The Shiva Tandava Stotram, composed by Ravana, the king of Lanka, is one of the most revered hymns dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is a powerful and poetic description of Lord Shiva’s cosmic dance, his immense power, and his divine beauty.
As you mentioned, the stotra highlights the destructive aspect of Lord Shiva, known as the Destroyer of the Universe, but it also portrays his elegance and majesty. The verses are filled with alliteration and onomatopoeia, which contribute to the hymn’s rhythmic and resounding beauty, encapsulating the raw power of Shiva’s dance. This poetry creates an almost tangible presence of Shiva’s cosmic energy, embodying both destruction and creation.
The ninth and tenth quatrains of the Shiva Tandava Stotra, as you noted, conclude with lists of Lord Shiva’s various epithets, including those that describe him as the destroyer of death itself, emphasising his supremacy over all forces.
The most intriguing part of the hymn is Ravana’s plea in the final quatrain: after performing his intense penance and devotional acts, he asks Lord Shiva, “When will I be happy?” This shows Ravana’s yearning for peace and fulfilment even after all his destructive power, symbolising that even great kings and warriors seek inner peace, which can only be granted by divine grace.
As a result of his intense devotion and the hymn’s profound spiritual energy, Ravana received the boon of indestructibility from Lord Shiva. This boon made him impervious to harm from any force in heaven and earth—although, ironically, it later contributed to his eventual downfall.
Jatatavigalajjala pravahapavitasthale,
Galeavalambya lambitam bhujangatungamalikam |
Damad damad damaddama ninadavadamarvayam,
Chakara chandtandavam tanotu nah shivah shivam ||1||
Jata kata hasambhrama bhramanilimpanirjhari,
Vilolavichivalarai virajamanamurdhani |
Dhagadhagadhagajjva lalalata pattapavake,
Kishora chandrashekhare ratih pratikshanam mama ||2||
Dharadharendrana ndinivilasabandhubandhura,
Sphuradigantasantati pramodamanamanase |
Krupakatakshadhorani nirudhadurdharapadi,
Kvachidigambare manovinodametuvastuni ||3||
Jata bhujan gapingala sphuratphanamaniprabha,
Kadambakunkuma dravapralipta digvadhumukhe |
Madandha sindhu rasphuratvagutariyamedure,
Mano vinodamadbhutam bibhartu bhutabhartari ||4||
Sahasra lochana prabhritya sheshalekhashekhara,
Prasuna dhulidhorani vidhusaranghripithabhuh |
Bhujangaraja malaya nibaddhajatajutaka,
Shriyai chiraya jayatam chakora bandhushekharah ||5||
Lalata chatvarajvaladhanajnjayasphulingabha,
Nipitapajnchasayakam namannilimpanayakam |
Sudha mayukha lekhaya virajamanashekharam,
Maha kapali sampade shirojatalamastu nah ||6||
Karala bhala pattikadhagaddhagaddhagajjvala,
Ddhanajnjaya hutikruta prachandapajnchasayake |
Dharadharendra nandini kuchagrachitrapatraka,
Prakalpanaikashilpini trilochane ratirmama ||7||
Navina megha mandali niruddhadurdharasphurat,
Kuhu nishithinitamah prabandhabaddhakandharah |
Nilimpanirjhari dharastanotu krutti sindhurah,
Kalanidhanabandhurah shriyam jagaddhurandharah ||8||
Praphulla nila pankaja prapajnchakalimchatha,
Vdambi kanthakandali raruchi prabaddhakandharam |
Smarachchidam purachchhidam bhavachchidam makhachchidam,
Gajachchidandhakachidam tamamtakachchidam bhaje ||9||
Akharvagarvasarvamangala kalakadambamajnjari,
Rasapravaha madhuri vijrumbhana madhuvratam |
Smarantakam purantakam bhavantakam makhantakam,
Gajantakandhakantakam tamantakantakam bhaje ||10||
Jayatvadabhravibhrama bhramadbhujangamasafur,
Dhigdhigdhi nirgamatkarala bhaal havyavat |
Dhimiddhimiddhimidhva nanmrudangatungamangala,
Dhvanikramapravartita prachanda tandavah shivah ||11||
Drushadvichitratalpayor bhujanga mauktikasrajor,
Garishtharatnaloshthayoh suhrudvipakshapakshayoh |
Trushnaravindachakshushoh prajamahimahendrayoh,
Sama pravartayanmanah kada sadashivam bhajamyaham ||12||
Kada nilimpanirjhari nikujnjakotare vasanh,
Vimuktadurmatih sada shirah sthamajnjalim vahanh |
Vimuktalolalochano lalamabhalalagnakah,
Shiveti mantramuchcharan sada sukhi bhavamyaham ||13||
Imam hi nityameva muktamuttamottamam stavam,
Pathansmaran bruvannaro vishuddhimeti santatam |
Hare gurau subhaktimashu yati nanyatha gatim,
Vimohanam hi dehinam sushankarasya chintanam ||14||
Puja vasanasamaye dashavaktragitam,
Yah shambhupujanaparam pathati pradoshhe |
Tasya sthiram rathagajendraturangayuktam,
Lakshmim sadaiva sumukhim pradadati shambhuh ||15||
