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🔱 Composed by Ravana · Sanskrit · 17 Verses

Shiv Tandav Stotram
Every Verse Decoded

जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले
गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम्

The most powerful Shiva hymn in Sanskrit — composed by the scholar-king Ravana himself.

The Story Behind It

Ravana — the ten-headed king of Lanka — was also a supreme Sanskrit scholar, veena player, Ayurveda master, and the greatest devotee of Shiva. In his arrogance, he attempted to lift Mount Kailash (Shiva's home) with his twenty arms. Shiva pressed the mountain down with his big toe, trapping Ravana beneath it. In agonizing pain, Ravana sang this Shiv Tandav Stotram as an act of supreme praise. Shiva was so pleased he released Ravana and gifted him the sword Chandrahas. The stotram is considered the pinnacle of Sanskrit devotional poetry.

Why This Stotram is Extraordinary Sanskrit

Compound words
Each line is one or two massive Sanskrit compounds — sometimes 12+ words merged into one. A masterclass in samāsa (compound formation).
Sound as image
Dhagad-Dhagad (crackling fire), Ḍamaḍ-Ḍamaḍ (drum) — onomatopoeia embedded in sacred verse.
Metre perfection
Written in Jagatī metre — 12 syllables per quarter. Every syllable precisely weighed, making it musical to chant.
Tantric symbolism
Every attribute of Shiva (serpents, ash, moon, Ganges, third eye) carries layers of yogic and cosmological meaning.

Shiv Tandav Stotram — Verses Decoded

Verses 1–4 (the most searched) and Verse 16 (the phala-shruti / reward verse)

VERSE 1
जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम्। डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम्॥
His neck purified by the stream of water flowing from the forest of his matted hair, wearing a long garland of towering serpents — creating the fierce Tandava dance with the sound Dam-Dam-Dam-Dam of the Damaru (drum) — may that Shiva grant us auspiciousness.
Sanskrit Compounds Decoded
जटाटवीगलज्जलJaṭāṭavīgalajjala
Jaṭā (matted locks) + Aṭavī (forest/dense mass) + Galat (dripping) + Jala (water) — the Ganges dripping from his dreadlocked forest of hair
भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाBhujaṅgatuṅgamālikā
Bhujaṅga (serpent, from bhuj = to curve) + Tuṅga (high, lofty) + Mālikā (garland) — a garland of tall/raised serpents around his neck
डमड्डमड्डमड्डमḌamaḍ-Ḍamaḍ-Ḍamaḍ-Ḍama
Onomatopoeia for the sound of the Damaru drum — Sanskrit poetry's genius: the very reading of this word IS the drum sound
चण्डताण्डवCaṇḍatāṇḍava
Caṇḍa (fierce, violent) + Tāṇḍava (cosmic dance). The fierce aspect of the Tandava — the dance of dissolution
VERSE 2
जटाकटाहसम्भ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरी- विलोलवीचिवल्लरीविराजमानमूर्धनि। धगद्धगद्धगज्जवललललाटपट्टपावके किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम॥
On his head, adorned with the meandering waves of the Ganges rushing through the whirlpool of his matted hair — on whose forehead blazes fire crackling Dhag-Dhag-Dhag — on whose crown rests the crescent moon — in that Shiva, my devotion grows every moment.
Sanskrit Compounds Decoded
जटाकटाहसम्भ्रमJaṭākaṭāhasambhrama
Jaṭā (matted hair) + Kaṭāha (cauldron, whirlpool) + Sambhrama (rushing confusion) — the Ganges rushing through his hair like water rushing in a cauldron
धगद्धगद्धगज्जवलDhagad-Dhagad-Dhagajjvala
Dhag Dhag Dhag (crackling fire sound) + Jvala (blazing flame) — the crackling fire of his third eye on his forehead
किशोरचन्द्रशेखरKiśoracandraśekhara
Kiśora (young, crescent) + Candra (moon) + Śekhara (crest, crown) — the young crescent moon on his crown
VERSE 3
धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीविलासबन्धुबन्धुर- स्फुरद्दिगन्तसन्ततिप्रमोदमानमानसे। कृपाकटाक्षधोरणीनिरुद्धदुर्धरापदि क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे मनो विनोदमेतु वस्तुनि॥
My mind finds delight in that Digambara (sky-clad one) — in whose mind joy spreads in all directions through the playful bond with Parvati (daughter of the mountain-king) — whose compassionate sidelong glance arrests even the greatest calamities.
Sanskrit Compounds Decoded
धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीDharādharendranandanī
Dharādhara (mountain, bearing the earth) + Indra (king) + Nandanī (daughter) — daughter of the mountain king = Parvati
दिगम्बरDigambara
Dik (direction, sky) + Ambara (garment/sky) — one whose garment is the sky itself. Shiva naked, clothed only by the directions/space
कृपाकटाक्षKṛpākaṭākṣa
Kṛpā (compassion) + Kaṭākṣa (sidelong glance, corner-eye look) — his compassionate sidelong glance that grants grace
VERSE 4
जटाभुजङ्गपिङ्गलस्फुरत्फणामणिप्रभा- कदम्बकुङ्कुमद्रवप्रलिप्तदिग्वधूमुखे। मदान्धसिन्धुरस्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि॥
The four directions' faces are anointed with the flowing vermilion-like light from the jewels on the hoods of the brown-hued serpents in his matted hair — his body covered by the skin of a maddened elephant — may my mind find wondrous delight in him, the Lord of all beings.
Sanskrit Compounds Decoded
जटाभुजङ्गपिङ्गलJaṭābhujaṅgapiṅgala
Jaṭā (locks) + Bhujaṅga (serpent) + Piṅgala (tawny, brownish-red) — the brownish-red serpents coiled in his matted hair
मदान्धसिन्धुरMadāndhasindura
Mada (intoxication) + Andha (blind) + Sindura (elephant) — a maddened elephant, blind with rut. Shiva wears its skin
भूतभर्तरBhūtabhartar
Bhūta (beings, also ghosts/elements) + Bhartar (lord, sustainer). Lord of all beings — and also lord of ghosts and spirits who accompany him
VERSE 16
इमं हि नित्यमेव मुक्तमुक्तमोत्तमोत्तमम् स्तवं पठन्स्मरन् ब्रुवन् नरो विशुद्धिमेति सन्ततम्। हरे गुरौ सुभक्तिमाशु याति नान्यथा गतिर् विमोहनं हि देहिनां सुशङ्करस्य चिन्तनम्॥
The person who reads, remembers, and recites this stotram — this supremely liberating hymn — attains continuous purification. He quickly gains devoted bhakti toward Hara (Shiva), the Guru. There is no other path. Meditating on Shankara indeed removes the delusion of embodied souls.
Sanskrit Compounds Decoded
मुक्तमुक्तमोत्तमोत्तमम्Muktamuktamottamottamam
A cascade of superlatives: Mukta (liberated) + Mukta (liberated) + Uttama (highest) + Uttama (highest) — the most supremely liberating of all liberating hymns
विमोहनVimohana
Vi (removal of) + Mohana (delusion, enchantment, from root muh = to be confused). The dissolution of maya/illusion through Shiva's contemplation

FAQ — Shiv Tandav Stotram

How many verses does Shiv Tandav Stotram have?

Shiv Tandav Stotram has 17 verses (shlokas) in the commonly recited version, followed by a phalashruti (reward verse). Each verse is in the Jagatī metre — 48 syllables (4 quarters × 12 syllables). The entire stotram takes about 8–12 minutes to chant at a normal pace.

What is the best time to chant Shiv Tandav Stotram?

Shiv Tandav Stotram is best chanted during Brahma Muhurta (4–6 AM), during Pradosh (13th day of lunar fortnight, twilight time), on Mondays (Shiva's day), on Mahashivratri (the great night of Shiva), and during the month of Shravan (July–August). It is also popular during Navratri as Durga is Shiva's power.

Is it okay to chant Shiv Tandav Stotram daily?

Yes — Shiv Tandav Stotram can be chanted daily. The 16th verse (phalashruti) explicitly states that chanting this stotram purifies the devotee and grants bhakti toward Shiva. There are no restrictions on who can chant it — it is open to all. However, since it is advanced Sanskrit, understanding the meaning (as on this page) deepens its effect.

Related Mantras & Stotrams

Om Namah Shivaya →Mahamrityunjaya Mantra →Gayatri Mantra →Hanuman Chalisa →Durga Chalisa →Om Jai Jagdish Hare →

ॐ

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