ਸ਼ਿਵ ਤਾਂਡਵ ਸ੍ਤੋਤ੍ਰਮ੍ is a powerful Shaiva hymn traditionally associated with Ravana's praise of Lord Shiva. Its pounding rhythm, dense compounds, and repeated sound-patterns evoke Shiva's fierce cosmic dance, the ਤਾਂਡਵ, where destruction, beauty, time, grace, and liberation move together.
The received story says that Ravana sang this hymn after being humbled by Shiva, turning pride into praise. Whether recited as poetry, devotion, or meditation, the stotram shows a mind overwhelmed by Shiva's majesty: Ganga in the matted locks, serpents as ornaments, the crescent moon, the fire of the third eye, the destruction of Kama, and the dance that shakes the worlds.
ਜਟਾਟਵੀਗਲਜ੍ਜਲਪ੍ਰਵਾਹਪਾਵਿਤਸ੍ਥਲੇ
ਗਲੇਵਲਂਬ੍ਯ ਲਂਬਿਤਾਂ ਭੁਜਂਗਤੁਂਗਮਾਲਿਕਾਮ੍ ।
ਡਮਡ੍ਡਮਡ੍ਡਮਡ੍ਡਮਨ੍ਨਿਨਾਦਵਡ੍ਡਮਰ੍ਵਯਂ
ਚਕਾਰ ਚਂਡਤਾਂਡਵਂ ਤਨੋਤੁ ਨਃ ਸ਼ਿਵਃ ਸ਼ਿਵਮ੍ ॥ 1 ॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
With his neck, consecrated by the flow of water flowing from the
thick forest-like locks of hair, and on the neck, where the lofty snake
is hanging garland, and the Damaru drum making the sound of
Damat Damat Damat Damat, Lord Siva did the auspicious dance of
Tandava and may He shower prosperity on us all.
ਜਟਾਕਟਾਹਸਂਭ੍ਰਮਭ੍ਰਮਨ੍ਨਿਲਿਂਪਨਿਰ੍ਝਰੀ-
-ਵਿਲੋਲਵੀਚਿਵਲ੍ਲਰੀਵਿਰਾਜਮਾਨਮੂਰ੍ਧਨਿ ।
ਧਗਦ੍ਧਗਦ੍ਧਗਜ੍ਜ੍ਵਲਲ੍ਲਲਾਟਪਟ੍ਟਪਾਵਕੇ
ਕਿਸ਼ੋਰਚਂਦ੍ਰਸ਼ੇਖਰੇ ਰਤਿਃ ਪ੍ਰਤਿਕ੍ਸ਼ਣਂ ਮਮ ॥ 2 ॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
I have a very deep interest in Lord Siva, whose head is glorified by
the rows of moving waves of the celestial river Ganga, agitating in
the deep well of his hair-locks, and who has the brilliant fire flaming
on the surface of his forehead, and who has the crescent moon as a
jewel on his head.
ਧਰਾਧਰੇਂਦ੍ਰਨਂਦਿਨੀਵਿਲਾਸਬਂਧੁਬਂਧੁਰ
ਸ੍ਫੁਰਦ੍ਦਿਗਂਤਸਂਤਤਿਪ੍ਰਮੋਦਮਾਨਮਾਨਸੇ ।
ਕ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਪਾਕਟਾਕ੍ਸ਼ਧੋਰਣੀਨਿਰੁਦ੍ਧਦੁਰ੍ਧਰਾਪਦਿ
ਕ੍ਵਚਿਦ੍ਦਿਗਂਬਰੇ ਮਨੋ ਵਿਨੋਦਮੇਤੁ ਵਸ੍ਤੁਨਿ ॥ 3 ॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
May my mind seek happiness in the Lord Siva, in whose mind all the
living beings of the glorious universe exist, who is the sportive
companion of Parvati (daughter of the mountain king), who controls
invincible hardships with the flow of his compassionate look, who is
all-persuasive (the directions are his clothes).
ਜਟਾਭੁਜਂਗਪਿਂਗਲ਼ਸ੍ਫੁਰਤ੍ਫਣਾਮਣਿਪ੍ਰਭਾ
ਕਦਂਬਕੁਂਕੁਮਦ੍ਰਵਪ੍ਰਲਿਪ੍ਤਦਿਗ੍ਵਧੂਮੁਖੇ ।
ਮਦਾਂਧਸਿਂਧੁਰਸ੍ਫੁਰਤ੍ਤ੍ਵਗੁਤ੍ਤਰੀਯਮੇਦੁਰੇ
ਮਨੋ ਵਿਨੋਦਮਦ੍ਭੁਤਂ ਬਿਭਰ੍ਤੁ ਭੂਤਭਰ੍ਤਰਿ ॥ 4 ॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
May I seek wonderful pleasure in Lord Siva, who is supporter
of all life, who with his creeping snake with reddish brown hood and
with the luster of his gem on it spreading out variegated colors on the
beautiful faces of the maidens of directions, who is covered with a
glittering upper garment made of the skin of a huge intoxicated
elephant.
ਸਹਸ੍ਰਲੋਚਨਪ੍ਰਭ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਤ੍ਯਸ਼ੇਸ਼ਲੇਖਸ਼ੇਖਰ
ਪ੍ਰਸੂਨਧੂਲ਼ਿਧੋਰਣੀ ਵਿਧੂਸਰਾਂਘ੍ਰਿਪੀਠਭੂਃ ।
ਭੁਜਂਗਰਾਜਮਾਲਯਾ ਨਿਬਦ੍ਧਜਾਟਜੂਟਕ
ਸ਼੍ਰਿਯੈ ਚਿਰਾਯ ਜਾਯਤਾਂ ਚਕੋਰਬਂਧੁਸ਼ੇਖਰਃ ॥ 5 ॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
May Lord Siva give us prosperity, who has the moon (relative of the
Cakora bird) as his head-jewel, whose hair is tied by the red snake-
garland, whose foot-stool is grayed by the flow of dust from the
flowers from the rows of heads of all the Gods, Indra/Vishnu and others.
ਲਲਾਟਚਤ੍ਵਰਜ੍ਵਲਦ੍ਧਨਂਜਯਸ੍ਫੁਲਿਂਗਭਾ-
-ਨਿਪੀਤਪਂਚਸਾਯਕਂ ਨਮਨ੍ਨਿਲਿਂਪਨਾਯਕਮ੍ ।
ਸੁਧਾਮਯੂਖਲੇਖਯਾ ਵਿਰਾਜਮਾਨਸ਼ੇਖਰਂ
ਮਹਾਕਪਾਲਿਸਂਪਦੇਸ਼ਿਰੋਜਟਾਲਮਸ੍ਤੁ ਨਃ ॥ 6 ॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
May we get the wealth of Siddhis from Siva's locks of hair, which
devoured the God of Love with the sparks of the fire flaming in His
forehead, who is bowed by all the celestial leaders, who is beautiful
with a crescent moon
ਕਰਾਲਫਾਲਪਟ੍ਟਿਕਾਧਗਦ੍ਧਗਦ੍ਧਗਜ੍ਜ੍ਵਲ-
ਦ੍ਧਨਂਜਯਾਧਰੀਕ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਤਪ੍ਰਚਂਡਪਂਚਸਾਯਕੇ ।
ਧਰਾਧਰੇਂਦ੍ਰਨਂਦਿਨੀਕੁਚਾਗ੍ਰਚਿਤ੍ਰਪਤ੍ਰਕ-
-ਪ੍ਰਕਲ੍ਪਨੈਕਸ਼ਿਲ੍ਪਿਨਿ ਤ੍ਰਿਲੋਚਨੇ ਮਤਿਰ੍ਮਮ ॥ 7 ॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
My interest is in Lord Siva, who has three eyes, who has offered the
powerful God of Love into the fire, flaming Dhagad Dhagad on the
flat surface of his forehead who is the sole expert artist of drawing
decorative lines on the tips of breasts of Parvati, the daughter of
the mountain king.
ਨਵੀਨਮੇਘਮਂਡਲੀ ਨਿਰੁਦ੍ਧਦੁਰ੍ਧਰਸ੍ਫੁਰਤ੍-
ਕੁਹੂਨਿਸ਼ੀਥਿਨੀਤਮਃ ਪ੍ਰਬਂਧਬਂਧੁਕਂਧਰਃ ।
ਨਿਲਿਂਪਨਿਰ੍ਝਰੀਧਰਸ੍ਤਨੋਤੁ ਕ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਤ੍ਤਿਸਿਂਧੁਰਃ
ਕਲ਼ਾਨਿਧਾਨਬਂਧੁਰਃ ਸ਼੍ਰਿਯਂ ਜਗਦ੍ਧੁਰਂਧਰਃ ॥ 8 ॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
May Lord Siva give us prosperity, who bears the burden of this
universe, who is lovely with the moon, who is red wearing the skin,
who has the celestial river Ganga, whose neck is dark as midnight
of new moon night covered by many layers of clouds.
ਪ੍ਰਫੁਲ੍ਲਨੀਲਪਂਕਜਪ੍ਰਪਂਚਕਾਲਿਮਪ੍ਰਭਾ-
-ਵਿਲਂਬਿਕਂਠਕਂਦਲੀਰੁਚਿਪ੍ਰਬਦ੍ਧਕਂਧਰਮ੍ ।
ਸ੍ਮਰਚ੍ਛਿਦਂ ਪੁਰਚ੍ਛਿਦਂ ਭਵਚ੍ਛਿਦਂ ਮਖਚ੍ਛਿਦਂ
ਗਜਚ੍ਛਿਦਾਂਧਕਚ੍ਛਿਦਂ ਤਮਂਤਕਚ੍ਛਿਦਂ ਭਜੇ ॥ 9 ॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
I pray to Lord Siva, whose neck is tied with the luster of the temples
hanging on the neck with the glory of the fully-bloomed blue lotuses
which looked like the blackness (sins) of the universe, who is the
killer of Manmatha, who destroyed Tripuras, who destroyed the
bonds of worldly life, who destroyed the sacrifice, who destroyed the
demon Andhaka, the destroyer of the elephants, and who controlled
the God of death, Yama.
ਅਗਰ੍ਵਸਰ੍ਵਮਂਗਲ਼ਾਕਲ਼ਾਕਦਂਬਮਂਜਰੀ
ਰਸਪ੍ਰਵਾਹਮਾਧੁਰੀ ਵਿਜ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਂਭਣਾਮਧੁਵ੍ਰਤਮ੍ ।
ਸ੍ਮਰਾਂਤਕਂ ਪੁਰਾਂਤਕਂ ਭਵਾਂਤਕਂ ਮਖਾਂਤਕਂ
ਗਜਾਂਤਕਾਂਧਕਾਂਤਕਂ ਤਮਂਤਕਾਂਤਕਂ ਭਜੇ ॥ 10 ॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
I pray to Lord Siva, who has bees flying all over because of the sweet
honey from the beautiful bunch of auspicious Kadamba flowers, who
is the killer of Manmatha, who destroyed Tripuras, who destroyed the
bonds of worldly life, who destroyed the sacrifice, who destroyed the
demon Andhaka, the killer of the elephants, and who controlled the
God of death, Yama.
ਜਯਤ੍ਵਦਭ੍ਰਵਿਭ੍ਰਮਭ੍ਰਮਦ੍ਭੁਜਂਗਮਸ਼੍ਵਸ-
-ਦ੍ਵਿਨਿਰ੍ਗਮਤ੍ਕ੍ਰਮਸ੍ਫੁਰਤ੍ਕਰਾਲਫਾਲਹਵ੍ਯਵਾਟ੍ ।
ਧਿਮਿਦ੍ਧਿਮਿਦ੍ਧਿਮਿਧ੍ਵਨਨ੍ਮ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਦਂਗਤੁਂਗਮਂਗਲ਼
ਧ੍ਵਨਿਕ੍ਰਮਪ੍ਰਵਰ੍ਤਿਤ ਪ੍ਰਚਂਡਤਾਂਡਵਃ ਸ਼ਿਵਃ ॥ 11 ॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
Lord Siva, whose dance of Tandava is in tune with the series of loud
sounds of drum making Dhimid Dhimid sounds, who has the fire
on the great forehead, the fire that is spreading out because of the
breath of the snake wandering in whirling motion in the glorious sky.
ਦ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਸ਼ਦ੍ਵਿਚਿਤ੍ਰਤਲ੍ਪਯੋਰ੍ਭੁਜਂਗਮੌਕ੍ਤਿਕਸ੍ਰਜੋਰ੍-
-ਗਰਿਸ਼੍ਠਰਤ੍ਨਲੋਸ਼੍ਠਯੋਃ ਸੁਹ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਦ੍ਵਿਪਕ੍ਸ਼ਪਕ੍ਸ਼ਯੋਃ ।
ਤ੍ਰੁਰੁਇਸ਼੍ਣਾਰਵਿਂਦਚਕ੍ਸ਼ੁਸ਼ੋਃ ਪ੍ਰਜਾਮਹੀਮਹੇਂਦ੍ਰਯੋਃ
ਸਮਂ ਪ੍ਰਵਰ੍ਤਯਨ੍ਮਨਃ ਕਦਾ ਸਦਾਸ਼ਿਵਂ ਭਜੇ ॥ 12 ॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
When will I worship Lord Sadasiva (eternally auspicious) God, with
equal vision towards the people and an emperor, and a blade of grass
and lotus-like eye, towards both friends and enemies, towards the
valuable gem and some lump of dirt, towards a snake and a garland
and towards varied ways of the world
ਕਦਾ ਨਿਲਿਂਪਨਿਰ੍ਝਰੀਨਿਕੁਂਜਕੋਟਰੇ ਵਸਨ੍
ਵਿਮੁਕ੍ਤਦੁਰ੍ਮਤਿਃ ਸਦਾ ਸ਼ਿਰਃਸ੍ਥਮਂਜਲਿਂ ਵਹਨ੍ ।
ਵਿਮੁਕ੍ਤਲੋਲਲੋਚਨੋ ਲਲਾਟਫਾਲਲਗ੍ਨਕਃ
ਸ਼ਿਵੇਤਿ ਮਂਤ੍ਰਮੁਚ੍ਚਰਨ੍ ਸਦਾ ਸੁਖੀ ਭਵਾਮ੍ਯਹਮ੍ ॥ 13 ॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
When will I be happy, living in the hollow place near the celestial
river, Ganga, carrying the folded hands on my head all the time, with
my bad thinking washed away, and uttering the mantra of Lord Siva
and devoted in the God with glorious forehead with vibrating eyes.
ਇਮਂ ਹਿ ਨਿਤ੍ਯਮੇਵਮੁਕ੍ਤਮੁਤ੍ਤਮੋਤ੍ਤਮਂ ਸ੍ਤਵਂ
ਪਠਨ੍ਸ੍ਮਰਨ੍ਬ੍ਰੁਵਨ੍ਨਰੋ ਵਿਸ਼ੁਦ੍ਧਿਮੇਤਿਸਂਤਤਮ੍ ।
ਹਰੇ ਗੁਰੌ ਸੁਭਕ੍ਤਿਮਾਸ਼ੁ ਯਾਤਿ ਨਾਨ੍ਯਥਾ ਗਤਿਂ
ਵਿਮੋਹਨਂ ਹਿ ਦੇਹਿਨਾਂ ਸੁਸ਼ਂਕਰਸ੍ਯ ਚਿਂਤਨਮ੍ ॥ 14 ॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
Whoever reads, remembers and says this best stotra as it is said here,
gets purified for ever, and obtains devotion in the great Guru Siva.
For this devotion, there is no other way. Just the mere thought of
Lord Siva indeed removes the delusion.
ਪੂਜਾਵਸਾਨਸਮਯੇ ਦਸ਼ਵਕ੍ਤ੍ਰਗੀਤਂ ਯਃ
ਸ਼ਂਭੁਪੂਜਨਪਰਂ ਪਠਤਿ ਪ੍ਰਦੋਸ਼ੇ ।
ਤਸ੍ਯ ਸ੍ਥਿਰਾਂ ਰਥਗਜੇਂਦ੍ਰਤੁਰਂਗਯੁਕ੍ਤਾਂ
ਲਕ੍ਸ਼੍ਮੀਂ ਸਦੈਵ ਸੁਮੁਖਿਂ ਪ੍ਰਦਦਾਤਿ ਸ਼ਂਭੁਃ ॥ 15 ॥
Translation (ਭਾਵਾਰ੍ਥ):
In the evening, at the end of Puja, whoever utters this stotra
dedicated to the worship of Siva, Lord Siva blessed him with very
stable Lakshmi (prosperity) with all the richness of chariots, elephants
and horses.
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