Shiva Tandava Stotram

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

Jatatavigalajjalapravahapavitasthale gale-avalambya lambitam bhujangatungamalikam. Damaddamaddamaddamanninadavaddamarvayam chakara chandatandavam tanotu nah shivah shivam.

On the pure place washed by cascading water from his matted locks, with a lofty serpent-garland hanging from his neck, Shiva performed the fierce Tandava to the roaring drum-beat — may He grant us auspiciousness.

जटाकटाहसम्भ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरी- विलोलवीचिवल्लरीविराजमानमूर्द्धनि । धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाटपट्टपावके किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम ॥

Jatakatahasambhramabhramannilimpanirjhari- vilolavichivallarivirajamanamurdhani. Dhagaddhagaddhagajjvalallalatapattapavake kishorachandrashekhare ratih pratikshanam mama.

With the Ganga swirling on his head like a waving vine, and fire blazing on his forehead, my devotion is ever fixed on the youthful moon-crowned Shiva.

धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीविलासबन्धुबन्धुर- स्फुरद्दिगन्तसन्ततिप्रमोदमानमानसे । कृपाकटाक्षधोरणीनिरुद्धदुर्धरापदि क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे मनो विनोदमेतु वस्तुनि ॥

Dharadharendranandini vilasabandhubandhura- sphuraddigantasamtati pramodamanamanase. Kripakatakshadhoraniniruddhadurdharapadi kvachiddigambare mano vinodametu vastuni.

Delighting the mind of the daughter of the mountain-king, spreading joy to the horizons, may my mind find bliss in the sky-clad Lord who removes unbearable calamity by a glance of grace.

जटाभुजङ्गपिङ्गलस्फुरत्फणामणिप्रभा- कदम्बकुङ्कुमद्रवप्रलिप्तदिग्वधूमुखे । मदान्धसिन्धुरस्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि ॥

Jatabhujangapingalasphuratphanamaniprabha- kadambakunkumadravapraliptadigvadhumukhe. Madanndhasindhurasphurattvaguttarriyamedure mano vinodamadbhutam bibhartu bhutabhartari.

With serpent-crest gem-light flashing on his face anointed with kadamba-kumkum, and elephant-hide garment gleaming, may the wondrous Lord of beings delight my mind.

सहस्रलोचनप्रभृत्यशेषलेखशेखर- प्रसूनधूलिधोरणीविधूसराङ्घ्रिपीठभूः । भुजङ्गराजमालया निबद्धजाटजूटकः श्रिये चिराय जायतां चकोरबन्धुशेखरः ॥

Sahasralochanaprabhrityasheshalekhashekhara- prasunadhulidhoranividhusaranghripithabhuh. Bhujangarajamalya nibaddhajatajutakah shriye chiraya jayatam chakorabandhushekhara.

Lord of all crowned beings, dusted with flower-pollen, feet grey as ash, matted locks bound with the king of serpents — may the moon-crested Shiva bring lasting prosperity.

ललाटचत्वरज्वलद्धनञ्जयस्फुलिङ्गभा- निपीतपञ्चसायकं नमन्निलिम्पनायकम् । सुधामयूखलेखया विराजमानशेखरं महाकपालि सम्पदे शिरो जटालमस्तु नः ॥

Lalatachatvarajvaladdhananjayasphulingabha- nipitapanchasayakam namannilimpanayakam. Sudhamayukhalekhaya virajamanashekharam mahakapali sampade shiro jatalamastu nah.

With forehead blazing like fire that consumed Kama's five arrows, bowing to the Lord of Nili, moon-rays adorning his crest — may that great Kapali's matted head be our treasure.

करालभालपट्टिकाधगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वल- द्धनञ्जयाहुतीकृतप्रचण्डपञ्चसायके । धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीकुचाग्रचित्रपत्रक- प्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनि त्रिलोचने रतिर्मम ॥

Karalabhalapattikadhagaddhagaddhagajjvala- ddhananjayahutikritaprachandapanchasayake. Dharadharendranandini kuchagrapatrachitraka- prakalpanaikashilpini trilochane ratirmama.

With fierce forehead-band blazing, Kama offered in the fierce fire of five arrows, the sole artist of Parvati's breast-painting — my devotion rests on the three-eyed Lord.

नवीनमेघमण्डलीनिरुद्धदुर्धरस्फुरत्- कुहूनिशीथिनीतमःप्रबन्धबद्धकन्धरः । निलिम्पनिर्झरीधरस्तनोतु कृत्तिसिन्धुरः कलानिधानबन्धुरः श्रियं जगद्धुरन्धरः ॥

Navinameghamandaliniruddhadurdharasphurat- kuhunishithinitamahprabandhabaddhakandharah. Nilimpanirjharidharastanotu krittisindhurah kalanidhanabandhurah shriyam jagaddhurandharah.

Neck bound by fresh cloud-garlands, darkness of midwinter night restrained, bearer of the Ganga, elephant-skin clad, treasure of arts, bearer of the world's burden — may he grant prosperity.

प्रफुल्लनीलपङ्कजप्रपञ्चकालिमप्रभा- ऽवलम्बिकण्ठकन्दलीरुचिप्रबद्धकन्धरम् । स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिदं भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं गजच्छिदान्धकच्छिदं तमन्तकच्छिदं भजे ॥

Praphullanilapankajaprapanchakalimaprabha- avalambikanthakandaliruchiprabaddhakandharam. Smaracchhidam puracchhidam bhavacchhidam makhacchhidam gajacchhidanndhakacchhidam tamantakacchhidam bhaje.

Neck adorned with blooming blue-lotus garlands — I worship the destroyer of Kama, Tripura, worldly bondage, sacrifices, Gajasura, Andhaka, and Yama.

अखर्वसर्वमङ्गलाकलाकदम्बमञ्जरी- रसप्रवाहमाधुरीविजृम्भणामधुव्रतम् । स्मरान्तकं पुरान्तकं भवान्तकं मखान्तकं गजान्तकान्धकान्तकं तमन्तकान्तकं भजे ॥

Akharvasarvamangalakalakadambamanjari- rasapravahamadhurivijrimbhanamadhuvratam. Smarantakam purantakam bhavantakam makhantakam gajantakanndhakantakam tamantakantakam bhaje.

Like a honey-bee drunk on the nectar-flow of the kadamba-garland of all auspicious arts — I worship the destroyer of Kama, cities, existence, sacrifices, elephants, Andhaka, and Death.

जयत्वदभ्रविभ्रमभ्रमद्भुजङ्गमश्वस- द्विनिर्गमत्क्रमस्फुरत्करालभालहव्यवाट् । धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिद्ध्वनन्मृदङ्गतुङ्गमङ्गल- ध्वनिक्रमप्रवर्तितप्रचण्डताण्डवः शिवः ॥

Jayatvadabhravibhramabhramadbhujangamashvasa- dvinirgamatkramasphuratkaralabhalahavyavat. Dhimmidhimmidhimmidhvananmridangatungamangala- dhvanikramapravartitaprachandatandavah shivah.

Victory to Shiva whose fierce Tandava is set in motion by the auspicious booming mridanga — Dhimi-dhimi — as serpents hiss and fire blazes from his terrible forehead.

दृषद्विचित्रतल्पयोर्भुजङ्गमौक्तिकस्रजोर्- गरिष्ठरत्नलोष्ठयोः सुहृद्विपक्षपक्षयोः । तृणारविन्दचक्षुषोः प्रजामहीमहेन्द्रयोः समप्रवृत्तिकः कदा सदाशिवं भजाम्यहम् ॥

Drishadvichitratalpayorbhujangamauktikasrajor- garishtharatnaloshthayoh suhridvipakshapakshayoh. Trinaravindachakshushoh prajamahemahendrayoh samapravrittikah kada sadashivam bhajamyaham.

When shall I worship Sadashiva with equal regard for friend and foe, for a gem and a pebble, for a serpent-garland and a bed of stone, for grass and lotus, for an ant and Indra?

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

Kada nilimpanirjharinikunjakotare vasan vimuktadurmatih sada shirahsthamanjalim vahan. Vilolalolalochanolalamabhalalagnakah shiveti mantramuchcharan kada sukhi bhavamyaham.

When, dwelling in a grove-cave of the Ganga, freed from evil thoughts, palms joined on my head, eyes restless with devotion, mark on forehead, chanting 'Shiva' — shall I become happy?

निलिम्पनाथनागरीकदम्बमौलमल्लिका- निगुम्फनिर्भरक्षरन्मधूष्णिकामनोहरः । तनोतु नो मनोमुदं विनोदिनीमहर्निशं परश्रियः परं पदं तदङ्गजत्विषां चयः ॥

Nilimpanathanagarikadambamaulamallika- nigumphanirbharaksharanmadhushnikamanoharah. Tanotu no manomudam vinodinimaharnisham parashriyah param padam tadangajatvisham chayah.

With kadamba-jasmine crowning his head, sweet humming of dense bees — may the splendour of his limbs grant us ceaseless joy, supreme bliss beyond all prosperity.

प्रचण्डवाडवानलप्रभाशुभप्रचारणी महाष्टसिद्धिकामिनीजनाऽवहूतजल्पना । विमुक्तवामलोचनाविवाहकालिकध्वनिः शिवेति मन्त्रभूषणा जगज्जयाय जायताम् ॥

Prachandavadavanalaprabhashubhapracharani mahashtasiddhikaminijanavahutajalpana. Vimuktavamalochanaavivahakalikadhvanih shiveti mantrabhushana jagajjayaya jayatam.

With fierce sacrificial fire spreading auspicious light, Siddha maidens called to assembly, wedding-sounds of left eye freed — adorned with the Shiva mantra, may He be victorious for the world's triumph.

इमं हि नित्यमेवमुक्तमुत्तमोत्तमं स्तवं पठन्स्मरन्ब्रुवन्नरो विशुद्धिमेतिसन्ततम् । हरे गुरौ सुभक्तिमाशु याति नाऽन्यथा गतिं विमोहनं हि देहिनां सुशङ्करस्य चिन्तनम् ॥

Imam hi nityamevamuktamuttamottamam stavam pathansmaranbruvannaro vishuddhimeti santatam. Hare gurau subhaktimashu yati na-anyatha gatim vimohanam hi dehinam sushankarasya chintanam.

One who daily reads, remembers, or recites this supreme hymn attains purity; gains deep devotion to Hari and Guru; for contemplation of Shankara dispels the delusion of embodied beings.

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

Pujavasanasamaye dashavaktragitam yah shambhupujanparam pathati pradoshe. Tasya sthiram rathagajendraturangayuktam lakshmim sadaiva sumukhim pradadati shambhuh.

One devoted to Shiva's worship who recites this hymn sung by the ten-faced Ravana at the close of puja during Pradosha — Shambhu ever grants stable, smiling Lakshmi with chariots, elephants, and horses.