

Shiveti mantramuchcharan sada sukhi bhavamyaham

 

When I can be happy, living in a cave near the celestial river Ganga,

Bringing my hands clasped on my head all the time,

With my impure thoughts washed away, uttering the mantra of Shiva,

Devoted to the God with a glorious forehead and with vibrant eyes?

 

Imam hi nityameva muktamuttamottamam stavam

Pathansmaran bruvannaro vishuddhimeti santatam

Hare gurau subhaktimashu yati nanyatha gatim

Vimohanam hi dehinam sushankarasya chintanam

 

Anyone who reads, remembers and recites this stotra as stated here

Is purified forever and obtains devotion in the great Guru Shiva.

For this devotion, there is no other way or refuge.

Just the mere thought of Shiva removes the delusion.