Shiva Tandava Stotram

Meaning:From the dense forest of his matted hair the holy Ganga's stream flows, sanctifying the ground; a lofty garland of serpents hangs upon his neck. Beating the damaru drum with the sound 'damad-damad-damad-daman', Shiva performed the fierce Tandava — may He spread auspiciousness upon us.

Meaning:My mind delights every moment in Shiva — on whose head the celestial Ganga whirls amid the matted locks, on whose forehead the fire blazes 'dhagad-dhagad-dhagad', and who wears the crescent moon as his crest-jewel.

Meaning:May my mind find delight in the sky-clad Shiva — the loving companion of Parvati (daughter of the mountain king), whose mind rejoices in all the worlds, and whose merciful sidelong glance holds back the direst calamities.

Meaning:May my mind hold wondrous delight in Shiva, sustainer of beings — the glow of the gem-hooded tawny serpents in his matted hair smears the faces of the directions like kadamba-kunkuma paste, and the elephant-hide is his glistening upper garment.

Meaning:May Shiva grant us lasting prosperity — whose footstool is grey with the flower-pollen falling from the heads of Indra and all the bowing gods, whose matted hair is bound by the king of serpents, and who bears the moon (friend of the chakora) as his crest.

Meaning:May the matted locks of Shiva grant us great fortune — who drank up the five-arrowed Kama in the fire blazing on his forehead, before whom the lord of gods bows, and who is adorned by the nectar-rayed crescent moon.

Meaning:My delight is in the three-eyed Shiva — the one supreme artist who painted the designs upon Parvati's breast, into whose terrible forehead-fire the fierce five-arrowed Kama was offered as oblation.

Meaning:May Shiva grant us prosperity — whose neck is dark as a bank of fresh clouds on a moonless midnight, who bears the Ganga and the elephant-hide, the resting-place of the moon, the bearer of the burden of the worlds.

Meaning:I worship Shiva — whose throat is dark and lovely like a full-blown blue lotus, like the cosmic gloom; the destroyer of Kama, of the three cities, of worldly existence, of Daksha's sacrifice, of the elephant-demon, of Andhaka, and even of Yama (death).

Meaning:I worship Shiva, the bee who drinks the sweet flowing nectar of the ever-auspicious blossoming flower of all the arts — the ender of Kama, of Tripura, of existence, of the sacrifice, of the elephant-demon, of Andhaka, and the very ender of Death.

Meaning:May Shiva, who dances the fierce Tandava, be victorious — amid the hissing of the writhing serpents and the terrible fire blazing on his forehead, to the auspicious 'dhimid-dhimid' beat of the lofty mridanga drum.

Meaning:When, with an equal eye toward a couch of stones and a bed of jewels, a serpent and a pearl-garland, gravel and precious gems, friend and foe, a blade of grass and a lotus-eyed beauty, the common people and the mighty emperor — shall I worship Sadashiva?

Meaning:When, dwelling in a hollow amid the thickets by the Ganga, free of evil thought, ever bearing folded hands upon my head, my restless eyes purified, reciting the mantra 'Shiva' — when shall I become truly happy?

Meaning:Reciting, remembering or reading this most excellent hymn daily, a person is ever purified and swiftly attains deep devotion to Hara and the Guru; there is no other way — the contemplation of Shankara surely dispels the delusion of embodied beings.

Meaning:Whoever, at dusk (Pradosh) after completing the worship of Shambhu, recites this song by the ten-faced Ravana — upon him Shambhu bestows enduring Lakshmi (prosperity), complete with chariots, elephants and horses.

Meaning:Thus concludes the Shiva Tandava Stotram composed by the ten-headed Ravana.