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Mantra · Ravana's hymn. Recited on Shivaratri.

Shiva Tandava Stotram

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

Also known as Shiv Tandav Stotram

In Devanagari, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English — with the meaning of every word, and the one syllable most people pronounce wrongly.

What the Shiva Tandava Stotram is

The Shiva Tandava Stotram praises the god above all in the midst of his fierce tandava, the cosmic dance that shakes the worlds. Composed in the voice of Ravana, the hymn piles on the imagery of matted locks whipping through space, the Ganga tumbling from them, serpents coiled as garlands, and the drum rattling damat-damat. The deity addressed is the dancer whose stamping foot both creates and dissolves, whose ornaments are living cobras. The dance is not the poem’s only subject. Later verses recall the burning of Kama by the fire of Shiva’s eye and the play of Parvati, the poet asks when he may live as an ascetic beside the Ganga, and the hymn closes with a phala-shruti for those who recite it daily.

Ravana Beneath Kailasa

The Uttara Kanda of the Ramayana and later Shaiva retellings describe how Ravana, proud of the strength that had conquered the three worlds, came to Mount Kailasa and attempted to uproot it so that he might carry Shiva’s abode to Lanka. As he heaved, the mountain trembled and Parvati was alarmed. Shiva, seated in meditation, simply pressed the mountain down with the great toe of his right foot, pinning Ravana beneath the rock for a thousand years. In that crushed darkness the ten-headed king praised Shiva with hymns; the Ramayana does not name them, and later tradition identifies that praise as the Shiva Tandava Stotram, with its cascading alliteration on the god’s dance. When the hymn was complete, Shiva released him and granted the boon of the invincible sword Chandrahasa. The stotra therefore originates not from a court poet or a rishi but from the agony and awe of the demon-king who had felt the weight of the dancer’s single toe.

The mantra, in six scripts

DevanagariSanskrit & Hindiजटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् । डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् ॥

Tamilஜடாடவீகலஜ்ஜலப்ரவாஹபாவிதஸ்தலே கலேவலம்ப்ய லம்பிதாம் புஜங்கதுங்கமாலிகாம் । டமட்டமட்டமட்டமந்நிநாதவட்டமர்வயம் சகார சண்டதாண்டவம் தநோது நஃ ஶிவஃ ஶிவம் ॥

Teluguజటాటవీగలజ్జలప్రవాహపావితస్థలే గలేఽవలమ్బ్య లమ్బితాం భుజఙ్గతుఙ్గమాలికామ్ । డమడ్డమడ్డమడ్డమన్నినాదవడ్డమర్వయం చకార చణ్డతాణ్డవం తనోతు నః శివః శివమ్ ॥

Kannadaಜಟಾಟವೀಗಲಜ್ಜಲಪ್ರವಾಹಪಾವಿತಸ್ಥಲೇ ಗಲೇಽವಲಮ್ಬ್ಯ ಲಮ್ಬಿತಾಂ ಭುಜಙ್ಗತುಙ್ಗಮಾಲಿಕಾಮ್ । ಡಮಡ್ಡಮಡ್ಡಮಡ್ಡಮನ್ನಿನಾದವಡ್ಡಮರ್ವಯಂ ಚಕಾರ ಚಣ್ಡತಾಣ್ಡವಂ ತನೋತು ನಃ ಶಿವಃ ಶಿವಮ್ ॥

Malayalamജടാടവീഗലജ്ജലപ്രവാഹപാവിതസ്ഥലേ ഗലേഽവലമ്ബ്യ ലമ്ബിതാം ഭുജങ്ഗതുങ്ഗമാലികാമ് । ഡമഡ്ഡമഡ്ഡമഡ്ഡമന്നിനാദവഡ്ഡമര്വയം ചകാര ചണ്ഡതാണ്ഡവം തനോതു നഃ ശിവഃ ശിവമ് ॥

EnglishRoman transliterationjaṭāṭavīgalajjalapravāhapāvitasthale gale'valambya lambitāṃ bhujaṅgatuṅgamālikām | ḍamaḍḍamaḍḍamaḍḍamanninādavaḍḍamarvayaṃ cakāra caṇḍatāṇḍavaṃ tanotu naḥ śivaḥ śivam ||

“May Shiva, who performed the fierce tandava on the ground purified by the stream flowing from the forest of his matted hair, a lofty garland of serpents hanging at his neck, the damaru rolling ḍamaḍ-ḍamaḍ-ḍamaḍ-ḍam, bestow auspiciousness upon us.”

जटाटवी: jaṭāṭavī — forest of matted locks
गलत्: galat — flowing down
जल: jala — water
प्रवाह: pravāha — stream
पावित: pāvita — purified
स्थले: sthale — on the ground
गले: gale — on the neck
अवलम्ब्य: avalambya — having hung
लम्बितां: lambitāṃ — dangling
भुजङ्ग: bhujaṅga — serpent
तुङ्ग: tuṅga — lofty
मालिकाम्: mālikām — garland
डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्: ḍamaḍḍamaḍḍamaḍḍaman — ḍamaḍ-ḍamaḍ-ḍamaḍ-ḍam
निनादवत्: ninādavat — with the sound
डमरु: ḍamaru — damaru drum
अयं: ayaṃ — he
चकार: cakāra — performed
चण्ड: caṇḍa — fierce
ताण्डवं: tāṇḍavaṃ — tandava dance
तनोतु: tanotu — may he extend
नः: naḥ — to us
शिवः: śivaḥ — Shiva
शिवम्: śivam — auspiciousness

Shiva Tandava Stotram lyrics in full

All 17 verses, in Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English, each with its meaning. Choose a script:

Download the Shiva Tandava Stotram PDFAll 17 verses with their meanings, in Sanskrit. Free to print and keep.

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Verse 1

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

With the Ganga flowing from the forest of his matted locks sanctifying his neck, and a long, lofty garland of serpents hanging there, Shiva danced the fierce Tandava to the 'damad damad' of his drum. May that Shiva bring us what is auspicious.

Verse 2

जटाकटाहसम्भ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरीविलोलवीचिवल्लरीविराजमानमूर्द्धनि ।
धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाटपट्टपावके किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम ॥

His head shines with the restless waves of the celestial river whirling in the cauldron of his matted hair; fire blazes 'dhagad dhagad' on his forehead; the young crescent moon is his crest. In him my delight lies, moment after moment.

Verse 3

धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीविलासबन्धुबन्धुरस्फुरद्दिगन्तसन्ततिप्रमोदमानमानसे ।
कृपाकटाक्षधोरणीनिरुद्धदुर्धरापदि क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे मनो विनोदमेतु वस्तुनि ॥

His heart rejoices in the graceful play of the mountain king's daughter, which lights up every quarter, and the stream of his compassionate glances holds back even unbearable hardship. May my mind find its joy in that sky-clad Being.

Verse 4

जटाभुजङ्गपिङ्गलस्फुरत्फणामणिप्रभाकदम्बकुङ्कुमद्रवप्रलिप्तदिग्वधूमुखे ।
मदान्धसिन्धुरस्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि ॥

The glow of the gems on the hoods of the tawny serpents in his hair tints the faces of the maidens of the directions like liquid saffron, and he wears the gleaming hide of a rut-maddened elephant as his upper cloth. May my mind take wondrous delight in that Lord of all beings.

Verse 5

सहस्रलोचनप्रभृत्यशेषलेखशेखरप्रसूनधूलिधोरणीविधूसराङ्घ्रिपीठभूः ।
भुजङ्गराजमालया निबद्धजाटजूटकः श्रियै चिराय जायतां चकोरबन्धुशेखरः ॥

His footstool is grey with the pollen falling from the flowers on the heads of Indra and all the gods; his matted hair is tied with a garland made of the king of serpents; the moon, friend of the cakora bird, is his crest. May he be for lasting prosperity.

Verse 6

ललाटचत्वरज्वलद्धनञ्जयस्फुलिङ्गभानिपीतपञ्चसायकं नमन्निलिम्पनायकम् ।
सुधामयूखलेखया विराजमानशेखरं महाकपालि सम्पदे शिरो जटालमस्तु नः ॥

With sparks of the fire blazing on the broad courtyard of his forehead he consumed Kama, the god of the five arrows; the lord of the gods bows before him; the crescent of the nectar-rayed moon shines on his crown. May that matted-haired head of the great skull-bearer be for our welfare.

Verse 7

करालभालपट्टिकाधगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलद्धनञ्जयाहुतीकृतप्रचण्डपञ्चसायके ।
धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीकुचाग्रचित्रपत्रकप्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनि त्रिलोचने रतिर्मम ॥

He offered the mighty five-arrowed Kama as an oblation into the fire blazing 'dhagad dhagad' on his fearsome forehead, and he alone is the artist who paints decorative designs on the bosom of the mountain king's daughter. My delight is in the Three-eyed One.

Verse 8

नवीनमेघमण्डलीनिरुद्धदुर्धरस्फुरत्कुहूनिशीथिनीतमःप्रबन्धबद्धकन्धरः ।
निलिम्पनिर्झरीधरस्तनोतु कृत्तिसिन्धुरः कलानिधानबन्धुरः श्रियं जगद्धुरन्धरः ॥

His neck is dark as the dense gloom of a new-moon midnight shrouded by banks of fresh clouds. May he who bears the celestial river, wears the elephant's hide, is lovely with the moon and carries the burden of the world spread prosperity.

Verse 9

प्रफुल्लनीलपङ्कजप्रपञ्चकालिमप्रभाऽवलम्बिकण्ठकन्दलीरुचिप्रबद्धकन्धरम् ।
स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिदं भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं गजच्छिदान्धकच्छिदं तमन्तकच्छिदं भजे ॥

His throat is bound with the dark lustre of a spread of full-blown blue lotuses. I worship him who cut down Kama, destroyed the three cities, cuts the bonds of worldly existence, ended Daksha's sacrifice, slew the elephant demon and Andhaka, and cut down Yama, the god of death.

Verse 10

अखर्वसर्वमङ्गलाकलाकदम्बमञ्जरीरसप्रवाहमाधुरीविजृम्भणामधुव्रतम् ।
स्मरान्तकं पुरान्तकं भवान्तकं मखान्तकं गजान्तकान्धकान्तकं तमन्तकान्तकं भजे ॥

Like a bee, he delights in the sweetness of the nectar flowing from the blossom-cluster of the arts of the all-auspicious Parvati. I worship him, the ender of Kama, of the three cities, of worldly bondage, of Daksha's sacrifice, of the elephant demon and Andhaka, and the ender of Yama himself.

Verse 11

जयत्वदभ्रविभ्रमभ्रमद्भुजङ्गमश्वसद्विनिर्गमत्क्रमस्फुरत्करालभालहव्यवाट् ।
धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिद्ध्वनन्मृदङ्गतुङ्गमङ्गलध्वनिक्रमप्रवर्तितप्रचण्डताण्डवः शिवः ॥

The fire on his fearsome forehead flares with the hissing breath of serpents whirling in wide circles, and his fierce Tandava moves to the loud, auspicious beat of the mridanga sounding 'dhimid dhimid dhimid'. Victory to that Shiva.

Verse 12

दृषद्विचित्रतल्पयोर्भुजङ्गमौक्तिकस्रजोर्गरिष्ठरत्नलोष्ठयोः सुहृद्विपक्षपक्षयोः ।
तृणारविन्दचक्षुषोः प्रजामहीमहेन्द्रयोः समप्रवृत्तिकः कदा सदाशिवं भजाम्यहम् ॥

When shall I worship Sadashiva with the same regard for a stone and a splendid bed, a serpent and a string of pearls, a precious gem and a clod of earth, friend and foe, a blade of grass and a lotus-eyed beauty, common folk and a great king?

Verse 13

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

When shall I be happy, dwelling in a hollow among the groves by the celestial river, free of evil thoughts, always holding my joined palms above my head, my restless eyes fixed on the Lord whose forehead bears the sacred mark, and chanting the mantra 'Shiva'?

Verse 14

निलिम्पनाथनागरीकदम्बमौलमल्लिकानिगुम्फनिर्भरक्षरन्मधूष्णिकामनोहरः ।
तनोतु नो मनोमुदं विनोदिनीमहर्निशं परश्रियः परं पदं तदङ्गजत्विषां चयः ॥

The radiance of his limbs is made lovely by the fragrant honey dripping from the jasmine garlands woven on the heads of the celestial women, and it is the highest seat of supreme splendour. May it spread delight in our minds day and night.

Verse 15

प्रचण्डवाडवानलप्रभाशुभप्रचारणी महाष्टसिद्धिकामिनीजनाऽवहूतजल्पना ।
विमुक्तवामलोचनाविवाहकालिकध्वनिः शिवेति मन्त्रभूषणा जगज्जयाय जायताम् ॥

Blazing like the fierce fire beneath the ocean, it drives away all that is inauspicious. It is the chant called out by the celestial women who embody the eight great siddhis, and the joyful sound raised by the doe-eyed women at the hour of Shiva's wedding. May this chant, adorned with the mantra 'Shiva', be for the victory of the world.

Phalashruti

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

The hymn says that a person who daily reads, remembers and recites this finest of hymns, as given here, grows steadily purer and comes to deep devotion to Hara, the true teacher, for there is no other way; contemplation of Shankara clears the delusion of embodied beings.

Phalashruti

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

The hymn says that whoever recites this song of the ten-headed Ravana, devoted to the worship of Shambhu, at the close of worship in the Pradosha twilight, is given by Shambhu steady and gracious fortune, with chariots, elephants and horses.

The syllable people get wrong

The drum-word ḍamaḍḍama contains the retroflex ḍ repeated with a doubled ḍḍ; speakers often soften both to dental d or collapse the cluster into a single “dam-a-dam,” erasing the hammer-stroke force that the verse deliberately mimics.

When the Shiva Tandava Stotram is chanted

Weekday. Monday

Festival. Maha Shivaratri night recitation

Questions

Because the narrative frame requires a witness who has both seen the tandava and felt its crushing power; Ravana’s thousand-year imprisonment under Kailasa supplies the only vantage from which the cascading consonants of the hymn could be forged, turning demonic pride into metrical awe.

The repeated ḍamaḍḍama is not ornament; it is the sonic body of the damaru that beats time for the tandava itself. Later verses continue the same percussive density, so that the entire stotra functions as an extended drum-roll accompanying the dance it describes.

Yes. Most verses stay with the dance, but the hymn also recalls the burning of Kama by the fire of Shiva’s eye and the play of Parvati, includes the poet’s wish to live as an ascetic beside the Ganga, and ends with a phala-shruti on reciting it daily.

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Shiva Tandava Stotram

What the Shiva Tandava Stotram is

Ravana Beneath Kailasa

The mantra, in six scripts

Shiva Tandava Stotram lyrics in full

The syllable people get wrong

When the Shiva Tandava Stotram is chanted

Questions

Have your chart read before you decide

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