The Shiva Tandava Stotram (शिवताण्डवस्तोत्रम्) is one of the most powerful, rhythmic, and awe-inspiring hymns in Sanatana Dharma. This majestic stotra vividly describes Lord Shiva’s fierce cosmic dance — the Tandava — the dance of creation, preservation, and dissolution. Composed in flawless Sanskrit with perfect meter, its pulsating rhythm mirrors the beat of Lord Shiva’s damaru (drum) and evokes tremendous energy even when merely read or listened to.
This stotra was spontaneously composed by Lankeshwara Ravana, the mighty king of Lanka and an unparalleled devotee of Lord Shiva. Filled with devotion, poetic brilliance, and spiritual depth, the Shiva Tandava Stotram is not just a prayer but a meditative experience that transports the chanter into the very heart of Shiva’s divine frenzy.
Origin and Legendary Story of Shiva Tandava Stotram
The Shiva Tandava Stotram was composed by Ravana, the ten-headed scholar-king of Lanka, who was a master of the Vedas, music, and astrology. Despite his later portrayal as an antagonist in the Ramayana, Ravana was an extraordinary devotee of Lord Shiva.
According to the legend: Ravana, intoxicated by his power and boons, desired to take Mount Kailasha (Lord Shiva’s abode) to Lanka for his mother Kaikesi. He began lifting the entire mountain. Lord Shiva, undisturbed in his meditation, gently pressed the mountain down with his toe, trapping Ravana’s arms beneath it. In excruciating pain, Ravana realized his arrogance and began pleading for forgiveness.
For a thousand years, he sang hymns praising Lord Shiva, beating rhythm on his veins and nerves like a veena. Pleased by the devotion and poetic genius, Lord Shiva released him, bestowed the name “Ravana” (one who roars/crying out), gifted him the invincible sword Chandrahasa, and granted immense strength.
In that moment of surrender and ecstasy, Ravana composed the Shiva Tandava Stotram extempore. The stotram’s ferocious yet devotional energy reflects both Ravana’s pain and his ultimate bliss.
Inner Significances of Shiva Tandava Stotram
The Tandava is not merely a dance — it is the cosmic rhythm of the universe:
- Ananda Tandava — Dance of bliss and creation
- Rudra Tandava — Fierce dance of dissolution and transformation
Every description in the stotra — flowing Ganga, serpents, blazing third eye, damaru beats, ashes, elephant skin — symbolizes Shiva’s transcendence over duality, time, ego, and death. The hymn shows how the Lord who destroys is also the source of ultimate auspiciousness (Shivam).
Chanting it helps the sadhaka internalize mastery over ego, flow of divine grace, destruction of ignorance, and the rhythm of creation. It is a powerful tool for Kundalini awakening and ecstatic union with Shiva.
Ravana, the living embodiment of all ten ripus, became immortal not because of his conquests of ripus, but because in one moment of surrender he offered the most ferocious hymn ever composed.
Why This Stotram Is the Ultimate Ripu-Nashaka Weapon
- Rhythmic Power (Laya Yoga) The meter itself (a rare, complex 15-syllable pattern) forces the mind into complete synchrony with cosmic rhythm. When the mind is locked into this laya, the ripus have no space to arise.
- Bija-like Sounds Ḍamaḍ-ḍamaḍ, Dhagad-dhagad – these onomatopoeic sounds are Tantric bijas that directly stimulate and purify the manipura chakra (anger) and ajna (ego) chakras.
- Visualization of Fierce Form Every verse paints Rudra Shiva in His most terrifying, all-consuming form. Meditating on this form triggers the inner “Rudra-agni chakras” that incinerates vasanas (latent tendencies).
- Authorship by Ravana The greatest example of ego ever known (ten heads = ten ripus magnified) was humbled and purified. If Ravana could be transformed by composing it, anyone chanting it inherits that same transformative fire.
Shiva Tandava Stotram – Full Text with Verse-by-Verse Meaning
The stotram consists of 17 verses (15 main verses + 2 phalashruti). Presented below in Devanagari, Roman Transliteration (IAST), and English Meaning.
Verse 1
जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् । डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् ॥१॥ Jaṭāṭavīgalajjalapravāhapāvitasthale Gale’valambya lambitāṃ bhujaṅgatuṅgamālikām | Ḍamaḍḍamaḍḍamaḍḍamanninādavaḍḍamarvayaṃ Cakāra caṇḍatāṇḍavaṃ tanotu naḥ śivaḥ śivam ||1||
Meaning: From His dense matted hair flows the holy Ganga purifying His neck; a towering garland of serpents hangs there. With the thunderous “Damad-damad” of the damaru, may Lord Shiva performing His fierce Tandava bestow eternal auspiciousness upon us.
Verse 2
जटाकटाहसंभ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरी- विलोलवीचिवल्लरीविराजमानमूर्धनि । धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाटपट्टपावके किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम ॥२॥ Jaṭākaṭāhasambhramabhramannilimpanirjharī- Vilolavīcivallarīvirājamānamūrdhani | Dhagaddhagaddhagajjvalallalāṭapaṭṭapāvake Kiśoracandraśekhare ratiḥ pratikṣaṇaṃ mama ||2||
Meaning: The celestial Ganga whirls wildly in His matted locks; fierce fire blazes “dhagad-dhagad” on His forehead. May constant devotion arise in me for the Lord adorned with the young crescent moon.
Verse 3
धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीविलासबन्धुबन्धुर- स्फुरद्दिगन्तसन्ततिप्रमोदमानमानसे । कृपाकटाक्षधोरणीनिरुद्धदुर्धरापदि क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे मनो विनोदमेतु वस्तुनि ॥३॥ Dharādharendranandinīvilāsabandhubandhura- Sphuraddigantasantatipramodamānamānase | Kṛpākaṭākṣadhoraṇīniruddhadurdharaāpadi Kvacid digambare mano vinodametu vastuni ||3||
Meaning: With Parvati (daughter of the Mountain King) delighting beside Him, the horizons rejoice. May my mind find joy in Digambara Shiva whose compassionate glance averts even the greatest calamities.
Verse 4
जटाभुजङ्गपिङ्गलस्फुरत्फणामणिप्रभा- कदम्बकुङ्कुमद्रवप्रलिप्तदिग्वधूमुखे । मदान्धसिन्धुरस्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि ॥४॥ Jatābhujaṅgapiṅgalasphuratphaṇāmaṇiprabhā- Kadambakuṅkumadravapraliptadigvadhūmukhe | Madāndhasindhurasphurattvaguttarīyamedure Mano vinodamadbhutaṃ bibhartu bhūtabhartari ||4||
Meaning: Reddish-brown serpents with glittering hood-jewels smear the sky with saffron lustre. His elephant-skin garment flutters like an intoxicated elephant. May my mind rejoice in the wondrous Lord of all beings.
Verse 5
सहस्रलोचनप्रभृत्यशेषलेखशेखर- प्रसूनधूलिधोरणी विधूसराङ्घ्रिपीठभूः । भुजङ्गराजमालया निबद्धजाटजूटकः श्रियै चिराय जायतां चकोरबन्धुशेखरः ॥५॥ Sahasralocanaprabhṛtyaśeṣalekhaśekhara- Prasūnadhūlidhoraṇī vidhūsarāṅghripīṭhabhūḥ | Bhujaṅgarājamālayā nibaddhajāṭajūṭakaḥ Śriyai cirāya jāyatāṃ cakorabandhuśekharaḥ ||5||
Meaning: The dust from His dancing feet covers the crowns of Indra and all gods. His matted hair is tied with the King of Serpents. May the moon-crested Lord, friend of the chakora bird, grant everlasting prosperity.
Verse 6
ललाटचत्वरज्वलद्धनञ्जयस्फुलिङ्गभा- निपीतपञ्चसायकं नमन्निलिम्पनायकम् । सुधामयूखलेखया विराजमानशेखरं महाकपालिसम्पदेशिरोजटालमस्तु नः ॥६॥ Lalāṭacatvarajvaladdhanañjayasphuliṅgabhā- Nipītapañcasāyakaṃ namannilimpanāyakam | Sudhāmayūkhalekhayā virājamānaśekharaṃ Mahākapālisampadeśirojāṭālamastu naḥ ||6||
Meaning: From His forehead blazes the fire that drank Cupid’s arrows. The crescent moon adorns His head. May we attain the supreme wealth contained in the matted locks of Mahakapali.
Verse 7
करालभालपट्टिकाधगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलद्- धनञ्जयाहुतीकृतप्रचण्डपञ्चसायके । धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीकुचाग्रचित्रपत्रक- प्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनि त्रिलोचने रतिर् मम ॥७॥ Karālabhālapattikādhagaddhagaddhagajjvalad- Dhanañjayāhūtīkṛtapracaṇḍapañcasāyake | Dharādharendranandinīkucāgracitrapatraka- Prakalpanaikaśilpini trilocane ratir mama ||7||
Meaning: His terrible forehead burns “dhagad-dhagad” consuming Manmatha. His dance paints beautiful pictures on Parvati’s bosom. May endless devotion arise in me for the supreme three-eyed artist.
Verse 8
नवीनमेघमण्डली निरुद्धदुर्धरस्फुरत्- कुहू निशीथिनीतमः प्रबन्धबद्धकन्धरः । निलिम्पनिर्झरीधरस्तनोतु कृत्तिसिन्धुरः कलानिधानबन्धुरः श्रियं जगद्धुरंधरः ॥८॥ Navīnameghamandalī niruddhadurdharasphurat- Kuhū niśīthinītamaḥ prabandhabaddhakandharaḥ | Nilimpanirjharīdharastanotu kṛttisindhuraḥ Kalānidhānabandhuraḥ śriyaṃ jagaddhurandharaḥ ||8||
Meaning: The darkness of the new-moon night is bound around His throat. May the handsome Lord who bears Ganga and elephant skin grant prosperity to the universe.
Verse 9
प्रफुल्लनीलपङ्कजप्रपञ्चकालिमप्रभा- वलम्बिकण्ठकन्दलीरुचिप्रबद्धकन्धरम् । स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिदं भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं गजच्छिदान्धकच्छिदं तमन्तकच्छिदं भजे ॥९॥ Praphullanīlapaṅkajaprapañcakālimaprabhā- Valambikaṇṭhakandalīruciprabaddhakandharam | Smaracchidam puracchidam bhavacchidam makhacchidam Gajacchidāndhakacchidam tamantakacchidam bhaje ||9||
Meaning: His throat is blue like a blooming blue lotus from holding poison. I worship Him who destroyed Kama, Tripura, samsara, Daksha’s yajna, Gajasura, Andhaka, and Yama Himself.
Verse 10
अखर्व सर्वमङ्गलाकलाकदम्बमञ्जरी- रसप्रवाहमाधुरी विजृम्भणामधुव्रतम् । स्मरान्तकं पुरान्तकं भवान्तकं मखान्तकं गजान्तकान्धकान्तकं तमन्तकान्तकं भजे ॥१०॥ Akharva sarvamaṅgalākalākadambamañjarī- Rasapravāhamādhurī vijṛmbhaṇāmadhuvratam | Smarāntakaṃ purāntakaṃ bhavāntakaṃ makhāntakaṃ Gajāntakāndhakāntakaṃ tamantakāntakaṃ bhaje ||10||
Meaning: He is the source of all arts and auspiciousness, sweeter than honey. I worship the destroyer of Cupid, Tripura, worldly existence, Daksha’s sacrifice, Gajasura, Andhaka, and Death.
Verse 11
जयत्वदभ्रविभ्रमभ्रमद्भुजङ्गमश्वसद्- विनिर्गमत्क्रमस्फुरत्करालभालहव्यवाट् । धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिध्वनन्मृदङ्गतुङ्गमङ्गल- ध्वनिक्रमप्रवर्तित प्रचण्डताण्डवः शिवः ॥११॥ Jayatvadabhravibhramabhramadbhujangamaśvasad- Vinirgamatkarālasphuratkarālabhālahavyavāṭ | Dhimiddhimiddhimidhvananmṛdaṅgatungamaṅgala- Dhvanikramapravartita pracaṇḍatāṇḍavaḥ śivaḥ ||11||
Meaning: Victory to Shiva whose whirling brow makes serpents breathe fire; whose fierce Tandava resounds with auspicious drum beats “dhimi-dhimi”.
Verse 12
दृषद्विचित्रतल्पयोर्भुजङ्गमौक्तिकस्रजोर्- गरिष्ठरत्नलोष्ठयोः सुहृद्विपक्षपक्षयोः । तृष्णारविन्दचक्षुषोः प्रजामहीमहेन्द्रयोः समप्रवृत्तिकः कदा सदाशिवं भजाम्यहम् ॥१२॥ Dṛṣadvicitratalpayorbhujaṅgamauktikasrajor- Gariṣṭharatnaloṣṭhayoḥ suhṛdvipakṣapakṣayoḥ | Tṛṣṇāravindacakṣuṣoḥ prajāmāhīmahendrayoḥ Samapravṛttikaḥ kadā sadāśivaṃ bhajāmyaham ||12||
Meaning: When will I worship Sadashiva with equanimity — seeing bed of stone or jewels, serpent or pearl garland, friend or foe, lotus-eyed or thirsty-eyed alike?
Verse 13
कदा निलिम्पनिर्झरीनिकुञ्जकोटरे वसन् विमुक्तदुर्मतिः सदा शिरःस्थमञ्जलिं वहन् । विमुक्तलोललोचनो ललामभाललग्नकः शिवेति मन्त्रमुच्चरन् कदा सुखी भवाम्यहम् ॥१३॥ Kadā nilimpanirjharīnikuñjakoṭare vasan Vimuktadurmatiḥ sadā śiraḥstham añjaliṃ vahan | Vimuktalolalocano lalāmabhālalagnakaḥ Śiveti mantramuccaran kadā sukhī bhavāmyaham ||13||
Meaning: When will I live in a cave by the Ganga, free from evil thoughts, hands folded in anjali above my head, Ganga on my forehead, steadily chanting “Shiva” and attain bliss?
Verse 14
निलिम्प नाथनागरी कदम्ब मौलमल्लिका- निगुम्फनिर्भर क्षरन्मधूष्णिकामनोहरैः । अहिंसकं यद् भ्रमति चेतसा मम वर्तते तदा त्वद् भ्रंशाद् वा कृपया मम जीवनं स्मरेत् ॥१४॥ Nilimpa nāthanāgarī kadamba maulamallikā- Nigumphanirbhara kṣaranmadhūṣṇikāmanoharaiḥ | Ahiṃsakaṃ yad bhramayati cetasā mama vartate Tadā tvad bhraṃśād vā kṛpayā mama jīvanaṃ smaret ||14||
Meaning: When my mind wanders like an innocent bee attracted to the sweet fragrance of flowers in Shiva’s locks, may Lord Nilakantha remember me with compassion.
Verse 15
इमं हि नित्यमेवमुक्तमुत्तमोत्तमं स्तवं पठन्स्मरन्ब्रुवन्नरो विशुद्धिमेतिसंततम् । हरे गुरौ सुभक्तिमाशु याति नान्यथा गतिं विमोहनं हि देहिनां सुशङ्करस्य चिन्तनम् ॥१५॥ Imaṃ hi nityamevamuktamuttamottamaṃ stavaṃ Paṭhan smaran bruvannaro viśuddhimetisantatam | Hare gurau subhaktimāśu yāti nānyathā gatiṃ Vimohanaṃ hi dehināṃ suśaṅkarasya cintanam ||15||
Meaning: One who daily reads, remembers, or recites this supreme hymn becomes pure and quickly attains devotion to Shiva as Guru. Meditation on auspicious Shankara removes all delusion.
Verse 16 (Phalashruti)
पूजावसानसमये दशवक्त्रगीतं यः शम्भुपूजनपरं पठति प्रदोषे । तस्य स्थिरां रथगजेन्द्रतुरङ्गयुक्तां लक्ष्मीं सदैव सुमुखीं प्रददाति शम्भुः ॥१६॥ Pūjāvasānasamaye daśavaktragītaṃ Yaḥ śambhupūjanaparaṃ paṭhati pradoṣe | Tasya sthirāṃ rathagajendraturangayuktāṃ Lakṣmīṃ sadaiva sumukhīṃ pradadāti śambhuḥ ||16||
Meaning: Whoever recites this hymn sung by ten-faced Ravana with full devotion at the end of puja during Pradosha time — Lord Shambhu grants him everlasting wealth accompanied by chariots, elephants, and horses.
Verse 17 (Phalashruti)
इति श्रीरावणकृतं शिवताण्डवस्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम् ॥ Iti śrīrāvaṇakṛtaṃ śivatāṇḍavastotraṃ sampūrṇam ||
Thus ends the Shiva Tandava Stotram composed by Sri Ravana.
Shiva Tandava Stotram Llyrics
शिवताण्डवस्तोत्रम्
जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् । डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् ॥१॥
जटाकटाहसंभ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरी- विलोलवीचिवल्लरीविराजमानमूर्धनि । धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाटपट्टपावके किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम ॥२॥
धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीविलासबन्धुबन्धुर- स्फुरद्दिगन्तसन्ततिप्रमोदमानमानसे । कृपाकटाक्षधोरणीनिरुद्धदुर्धरापदि क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे मनो विनोदमेतु वस्तुनि ॥३॥
जटाभुजङ्गपिङ्गलस्फुरत्फणामणिप्रभा- कदम्बकुङ्कुमद्रवप्रलिप्तदिग्वधूमुखे । मदान्धसिन्धुरस्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि ॥४॥
सहस्रलोचनप्रभृत्यशेषलेखशेखर- प्रसूनधूलिधोरणी विधूसराङ्घ्रिपीठभूः । भुजङ्गराजमालया निबद्धजाटजूटकः श्रियै चिराय जायतां चकोरबन्धुशेखरः ॥५॥
ललाटचत्वरज्वलद्धनञ्जयस्फुलिङ्गभा- निपीतपञ्चसायकं नमन्निलिम्पनायकम् । सुधामयूखलेखया विराजमानशेखरं महाकपालिसम्पदेशिरोजटालमस्तु नः ॥६॥
करालभालपट्टिकाधगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलद्- धनञ्जयाहुतीकृतप्रचण्डपञ्चसायके । धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीकुचाग्रचित्रपत्रक- प्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनि त्रिलोचने रतिर् मम ॥७॥
नवीनमेघमण्डली निरुद्धदुर्धरस्फुरत्- कुहूनिशीथिनीतमः प्रबन्धबद्धकन्धरः । निलिम्पनिर्झरीधरस्तनोतु कृत्तिसिन्धुरः कलानिधानबन्धुरः श्रियं जगद्धुरंधरः ॥८॥
प्रफुल्लनीलपङ्कजप्रपञ्चकालिमप्रभा- वलम्बिकण्ठकन्दलीरुचिप्रबद्धकन्धरम् । स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिदं भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं गजच्छिदान्धकच्छिदं तमन्तकच्छिदं भजे ॥९॥
अखर्वसर्वमङ्गलाकलाकदम्बमञ्जरी- रसप्रवाहमाधुरीविजृम्भणामधुव्रतम् । स्मरान्तकं पुरान्तकं भवान्तकं मखान्तकं गजान्तकान्धकान्तकं तमन्तकान्तकं भजे ॥१०॥
जयत्वदभ्रविभ्रमभ्रमद्भुजङ्गमश्वस- द्विनिर्गमत्क्रमस्फुरत्करालभालहव्यवाट् । धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिध्वनन्मृदङ्गतुङ्गमङ्गल- ध्वनिक्रमप्रवर्तितप्रचण्डताण्डवः शिवः ॥११॥
दृषद्विचित्रतल्पयोर्भुजङ्गमौक्तिकस्रजोर्- गरिष्ठरत्नलोष्ठयोः सुहृद्विपक्षपक्षयोः । तृष्णारविन्दचक्षुषोः प्रजामहीमहेन्द्रयोः समप्रवृत्तिकः कदा सदाशिवं भजाम्यहम् ॥१२॥
कदा निलिम्पनिर्झरीनिकुञ्जकोटरे वसन् विमुक्तदुर्मतिः सदा शिरःस्थमञ्जलिं वहन् । विमुक्तलोललोचनो ललामभाललग्नकः शिवेति मन्त्रमुच्चरन् कदा सुखी भवाम्यहम् ॥१३॥
इदं हि नित्यं एवमुक्तमुत्तमोत्तमं स्तवं पठन्स्मरन्ब्रुवन्नरो विशुद्धिमेतिसंततम् । हरे गुरौ सुभक्तिमाशु याति नान्यथा गतिं विमोहनं हि देहिनां सुशङ्करस्य चिन्तनम् ॥१४॥
पूजावसानसमये दशवक्त्रगीतं यः शम्भुपूजनपरं पठति प्रदोषे । तस्य स्थिरां रथगजेन्द्रतुरङ्गयुक्तां लक्ष्मीं सदैव सुमुखीं प्रददाति शम्भुः ॥१५॥
॥ इति श्रीरावणकृतं शिवताण्डवस्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Recitation Procedure (Vidhi)
- Sit facing east or north in a clean place, ideally before a Shiva Linga.
- Light ghee lamp & incense. Offer bilva leaves, milk, or water abhisheka.
- Start with Guru / Shiva sankalpa and 108 “Om Namah Shivaya” (optional).
- Chant the stotram slowly with clear pronunciation, feeling the rhythm.
- Conclude with Shiva Aarti or more “Om Namah Shivaya”.
Anyone can chant — no bar on gender or varna. Only devotion is required.
Best Timings for Recitation
- Pradosha Kaal (90 minutes before & after sunset) – most powerful
- Brahma Muhurta (4–6 AM)
- Mondays, Monthly Pradosha, Mahashivaratri, Entire Shravan month
- Solar / Lunar eclipses (for planetary dosha removal)
- Night time for intense energy
Benefits of Chanting Shiva Tandava Stotram
- Awakens courage, fearlessness, and inner power
- Removes obstacles, enemies, black magic, and negativity
- Grants beauty, charisma, focus, and intelligence
- Heals chronic diseases and boosts vitality
- Destroys sins, ego, and bad karma
- Attracts wealth, fame, and success
- Activates chakras and Kundalini Shakti
- Bestows direct grace of Lord Shiva and ultimate liberation
Shiva Tandava Stotram and Conquering the 10 Ripus (Inner Enemies)
The Shiva Tandava Stotram, composed by Ravana in a state of utter surrender beneath Kailasha, is far more than a hymn of praise. It is a profound Tantric meditation on Lord Shiva as the Supreme Destroyer-Transformer who annihilates the ten inner enemies (Ripus) that bind the jiva to samsara.
In Indian philosophy (especially in Yoga, Tantra, and Vedanta), the mind is said to be afflicted by ten ripus or inner enemies. These are traditionally grouped as six primary ripus (Shad-Ripu) plus four more that arise from them:
The Ten Ripus
- Kāma – Lust, uncontrolled desire
- Krodha – Anger
- Lobha – Greed
- Moha – Delusion, attachment, infatuation
- Mada – Pride, arrogance, ego
- Mātsarya – Jealousy, envy
- Jihmā (or Irshya) – Malice, crookedness
- Asūyā – Fault-finding, intolerance
- Trishnā – Endless craving
- Ahamkāra – The root “I-maker” ego itself
Ravana, the composer, was a living embodiment of all ten ripus in their extreme form – lust (for Sita), anger (against Rama), pride (in his scholarship and power), greed (for universal dominion), jealousy (of Kubera), etc. Yet, in the moment he composed the Tandava Stotram, every single ripu was burned to ashes by Shiva’s grace. The stotram itself is a coded map of that inner annihilation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Who composed it?
A: Ravana, king of Lanka.
Q: Can women chant?
A: Yes, anyone with devotion.
Q: Need diksha?
A: No, pure heart is enough.
Q: Best count?
A: 1, 3, 7, 11, or 108 times daily.
The Shiva Tandava Stotram is the thunderous cry of surrender that moved Kailasha itself. Let its fierce rhythm burn away all darkness and fill your life with the boundless grace of Mahadeva.
हर हर महादेव ! 🕉️