Shiva Tandava Stotram
sung by Ravana
sung by Ravana
translated and explained by
K V Ananthanarayanan
Shiva Tandava Stotram Stanza 1
जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले
गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम्।
डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं
चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम्॥ १॥
jaṭāṭavīgalajjalapravāhapāvitasthale
gale'valambya lambitāṁ bhujaṅgatuṅgamālikām |
ḍamaḍḍamaḍḍamaḍḍamanninādavaḍḍamarvayaṁ
cakāra caṇḍatāṇḍavaṁ tanotu naḥ śivaḥ śivam || 1||
Word Analysis
अयं शिवः that Shiva
जटा अटवी गलत् जल प्रवाह पावित स्थले the ground sanctified by the flow of water from the forest which was his matted lock
गले लम्बितां भुजङ्ग तुङ्ग मालिकां अवलम्ब्य holding the garland formed by the great serpent who was holding fast to the Lord's neck
डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन् निनादवत् डमरु : playing the drum resounding with the beat damaddamadamaddamadamaaddam
चण्डताण्डवं चकार performed the fierce dance (at the close of the yuga)I
सः शिवः नः शिवं तनोतु May that Shiva bestow His bountiful grace of peace on us
Meaning
On the hallowed land sanctified by the copious flow of water from the celestial River Ganga meandering through the forest which is His matted locks,
Holding like a beautiful garland the hooded serpant (Vasuki) who is snuggling around the dark neck of the Lord
Playing a drum (damaru) to the regular beat.. damad damad damad damad
That Lord of eternal Calm, Shiva, performed the dance shaking the world (as if it were the end of yuga)
May that Shiva shower His bountiful Grace on Us..
Siva Tandava Stotram.. Stanza 2
जटाकटाहसम्भ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरी-
-विलोलवीचिवल्लरीविराजमानमूर्धनि।
धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाटपट्टपावके
किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम॥ २॥
jaṭākaṭāhasambhramabhramannilimpanirjharī-
-vilolavīcivallarīvirājamānamūrdhani |
dhagaddhagaddhagajjvalallalāṭapaṭṭapāvake
kiśoracandraśekhare ratiḥ pratikṣaṇaṁ mama || 2||
word analysis
जटा कटाह deep recesses of the matted hair
संभ्रम fast movement
भ्रमन् getting agitated
निलिम्प निर्झरी celestial river (Ganga)
विलोल delicate
वीचि वल्लरी bunch of waves
विराजमान shining
मूर्धनि head
धगद्धगद्धगद् ज्वलत् burning with resonating sound dagat dagat dagat
ललाट पट्ट wide forehead
पावके fire
किशोर infant
चन्द्रशेखरे adorner of the moon
(शिवे ) shiva
प्रतिक्षणं every uniterrupted moment
मम my
रतिः affectionate and intensive devotion
(भूयात्) may be
Meaning
My sincere and intensive devotion may be always directed towards that Shiva
who has affectionately adorned the infant crescent moon on His hair,
The deep inner recesses of His matted hair contains the celestial river Ganga, which is swirling in agitation (when Lord Shiva dances)
And produces a tiny rivulet of delicate and bright waves of water washing gently His wide forehead,
That wide forehead which houses Shiva's fierce third eye burning with the hissing sound .. dhagat dhagat dhagat
Shivatandava Stotram Stanza 3
who has affectionately adorned the infant crescent moon on His hair,
The deep inner recesses of His matted hair contains the celestial river Ganga, which is swirling in agitation (when Lord Shiva dances)
And produces a tiny rivulet of delicate and bright waves of water washing gently His wide forehead,
That wide forehead which houses Shiva's fierce third eye burning with the hissing sound .. dhagat dhagat dhagat
Shivatandava Stotram Stanza 3
धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनी विलासबन्धु बन्धुर
स्फुरद्दिगन्तसन्तति प्रमोदमान मानसे।
कृपाकटाक्षधोरणी निरुद्धदुर्धरापदि
क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे (क्वचित्चिदंबरे) मनो विनोदमेतु वस्तुनि II३II
dharādharendranandinīvilāsabandhubandhura
sphuraddigantasantatipramodamānamānase |
kṛpākaṭākṣadhoraṇīniruddhadurdharāpadi
kvaciddigambare(kvaciccidambare) mano vinodametu vastuni || 3||
word analysis
धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनी the daughter of the huge mountain that keeps the earth in place(Himavan)
विलासबन्धु related or arising out of (her) constant and happy presence
बन्धुर स्फुरद्दिगन्तसन्तति the brilliant and ebullient flow in all directions till the end of the universe
प्रमोदमान मानसे who has a mind which is filled with ecstasy
कृपाकटाक्षधोरणी flow of the merciful gaze from the corner of the eyes निरुद्धदुर्धरापदि which puts a stop to the gravest and unsurpassable danger क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे (क्वचिच्चिदम्बरे) वस्तुनि only by the open sky or alternately an object which kindles the inner self
मम my
मनो mind
विनोदमेतु reach the ultimate pleasure..
Meaning
May my mind draw the ultimate pleasure (in contemplation of ) the object which has only the open space as its clothes (Digambhara) or alternately the object which rejuvenates the sky which is the innermost space in the hear (Chidambara)
He(Shiva) has a mind flowing with great ecstasy flowing in all directions till the end of the universe,
that ecstasy oozing out in all ebullience from the Lord's mind which is shining forth in the constant presence and company of that Uma Parvathy the daughter of the King of Mountains ( the Mountain that keeps the earth in its place)
The flow of ultimate mercy from the corner of His eyes alone is capable of putting a stop to the gravest dangers which are otherwise unstoppable for us (the ordinary humans )
[the stotram has two versions.. using the word Digambara and the word Chidambara.. in the fourth line of Stanza 3 ..
We can use either.. ( The Lord Shankara in his Supreme Manifestation is having no clothes… or has only the space for His clothes.. so He is called Digamabara.. Dik ambaram yasya SaH..दिक् अम्बरं यस्य सः .. He is Chidambara too as He occupies the Sky that is the Chit area.. or the nucleus of our minds..)]
Shiva Tandava Stotram Stanza 4
लता भुजङ्ग पिङ्गल स्फुरत्फणामणिप्रभा
कदम्ब कुङ्कुमद्रव प्रलिप्त दिग्वधूमुखे।
मदान्ध सिन्धुर स्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीय मेदुरे
मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि॥ ४॥
latābhujaṅgapiṅgalasphuratphaṇāmaṇiprabhā kadambakuṅkumadravapraliptadigvadhūmukhe |
madāndhasindhurasphurattvaguttarīyamedure
mano vinodamadbhutaṁ bibhartu bhūtabhartari || 4|
word analysis
लता भुजङ्ग the creeper that is a snake
पिङ्गल tawny red
स्फुरत् radiating
फणामणिप्रभा glow from the Manikya gem shining in the hood (of the snake) कदम्ब mosaic or varied mixture (of colours)
प्रलिप्त applied with colour or painted with
दिग्वधूमुखे the faces of the brides that are the cardinal directions
मदान्ध blind with rut
सिन्धुर elephant
स्फुरत् giving out, shining
त्वगुत्तरीय the upper garment covering the torso which is the skin (of elephant)
मेदुरे rendered attractive
भूतभर्तरि the Master and protector of all beings
विनोदमद्भुतं playful and at the same time laced in surprise
मम मनो my mind
बिभर्तु may hold
Meaning
May my mind dwell upon that Master of Protector or all beings, Lord Shankara with awe and affection
The hooded snake hanging from His neck like a long slender creeper
The Manikya gem embedded in the hood radiating bright tawny red radiation in all directions
And all the cardinal directions look like
brides ( girls having mehandi just before marriage) whose faces refect that tawny red colour as if those faces have been painted with a mosaic of hues given out by a paste of herbal mixture
His body or torso covered by the most attractive and shiny garment which is the skin of an elephant which is blind with rut or Mada
Notes
The imagery is sublime.. The Lord is dancing and the Snake adhering to His neck is swinging with hood down.. The gem embedded in the hood radiates brownish red lustre.. and those rays of reddish brown hue are painting the faces of all the cardinal directions as if they were brides being given make up for marriage
The Lord is called Krittivaasaa.. who wears the hide (skin) of an elephant..
The Lord who is the protector of all mild beings in the forest once captured a rutty elephant which was doing damage to all, tore off its skin and wore it as Uttareeyam or upper garment..The uttareeyam is shining with red colour of the blood of the elephant and the dark colour of elephant skin..
The Lord is the Master of all living beings.. the Pashupathi..)
Shiva Tandava Stotram.. Stanza 5
सहस्रलोचनप्रभृत्यशेषलेखशेखर
प्रसूनधूलिधोरणी विधूसराङ्घ्रिपीठभूः।
भुजङ्गराजमालया निबद्धजाटजूटक
श्रियै चिराय जायतां चकोरबन्धुशेखरः॥ ५॥
sahasralocanaprabhṛtyaśeṣalekhaśekhara
prasūnadhūlidhoraṇī vidhūsarāṅghripīṭhabhūḥ |
bhujaṅgarājamālayā nibaddhajāṭajūṭaka
śriyai cirāya jāyatāṁ cakorabandhuśekharaḥ || 5||
word analysis
सहस्रलोचन the thousand eyed Indra
प्रभृति onwards
अशेष all witout exception
लेख शेखर rows of head
प्रसून flower
धूलि dust, flower dust
धोरणी spreading in abundance
विधूसर made grey or of faded colour by dust
अङ्घ्रि पीठभूः having the foot stool
भुजङ्ग snake
राज the king of
मालया garland or rope
निबद्ध tied up
जाट जूटक the cluster or matted hair
चकोर बन्धु शेखरः who has collected the friend of Chakora bird.. the moon in His head
शिवः Shiva
चिराय for ever,
श्रियै for wealth and welfare
जायतां may be pleased favourably.
Meaning
That Shiva who has kept the crescent of moon-- the moon who is the friend of the chakora bird -- in His hair may be pleased to bestow on me wealth and welfare for ever and without interruption
That moon is held in the matted lock of Shankara whose cluster of hair is tied together with a rope which is none other than the king of Sepents..
The stool of bright (golden colour)upon which Shiva’s foot is placed has turned grey because it is smeared thickly with the dust falling from flowers from the rows heads of Gods like Indra of thousand eyes.. (maybe it includes Vishnu too who is called Sahasraaksha.. in Purushasooktham and Vishnusahasranamam). who place their heads at the feet of Lord Shiva.
Notes.
The moon is mentioned as the relative of the Chakora Bird because usually that bird is seen singing songs during moonlit nights pining for the mate..
Chakora is the Uppan or Chembothu bird.. also called Crow Pheasant..
Shiva Tandava Stotram Stanza 6
The moon is mentioned as the relative of the Chakora Bird because usually that bird is seen singing songs during moonlit nights pining for the mate..
Chakora is the Uppan or Chembothu bird.. also called Crow Pheasant..
Shiva Tandava Stotram Stanza 6
ललाट चत्वर ज्वलद्धनञ्जय स्फुलिङ्ग भा-
-निपीत पञ्चसायकं नमन्निलिम्पनायकम्।
सुधामयूख लेखया विराजमान शेखरं
महाकपालिसम्पदे शिरोजटालमस्तु नः ॥ ६॥
lalāṭacatvarajvaladdhanañjayasphuliṅgabhā
-nipītapañcasāyakaṁ namannilimpanāyakam |
sudhāmayūkhalekhayā virājamānaśekharaṁ
mahākapālisampadeśirojaṭālamastu naḥ || 6||
word analysis
ललाट forehead
चत्वर quadrangle
ज्वलद् burning, smouldering
धनञ्जय fire
सफुलिङ्ग bright spark
भाः powerful shine
निपीत annihilated
पञ्चसायकं the five arrowed Kamadeva
नमद् being offered prostrations in surrender
निलिंपनायकं the lords of heaven
सुधा मयूख one who has rays resembling ambrosia (the moon)
लेखया crescent
विराजमान shining forth शे
खरं collection, ornament
शिवस्य महाकपालि जटा the matted locks adorning the great head of Shiva
संपदे for eternal wealth and siddhi
अस्तु नः. May of Grace to us..
Meaning
That matted lock of Shiva adorning the top of His head may be the source of blessing for attainment of eternal wealth and Siddhi(Grace) for us.
The matted lock has a square lawn in front in the shape of the wide forehead of Shiva from the fire burning with smoulder in His third eye, and powerful sparks ejecting from that fire burnt to ashes the lord of love Kamadeva who was armed with five arrows of flower.
That matted lock is brilliantly adorned with the crescent of the moon.. the moon who is having its cool rays resembling flow of amrutham or ambrosia..
That matted lock is worshiped with humble prostrations by the Lord of Heaven like Indra..
Note
The rays of moon are supposed to shower health and Grace, as if they are carrying with them amrutham.. So moon is called Sudhaa Mayookha.. Sudhaamshu is another name of the moon with the same meaning..
The matted locks in the head is compared with some sort of shrine which has a quadrangle where a great yajna is done.. The quadrangle or court yard is the wide forehead of the Lord and fire-pit or Homakundam for such yajna is the Lords third eye.. where the real agnideva resides.. Once when Shankara was doing penance and was in Samadhi, the Lord of Love Kamadeva, wanted to wake Him up from penance and shot at the lord his five arrows of flowers Ashoka, White Lotus, Blue Lotus, Jasmine and Mango.
The flowers would have aroused erotic feelings in others, but they failed before the Lord.. The Lord was enraged at being woken up from His samadhi and just looked at the intruder with His third eye which emitted fire.. And Kamadeva was reduced to Ashes..
Moon is the repository of all herbs and potions.. It is believed that the herbal plants and creepers which are used to treat ailments and rejuvenate our life assume their medicinal qualities which reach them from the moon through his rays.. So Moon is sending Sudhaa or Amrutham through its rays.. the Mayukhams.. In fact the herbs are luminiscent and shine spontaneously in night..
Mahaushadeem Naktahm iva Aatmabhaasah... (Kalidasa)
self luminosity visiting great herbs during nights...
SomaH aushadheenaam adhipathiH.. Moon is the Lord of Herbs
Shiva Tandava Stotram Stanza 7
करालभालपट्टिकाधगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वल-
द्धनञ्जयाहुतीकृतप्रचण्डपञ्चसायके।
धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीकुचाग्रचित्रपत्रक-
-प्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनि त्रिलोचने रतिर्मम॥। ७॥
karālabhālapaṭṭikādhagaddhagaddhagajjvala-
ddhanañjayāhutīkṛtapracaṇḍapañcasāyake |
dharādharendranandinīkucāgracitrapatraka-
-prakalpanaikaśilpini trilocane ratirmama ||| 7||
word analysis
कराल pronounced
भाल forehead
पट्टिका wide space
धगद्धगद्धगद्व ज्वलद् burning with hissing sound dagat dagat dagat धनञ्जय आहुतीकृत given or made as oblation to the fire
प्रचण्ड impetuous, vehement, aggressive
पञ्चसायके the Lord of Love Kamadeva of five arrows
धराधरेन्द्र the formost of the mountains
नन्दिनी daughter
कुचाग्र tip of the breast
चित्रपत्रक artistic line
प्रकल्पन drawing
एक शिल्पिनि the one artist
त्रिलोचने having thee eyes
मम my
रतिः affectionate thought
अस्तु may be there
Meaning
May mind be immersed in affectionate and respectful thoughts on that Shiva, the three-eyed one
The fire emanating with a hissing sound dhagat dhagat dhagat from the third eye present in Shivas wide forehed just received as oblation the impetuous Lord of love who wielded arrows made of five flowers ( the burning of Kamadeva by Shivas third eye is implied here )
That Shankara is the artist who is engaged with full attention in drawing ornamental patterns at the top of the attractive breasts of Uma Parvathy, the daughter of Himavan, the Lord of mountains..
Note
The devotees in India were never ashamed to used Sringararasam in the prayers.. Shiva is having romantic and erotic intent on mother Uma and that is the ultimate in another plane of the Union of Shiva and Shakthi.. And the mutual attraction is so natural, and the devotee need not shy away from that..
We can see similar expressions in great Kavyams.. especially like Jayadeva’s Geethagovinda..
गोपीपीन पयोधर मर्द्धान चञ्चल करयुग शाली.. gopee peena payodhara marddhana chanchala karayuga Shaalee.. Jayadeva described Madhava this way..
Shiva Tandava Stotram Stanza 8
नवीन मेघमण्डली निरुद्ध दुर्धरस्फुरत्-
कुहूनिशीथिनी तमः प्रबन्ध बद्ध कन्धरः।
निलिम्प निर्झरीधर स्तनोतु कृत्तिसिन्धुरः
कलानिधानबन्धुरः श्रियं जगद्धुरन्धरः॥ ८॥
navīnameghamaṇḍalī niruddhadurdharasphurat-
kuhūniśīthinītamaḥ prabandhabaddhakandharaḥ |
nilimpanirjharīdharastanotu kṛttisindhuraḥ
kalānidhānabandhuraḥ śriyaṁ jagaddhurandharaḥ ||8
Word analysis
नवीन fresh
मेघमण्डली cluster or layers of (dark) clouds
निरुद्ध stopped
दुर्धरस्फुरत् seeping out of impediments difficult to pass through कुहूनिशीथिनी तमः the darkness of the New moon (amavasya) night प्रबन्ध tightly gripping
बद्ध tied
कन्धरः neck
निलिम्प निर्झरीधरः wearing the celestial river.. Ganga
कृत्तिसिन्धुरः wearing the skin of an elephant
कलानिधान बन्धुरः shining with the moon seen as a crescent
जगत् दुरन्धरः bearing the entire universe with great strength and valour
शिवः श्रियं तनोतु may Shiva bestow on us all Grace and prosperity..
Meaning
नवीन fresh
मेघमण्डली cluster or layers of (dark) clouds
निरुद्ध stopped
दुर्धरस्फुरत् seeping out of impediments difficult to pass through कुहूनिशीथिनी तमः the darkness of the New moon (amavasya) night प्रबन्ध tightly gripping
बद्ध tied
कन्धरः neck
निलिम्प निर्झरीधरः wearing the celestial river.. Ganga
कृत्तिसिन्धुरः wearing the skin of an elephant
कलानिधान बन्धुरः shining with the moon seen as a crescent
जगत् दुरन्धरः bearing the entire universe with great strength and valour
शिवः श्रियं तनोतु may Shiva bestow on us all Grace and prosperity..
Meaning
May that Great Lord Shankara bestow on us all wealth and His Grace
That Lord who appears as if his neck is tightly fastened by a pitch dark brace of utter blackness.. resembling the darkness of a new moon night filtered by layers of fresh black clouds
That Lord who is holding the celestial river Ganga in His locks
That Lord wearing the raw skin of a wild elephant
That Lord who shines forth with the crescent of moon adorning His head
That Lord who carries in Him the whole universe with all strength and valour
Note
1 The Koorma Puranam describes a story where Brahmins worshipping a Shivalingam at Varanasi were attacked by a demon Gajaasura taking the form of an elephant.. The Lord Shankara emerged out of the lingam and killed the demon in the shape of an elephant, and wore its bleeding skin as his upper garment.. This is why Shiva is called Krittivasa.. the one who wears Skin.. The word Krittivasa denoting Sri Rudra appears in Vedas too.. “Kruttivaasaah pinaakee…". “ कृत्तिवासाः पिनाकी ....."
2 The New moon or Amavasya night is itself Dark.. When that night is having new dark clouds, the blackness is almost impenitrable.. The black band in the neck of the Lord Shankara, caused by His drinking the poison Kalakootam or Halahalam during the churning of the Milky ocean, is compared to that darkness.
Shiva Tandava Stotram Stanza 9
प्रफुल्लनीलपङ्कजप्रपञ्चकालिमप्रभा-
-वलम्बिकण्ठकन्दलीरुचिप्रबद्धकन्धरम्।
स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिदं भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं
गजच्छिदान्धकच्छिदं तमन्तकच्छिदं भजे॥ ९॥
praphullanīlapaṅkajaprapañcakālimaprabhā-
-valambikaṇṭhakandalīruciprabaddhakandharam |
smaracchidaṁ puracchidaṁ bhavacchidaṁ makhacchidaṁ
gajacchidāndhakacchidaṁ tamantakacchidaṁ bhaje || 9||
Word analysis
प्रफुल्ल bloomed to full size
नील पङ्कज blue lotus
प्रपञ्च agglomeration
कालिम black colour
प्रभावलंबी resembling that sheen
कण्ठ throat
कन्दली dark blue flower Kandali.
रुचि प्रबद्ध cluster tied around कन्धरं the neck
स्मरच्छिदं the one who destroyed the God of love Kamadeva
पुरच्छिदं the one who annihilated the three fortresses thripuras
भवच्छिदं the one who removes the worldly woes of the devotees
मखच्छिदं the one who desecrated the yajna arranged by Daksha Prajapati
गजच्छिदम् the one who pulverised the demon Gajasura in the shape of an elephant, tore up his skin and wore it as His upper garment
अन्धकच्छिदं the one who killed Andhakaasura of thousand heads who tried to abduct Devi Uma Parvathi
अन्तकच्छिदं the one who became the God of death to Yama the killer God, in a bid to save Markandeya and grant his immortality..
तं ( शिवं ) on that Shiva
भजे I take refuge.
प्रपञ्च agglomeration
कालिम black colour
प्रभावलंबी resembling that sheen
कण्ठ throat
कन्दली dark blue flower Kandali.
रुचि प्रबद्ध cluster tied around कन्धरं the neck
स्मरच्छिदं the one who destroyed the God of love Kamadeva
पुरच्छिदं the one who annihilated the three fortresses thripuras
भवच्छिदं the one who removes the worldly woes of the devotees
मखच्छिदं the one who desecrated the yajna arranged by Daksha Prajapati
गजच्छिदम् the one who pulverised the demon Gajasura in the shape of an elephant, tore up his skin and wore it as His upper garment
अन्धकच्छिदं the one who killed Andhakaasura of thousand heads who tried to abduct Devi Uma Parvathi
अन्तकच्छिदं the one who became the God of death to Yama the killer God, in a bid to save Markandeya and grant his immortality..
तं ( शिवं ) on that Shiva
भजे I take refuge.
Meaning
I take refuge on that Shiva
The Lord whose throat is nestled by the dark blue Kandali flowers which agree in hue and sheen with the dark blue lotuses worn by him around His neck ( and also the colour of the entire upper torso.. which is dark because of the effect of Halahalam, the poison)
The Lord who , by opening his third eye, reduced the God of Love, Kamadeva to ashes.
The Lord who destroyed the three cities, Thripuras.. occupied by fierce demons.. ( The cities were made of Iron, Silver and Gold)
The Lord who removes our worldly woes
The Lord who desecrated the yajna arranged by Daksha Prajapati
The lord who pulverised the demon Gajasura who took the shape of an elephant and tried to fight with Shiva .
The Supreme Lord tore up the skin of the elephant and wore it as His upper garment
The Lord who killed the evil demon Andhakaasura of thousand heads who tried to abduct Uma Parvathi
The Lord who became the God of death to Yama, the killer God, in a bid to save Markandeya. The lord granted immortality to Markandeya..
Note
Kandali is a plant found in the Himalayan valleys, which flowere once in Twelve years.. just like the Kurinchi flowers found in the Kodai Ranges..
Shiva Tandava Stotram Stanza 10
अखर्व (अगर्व) सर्वमङ्गलाकलाकदम्बमञ्जरी
रसप्रवाहमाधुरी विजृम्भणामधुव्रतम्।
स्मरान्तकं पुरान्तकं भवान्तकं मखान्तकं
गजान्तकान्धकान्तकं तमन्तकान्तकं भजे॥ १०॥
akharva(agarva)sarvamaṅgalākalākadambamañjarī
rasapravāhamādhurī vijṛmbhaṇāmadhuvratam |
smarāntakaṁ purāntakaṁ bhavāntakaṁ makhāntakaṁ
gajāntakāndhakāntakaṁ tamantakāntakaṁ bhaje || 10||
word analysis.
अखर्व without shortage, in good form
(अगर्व great without arrogance)
(agarva is a paadabhedam.. on alternate version.. Akharva looks more appropriate)
सर्वमङ्गला कला having the attractive artistry to provide all blessings and happiness on others
कदम्ब मञ्जरी the bunch or garland of all types of flowers
रसप्रवाहमाधुरी the sweetness arising out of the flow of fragrnace and sweet honey
विजृम्भणा excited when in full bloom
मधुव्रतम् the honey bees
स्मरान्तकं the killer of Kamadeva
पुरान्तकं the destroyer of the three cities
भवान्तकं the destroyer of worldly woes
मखान्तकं the destroyer of the yajna or sacrificial rite of Daksha
गजान्तकं the killer of the demon in the form of an elephant.
अन्धकान्त्कं the killer of the demon Andhaka
अन्तकान्तकं killer of Yama the God of death himself
तं शिवं भजे I take refuge on that Shiva
Meaning..
I take refuge on that Shiva
That Lord is adorned with garland of all beautiful flowers which are fresh from garden.. The flowers are in very huge numbers..
These flowers and just blooming and the fragrance is spreading all around and the sweet honey is also oozing from them.. The honey bees, attracted by the nectar are encircling the garlands excitedly and thus swarming around the Lord.
He is the killer of Kamadeva
He is the destroyer of the three cities
He is the destroyer of our worldly woes
He is the destroyer of the yajna or sacrificial rite of Daksha
He is the killer of the demon in the form of an elephant.
He is the killer of the demon Andhaka
He is killer of Yama the God of death himself
Note.
The attributes of Siva as killer of Kamadeva etc are just a repetition of what is explanined in Stanza 9 .. That Stanza may be referred to..
Great poets sometimes repeat themselves for good effect..
See how many times Lord Tennyson has repeated.. “ Men may come and men may go, but I go on for ever” in his poem of the Brook..
My translation is intended to convey the spirit of the stanza.. I have given word to word analysis.. That can be used if a formal translation is required.. Such a translation can be of use only in textbooks..
Shiva Tandava Stotram Stanza 11
जयत्वदभ्रविभ्रमभ्रमद्भुजङ्गमश्वस-
-द्विनिर्गमत्क्रमस्फुरत्करालभालहव्यवाट्।
धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिध्वनन्मृदङ्गतुङ्गमङ्गल
ध्वनिक्रमप्रवर्तित प्रचण्डताण्डवः शिवः॥ ११॥
jayatvadabhravibhramabhramadbhujaṅgamaśvasa-
-dvinirgamatkramasphuratkarālabhālahavyavāṭ |
dhimiddhimiddhimidhvananmṛdaṅgatuṅgamaṅgala
dhvanikramapravartita pracaṇḍatāṇḍavaḥ śivaḥ || 11||
word analysis
अदभ्र uninhibited, plentiful
विभ्रम physical motion.. dancing
भ्रमत् rotated, agitated
भुजङ्गम snake
श्वसः breath
विनिर्गमत् flowing out
स्फुरत् sprouting
कराल venom
भाल हव्यवाट् the one who has fire in his temple
धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिध्वनत् producing beats dhimit dhimit dhimit
मृदङ्ग तुङ्ग मङ्गलध्वनि percussions at high pitch from mridangam which produces musical sounds of blessedness for the whole world
क्रम प्रवर्तितः accompanying to the beats
प्रचण्डताण्डवः the one who is performing the fierce dance as if at the deluge of the universe
शिवः जयतु May that Shiva be victorious..
Meaning
May that Shiva who is performing the fierce dance as if at the deluge of the universe be victorious for ever..
That Shiva, who is performing the dance in free and uninhibited movements and the Snakes occupying all over his body
are also whirling around as a result of the dance,
and they spew venom through their breaths ..
That Shiva whose temple houses the third eye where fire is smouldering..
That Shiva is performing His dance to the accompaniment of the beats of mridanga in high pitched cadence filling the air with blessed musical notes . Dhimid Dhimid Dhimid
Shiva Tandava Stortram Stanza 12
स्पृषद्विचित्रतल्पयोर्भुजङ्गमौक्तिकस्रजोर्-
-गरिष्ठरत्नलोष्ठयोः सुहृद्विपक्षपक्षयोः।
तृणारविन्दचक्षुषोः प्रजामहीमहेन्द्रयोः
समं प्रवर्तयन्मनः कदा सदाशिवं भजे॥ १२॥
spṛṣadvicitratalpayorbhujaṅgamauktikasrajor-
-gariṣṭharatnaloṣṭhayoḥ suhṛdvipakṣapakṣayoḥ |
tṛṇāravindacakṣuṣoḥ prajāmahīmahendrayoḥ
samaṁ pravartayanmanaḥ kadā sadāśivaṁ bhaje || 12||
Word Analysis
कदा सदाशिवं भजे when will I be fortunate to worship that Sadashiva, the ever peaceful Lord
स्पृषद् विचित्र तल्पयोः touching varied and queer levels
भुजङ्ग snake
मौक्तिक स्रजोः garland made with pearls
गरिष्ठ रत्न valuable gems
लोष्ठयोः pieces of logs or stones
सुहृद् विपक्ष पक्षयोः the two sides --- friends and foes
तृण grass
अरविन्दचक्षुषोः those having eyes resembling lotus
प्रजामही subjects of and the occupants of the earth
महेन्द्रयोः Mahendra the lord of heaven
समं with equality
प्रवर्तयद् working
मनः a mind
Meaning
When will I have the good fortune to worship with all sincerity the Lord of eternal peace Sadhaashiva?
The Lord who shows equanimity and equal mercy and concern for things which occupy queerly different levels
A snake encircling His neck and a garland of pearls are just equal to Him
Neither a treasure of very precious stones or a piece of stone on wooden log make any difference for Him
He is equally cordial to those who are friendly with Him or even those who are opposed to Him
He does not see any difference in beauty between a piece of grass or a person having attractive eyes resembling lotuses
For Him we the occupants of this earth and Indra the Lord of Heaven are all just equal
( His mind works with such a generous vision of Mercy)
Note
The tattwa of Shiva is equanimity.. He just lives in a burial ground smearing his body with ashes, wearing snakes for ornaments and wearing sparse clothes, that too of skin of wild animals.. but all powers of the Universe just rally around Him and derive their powers from Him.. Can even Marx or Engels invent a better egalitarian that this Shiva?
Shiva Tandava Stotram Stanza 13
कदा निलिम्पनिर्झरीनिकुञ्जकोटरे वसन्
विमुक्तदुर्मतिः सदा शिरः स्थमञ्जलिं वहन्।
विलोललोललोचनो ललामभाललग्नकः
शिवेति मन्त्रमुच्चरन् कदा सुखी भवाम्यहम्॥ १३॥
kadā nilimpanirjharīnikuñjakoṭare vasan
vimuktadurmatiḥ sadā śiraḥ sthamañjaliṁ vahan |
vilolalolalocano lalāmabhālalagnakaḥ
śiveti mantramuccaran kadā sukhī bhavāmyaham || 13||
word analysis
कदा when
निलिम्पनिर्झरी the celestial river Ganga
निकुञ्जकोटरे in the hollow of some bower
विमुक्तदुर्मतिः abandoning all bad thoughts
वसन् living
सदा शिरःस्थमञ्जलिं वहन् always holding the folded hands above the head
विलोललोललोचनो controlling the movements of eyeballs and winks ललामभाललग्नकः concentrating the eyes and the mind on the middle of the eyebrows on the forehead ( the aajnaachakra)
शिवेति मन्त्रं उच्चरन् constantly and without interruption chanting the mantra Shiva..
कदा अहं सुखी भवामि . When am I going to be fortunate to be in the constant comfort and pleasure of..?
Meaning
When am I going to be blessed with the fortune of the ultimate comfort and pleasure
Of living in the hollow of a bower in the banks of the heavenly river Ganga,
Freed for ever from all my bad thoughts and evil tendencies
Holding my folded hands together above my head (in reverence and supplication to the Lord Shankara)
Holding to stillness all the movements of my eyes and concentrating the eyes and mind on the centre of the brows (Ajna Chakram)
And
constantly and without interruption chanting the hold mantram Shiva. Shiva
Shiva Tandava Stotram Stanza 14
इदम् हि नित्यमेवमुक्तमुत्तमोत्तमं स्तवं
पठन्स्मरन्ब्रुवन्नरो विशुद्धिमेतिसन्ततम्।
हरे गुरौ सुभक्तिमाशु याति नान्यथा गतिं
विमोहनं हि देहिनां सुशङ्करस्य चिन्तनम्॥ १४॥
idam hi nityamevamuktamuttamottamaṁ stavaṁ
paṭhansmaranbruvannaro viśuddhimetisantatam |
hare gurau subhaktimāśu yāti nānyathā gatiṁ
vimohanaṁ hi dehināṁ suśaṅkarasya cintanam || 14||
word analysis
नरः a human being
उत्तमोत्तमं the sublimest of the sublime
एवं उक्तं as said above
इदम् this
स्तवं prayer in praise (of Shiva)
नित्यं daily
पठन् reading
स्मरन् contemplating
ब्रुवन् reciting aloud
संततं for ever, always
विशुद्धिं purity, sacredness
एति attains
हि surely
सः he
गुरौ the preceptor, the parent
हरे Hara the Shiva
आशु forthwith
सुभक्तिं याति attains great devotion
सः अन्यथा गतिं न याति He will not be led to any evil ways of the fate
सुशङ्करस्य चिन्तनं देहिनां विमोहनं हि भवति The very thought of that Holy Shankara is enchanting for all beings who move in this world with bodies..
Meaning
If a man reads, meditates upon, recites daily the above hymn in praise of Lord Shiva he becomes free of all impurities, and surely attains sublimity..
The hymn is the best among the best.
One who recites this hymn becomes an ardent devotee of Hara the Shankara who is the Guru.. the preceptor and the father of all of us the human beings.. He will not have any occasions to suffer the experience of being thrown to the worldly woes created by the fate..
The very thought of that Holy Shankara is enchanting for all beings who move in this world with bodies..
Note
Shankara is a word which means the Lord who will do things which are good for us in this life and for ever..
Here in this phalashruti the word Sushankara is used..
That means the Lord who is in the habit of showering His Grace on all would be more pleased and the torrent of blessings from Him will be beyond limits for the persons who recite this hymn..
In fact the hymn ended with the last stanza itself and this is the Phalashruti.. There is one more Stanza.. about the authorship of this Stotram..
In many renditions, the fifteenth stanza is not found..
But still I shall try to give the meaning of that stanza too in the next post..
Shiva Tandava Stotram Stanza 15
पूजावसानसमये दशवक्त्रगीतं
यः शम्भुपूजनपरं पठति प्रदोषे।
तस्य स्थिरां रथगजेन्द्रतुरङ्गयुक्तां
लक्ष्मीं सदैव सुमुखिं प्रददाति शम्भुः॥ १५।
pūjāvasānasamaye daśavaktragītaṁ
yaḥ śambhupūjanaparaṁ paṭhati pradoṣe |
tasya sthirāṁ rathagajendraturaṅgayuktāṁ
lakṣmīṁ sadaiva sumukhiṁ pradadāti śambhuḥ || 15|
word analysis
पूजावसान समये on conclusion of poojas
दशवक्त्रगीतं sung by the ten headed Ravana
इमं स्तवं this hymn
यः the devotee
प्रदोषे in the pradosha period
शम्भु पूजनपरं after the pooja of Shambu
पठति recites
तस्य for him
स्थिरां unwavering, permanent,
सुमुखिं well disposed
रथगजेन्द्रतुरङ्गयुक्तां abundant with chariots, elephants and horses लक्ष्मीं wealth
शम्भुः lord Shambu
सदा एव always
प्रददाति bestows
Meaning
For the devotee who recite this hymn which was sung by Ravana at the end of his worship of Shiva, after the Shiva Pooja during Pradosham
The lord Shambu for ever showers perennial, abundant and well disposed wealth consisting of Chariots, Elephants and Horses..
The End
इति श्रीरावण-कृतम् शिव-ताण्डव-स्तोत्रम् सम्पूर्णम्
iti śrīrāvaṇa-kṛtam śiva-tāṇḍava-stotram sampūrṇam
Thus concluded the Shivataandava stotram sung by Shree Ravana.