It is important to chant this stotram properly. Many of us chant this mantra without understanding its essence. You must first listen to Shiva Tandava Stotram until you
comprehend the pronunciation.
After you've finished listening, keep practicing by playing
it again and again, it will help you learn and remember the stotram quickly.
Once familiar
with the stotram try to learn and understand the meaning.
Ravana, the
Asura (demon) king of Lanka (also known as Lankeshwar), authored the Shiva
Tandava Stotram spontaneously ages ago. He was an illustrious scholar endowed
with intelligence and a devout follower of Lord Shiva. This stotram was sung in
praise of the Lord, pleading for moksha.
The Shiva
Tandava Stotram depicts Lord Shiva's cosmic dance, which purges all evil
energy. The hymn is composed of 15 verses, each of which emphasizes Shiva's
fierce personality and timeless beauty in great detail. The verses (lyrics) and
their meaning can be found towards the end.
Shiva is
addressed as Bholenath, it means one who is innocent and easy to please.
According to
tradition, anyone who praised Lord Shiva or conducted penance with faith and
dedication received a boon. All the demons took advantage of this and
worshipped Lord Shiva, knowing that pleasing him and receiving a boon was easy.
Ravana, who
was a great priest, administrator, warrior, and devotee of Lord Shiva, he was known
as the king of demons. He adored himself and his abilities.
The narrative
of Shiva Tandava Stotram begins on the day Ravana attempted to lift the Kailash
mountain in his hand to carry Lord Shiva to Sri Lanka with him. As a
punishment, Lord Shiva pushed his toe, crushing Ravana's fingers in the
process. Ravana screamed out in agony. To escape from the wrath of Lord Shiva,
Ravana sang a hymn that came to be known as the popular Shiva Tandava Stotram.
Lord Shiva was engrossed in the music of Ravana and became immensely pleased. When Lord Shiva told Ravana to ask for a boon, Ravana requested that the Lord confer him with the most powerful tool and thus, became indestructible.
Chanting
Shiva Tandava Stotram has a plethora of advantages. The Shiva Tandava Stotram,
when chanted or listened to, bestows enormous power, beauty, and mental
strength. It is stated that chanting the stotram clears the atmosphere of all
negative forces and makes it auspicious.
The Shiva
Tandava Stotram has no set time and can be recited by anyone at any time.
There are, however, some unique advantages to reciting it at these times:
During
eclipse: It is stated that chanting Om Namah Shivaya or Shiva Tandava Stotram
during an eclipse lessens all of the planets' negative effects. Chanting,
meditating, or praying during the eclipse is a hundred times more beneficial
than at other times.
During
Brahma Muhurta (Brahma means knowledge and muhurta means period): It is
considered that whatever activity one conducts during Brahma
Muhurta would be beneficial. Brahma Muhurta is the best time to perceive
knowledge, and it has a significant impact. It reduces the amount of energy
consumed and doubles productivity.
Pradosh Vrat: Pradosh
Kaal is the time of the month
that falls on the 13th day and is also known as Trayodashi tithi. This tithi falls fortnightly. It is said that chanting Shiva Tandava Stotram on every Trayodashi tithi helps burn sins.
Note Pradosh Kaal varies according to different locations.Jatatavigalajjala pravahapavitasthale
Galeavalambya lambitam bhujangatungamalikam
Damad damad damaddama ninadavadamarvayam
Chakara chandtandavam tanotu nah shivah shivam ||1||
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 ||2||
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 ||3||
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 ||4||
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 ||5||
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 ||6||
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 ||7||
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 ||8||
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 ||9||
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 ||10||
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 ||11||
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 ||12||
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 ||13||
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 ||14||
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.
Puja vasanasamaye dashavaktragitam
Yah shambhupujanaparam pathati pradoshhe
Tasya sthiram rathagajendraturangayuktam
Lakshmim sadaiva sumukhim pradadati shambhuh ||15||
During the Time of Completion of the Puja, those who Recite
this Song of the Ten-Headed Ravana
Recite this after Completing the Puja of Shambhu in the evening
To him who is Steadfast in this Worship; will come Chariots Yoked with King of Elephants and Horses (signifying Prosperity) and Devi Lakshmi will Always show Her Graceful Face to him. Sri Shambhu will Bestow this Boon.
Om Namah Shivay!!
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