Shiva Tandava Stotram — Full Text, Meaning & Benefits

The Shiva Tandava Stotram is a majestic Sanskrit hymn traditionally attributed to Ravana, the mighty king of Lanka and a great devotee of Lord Shiva. With cascading, drum-like rhythm, it paints the awe-inspiring image of Shiva performing the Tandava — his cosmic dance of creation and dissolution. Below is the complete, authentic 15-verse stotram in Devanagari and IAST transliteration, followed by an original explanation in HinduTone’s own words.

Shiva Tandava Stotram — Full Text (Devanagari + IAST)

Verse 1

जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् । डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् ॥१॥

jaṭāṭavī-galaj-jala-pravāha-pāvita-sthale gale’valambya lambitāṁ bhujaṅga-tuṅga-mālikām | ḍamaḍ-ḍamaḍ-ḍamaḍ-ḍaman-ninādavaḍ-ḍamarvayaṁ cakāra caṇḍa-tāṇḍavaṁ tanotu naḥ śivaḥ śivam ||1||

Verse 2

जटाकटाहसम्भ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरी­विलोलवीचिवल्लरीविराजमानमूर्धनि । धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाटपट्टपावके किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम ॥२॥

jaṭā-kaṭāha-sambhrama-bhraman-nilimpa-nirjharī­vilola-vīci-vallarī-virājamāna-mūrdhani | dhagad-dhagad-dhagaj-jvalal-lalāṭa-paṭṭa-pāvake kiśora-candra-śekhare ratiḥ pratikṣaṇaṁ mama ||2||

Verse 3

धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीविलासबन्धुबन्धुर­स्फुरद्दिगन्तसन्ततिप्रमोदमानमानसे । कृपाकटाक्षधोरणीनिरुद्धदुर्धरापदि क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे मनो विनोदमेतु वस्तुनि ॥३॥

dharādharendra-nandinī-vilāsa-bandhu-bandhura­sphurad-diganta-santati-pramodamāna-mānase | kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-dhoraṇī-niruddha-durdharāpadi kvacid-digambare mano vinodam etu vastuni ||3||

Verse 4

जटाभुजङ्गपिङ्गलस्फुरत्फणामणिप्रभा­कदम्बकुङ्कुमद्रवप्रलिप्तदिग्वधूमुखे । मदान्धसिन्धुरस्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि ॥४॥

jaṭā-bhujaṅga-piṅgala-sphurat-phaṇā-maṇi-prabhā­kadamba-kuṅkuma-drava-pralipta-digvadhū-mukhe | madāndha-sindhura-sphurat-tvag-uttarīya-medure mano vinodam adbhutaṁ bibhartu bhūta-bhartari ||4||

Verse 5

सहस्रलोचनप्रभृत्यशेषलेखशेखर­प्रसूनधूलिधोरणी विधूसराङ्घ्रिपीठभूः । भुजङ्गराजमालया निबद्धजाटजूटक श्रियै चिराय जायतां चकोरबन्धुशेखरः ॥५॥

sahasra-locana-prabhṛty-aśeṣa-lekha-śekhara­prasūna-dhūli-dhoraṇī vidhūsarāṅghri-pīṭha-bhūḥ | bhujaṅga-rāja-mālayā nibaddha-jāṭa-jūṭaka śriyai cirāya jāyatāṁ cakora-bandhu-śekharaḥ ||5||

Verse 6

ललाटचत्वरज्वलद्धनञ्जयस्फुलिङ्गभा­निपीतपञ्चसायकं नमन्निलिम्पनायकम् । सुधामयूखलेखया विराजमानशेखरं महाकपालिसम्पदेशिरोजटालमस्तु नः ॥६॥

lalāṭa-catvara-jvalad-dhanañjaya-sphuliṅga-bhā­nipīta-pañca-sāyakaṁ naman-nilimpa-nāyakam | sudhā-mayūkha-lekhayā virājamāna-śekharaṁ mahā-kapāli-sampade śiro-jaṭālam astu naḥ ||6||

Verse 7

करालभालपट्टिकाधगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वल­द्धनञ्जयाहुतीकृतप्रचण्डपञ्चसायके । धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीकुचाग्रचित्रपत्रक­प्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनि त्रिलोचने रतिर्मम ॥७॥

karāla-bhāla-paṭṭikā-dhagad-dhagad-dhagaj-jvalad­dhanañjayāhutī-kṛta-pracaṇḍa-pañca-sāyake | dharādharendra-nandinī-kucāgra-citra-patraka­prakalpanaika-śilpini trilocane ratir mama ||7||

Verse 8

नवीनमेघमण्डली निरुद्धदुर्धरस्फुरत्­कुहूनिशीथिनीतमः प्रबन्धबद्धकन्धरः । निलिम्पनिर्झरीधरस्तनोतु कृत्तिसिन्धुरः कलानिधानबन्धुरः श्रियं जगद्धुरंधरः ॥८॥

navīna-megha-maṇḍalī niruddha-durdhara-sphurat­kuhū-niśīthinī-tamaḥ prabandha-baddha-kandharaḥ | nilimpa-nirjharī-dharas tanotu kṛtti-sindhuraḥ kalā-nidhāna-bandhuraḥ śriyaṁ jagad-dhuraṁdharaḥ ||8||

Verse 9

प्रफुल्लनीलपङ्कजप्रपञ्चकालिमप्रभा­वलम्बिकण्ठकन्दलीरुचिप्रबद्धकन्धरम् । स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिदं भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं गजच्छिदान्धकच्छिदं तमन्तकच्छिदं भजे ॥९॥

praphulla-nīla-paṅkaja-prapañca-kālima-prabhā­valambi-kaṇṭha-kandalī-ruci-prabaddha-kandharam | smaracchidaṁ puracchidaṁ bhavacchidaṁ makhacchidaṁ gajacchidāndhakacchidaṁ tam antakacchidaṁ bhaje ||9||

Verse 10

अखर्वसर्वमङ्गलाकलाकदम्बमञ्जरी­रसप्रवाहमाधुरी विजृम्भणामधुव्रतम् । स्मरान्तकं पुरान्तकं भवान्तकं मखान्तकं गजान्तकान्धकान्तकं तमन्तकान्तकं भजे ॥१०॥

akharva-sarva-maṅgalā-kalā-kadamba-mañjarī­rasa-pravāha-mādhurī vijṛmbhaṇā-madhuvratam | smarāntakaṁ purāntakaṁ bhavāntakaṁ makhāntakaṁ gajāntakāndhakāntakaṁ tam antakāntakaṁ bhaje ||10||

Verse 11

जयत्वदभ्रविभ्रमभ्रमद्भुजङ्गमश्वस­द्विनिर्गमत्क्रमस्फुरत्करालभालहव्यवाट् । धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिध्वनन्मृदङ्गतुङ्गमङ्गल­ध्वनिक्रमप्रवर्तितप्रचण्डताण्डवः शिवः ॥११॥

jayatv adabhra-vibhrama-bhramad-bhujaṅgama-śvasad­vinirgamat-krama-sphurat-karāla-bhāla-havya-vāṭ | dhimid-dhimid-dhimi-dhvanan-mṛdaṅga-tuṅga-maṅgala­dhvani-krama-pravartita-pracaṇḍa-tāṇḍavaḥ śivaḥ ||11||

Verse 12

दृषद्विचित्रतल्पयोर्भुजङ्गमौक्तिकस्रजोर्­गरिष्ठरत्नलोष्ठयोः सुहृद्विपक्षपक्षयोः । तृष्णारविन्दचक्षुषोः प्रजामहीमहेन्द्रयोः समप्रवृत्तिकः कदा सदाशिवं भजाम्यहम् ॥१२॥

dṛṣad-vicitra-talpayor bhujaṅga-mauktika-srajor­gariṣṭha-ratna-loṣṭhayoḥ suhṛd-vipakṣa-pakṣayoḥ | tṛṣṇāravinda-cakṣuṣoḥ prajā-mahī-mahendrayoḥ sama-pravṛttikaḥ kadā sadāśivaṁ bhajāmy aham ||12||

Verse 13

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

kadā nilimpa-nirjharī-nikuñja-koṭare vasan vimukta-durmatiḥ sadā śiraḥ-stham añjaliṁ vahan | vimukta-lola-locano lalāma-bhāla-lagnakaḥ śiveti mantram uccaran kadā sukhī bhavāmy aham ||13||

Verse 14

इमं हि नित्यमेवमुक्तमुत्तमोत्तमं स्तवं पठन्स्मरन्ब्रुवन्नरो विशुद्धिमेतिसंततम् । हरे गुरौ सुभक्तिमाशु याति नान्यथा गतिं विमोहनं हि देहिनां सुशङ्करस्य चिन्तनम् ॥१४॥

imaṁ hi nityam evam uktam uttamottamaṁ stavaṁ paṭhan smaran bruvan naro viśuddhim eti santatam | hare gurau subhaktim āśu yāti nānyathā gatiṁ vimohanaṁ hi dehināṁ suśaṅkarasya cintanam ||14||

Verse 15

पूजावसानसमये दशवक्त्रगीतं यः शम्भुपूजनपरं पठति प्रदोषे । तस्य स्थिरां रथगजेन्द्रतुरङ्गयुक्तां लक्ष्मीं सदैव सुमुखीं प्रदददाति शम्भुः ॥१५॥

pūjāvasāna-samaye daśa-vaktra-gītaṁ yaḥ śambhu-pūjana-paraṁ paṭhati pradoṣe | tasya sthirāṁ ratha-gajendra-turaṅga-yuktāṁ lakṣmīṁ sadaiva sumukhīṁ pradadāti śambhuḥ ||15||

Meaning & Imagery (in our own words)

The hymn does not narrate a story so much as it sculpts a vision. Shiva’s vast matted locks are a forest through which the holy Ganga rushes; a towering garland of serpents sways at his throat; from his hand the damaru beats "ḍamaḍ-ḍamaḍ", and to that wild rhythm he dances the Caṇḍa-Tāṇḍava — may that Shiva grant us auspiciousness (verses 1–2).

The poet’s mind longs to delight in this Digambara (sky-clad) Lord whose compassionate sidelong glance holds back every calamity; whose serpent-jewels glow tawny-red, smearing the faces of the directions like kumkuma; on whose head shimmer the crescent moon and the celestial river (verses 3–5).

Verses 6–8 adore the fire on his forehead that consumed Kama (the god of desire), the third eye, and the dark-cloud-blue throat that bears the poison — the Lord who upholds the whole world. Verses 9–10 hail him as the destroyer of desire, of the three cities, of worldly bondage, of Daksha’s sacrifice, of the elephant-demon and Andhaka, and at last the conqueror of Death (Yama) himself.

Verses 11–13 are the devotee’s yearning: when will I, freed of ill-thought, dwell by the Ganga’s grove, palms joined upon my head, ever uttering "Shiva, Shiva", and become truly happy — looking with an equal eye upon a serpent or a pearl-garland, a friend or a foe, a clod of earth or the costliest gem? Verses 14–15 give the phala-shruti: whoever reads, remembers and recites this supreme hymn attains purity and unwavering devotion to Hara, and Shambhu bestows lasting prosperity.

Benefits of Chanting Shiva Tandava Stotram

In the devotional tradition, regular recitation is held to:

• steady and strengthen the mind, dispelling fear and restlessness;
• deepen devotion (bhakti) toward Lord Shiva;
• bring courage and inner energy during difficult times;
• cultivate equanimity — the even-mindedness the stotram itself prays for.
• As verse 15 notes, reciting it at Pradosha after Shiva-puja is especially cherished.

How & When to Chant

• After a bath, sit before a Shiva Lingam or an image of Lord Shiva.
• Light a lamp; chant with devotion and attention to the rhythm.
• Especially auspicious on Mondays, during Pradosha Kaalam, and on Maha Shivaratri.
• Chant once, or 3 / 11 times, as you are able. Beginners may start with verse 1 and the refrain "Shivah Shivam".

Note: the Sanskrit above is the ancient, public-domain stotram; the explanation is HinduTone’s own and is not a copied translation. For exact pronunciation, learn from a teacher or an authentic audio rendition.