Shiv Tandav Stotra- Complete meaning and benefits of chanting

The Shiva Tandava Stotram is a powerful Sanskrit hymn composed by the demon king Ravana in praise of Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction and transformation. It is said to describe the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva, known as the Tandava, which symbolizes the rhythm and movement of the universe.The Shiva Tandava Stotram is revered for its poetic beauty, rhythmic flow, and profound philosophical insights into the nature of existence and the divine. 

It is often recited by devotees to invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva and to attain spiritual upliftment.The hymn consists of sixteen verses, each describing different aspects of Lord Shiva's divine dance and his attributes. The verses depict Lord Shiva as the supreme cosmic dancer who is both benevolent and fearsome, embodying the cycle of creation, preservation, and dissolution.The Shiva Tandava Stotram is widely recited during Shivaratri, a Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Shiva, as well as during other auspicious occasions and worship rituals devoted to Lord Shiva.
The hymn's verses convey the awe-inspiring power and majesty of Lord Shiva's dance, describing the rhythmic movements of his matted hair, the celestial river Ganga flowing from his locks, the sound of his drum reverberating throughout the universe, and the flames of destruction emanating from his third eye.

Stotra

Jaṭāṭavīgalajjalapravāhapāvitasthale
Gale’valambya lambitāan bhujangatungamālikām ।
Ḍamaḍḍamaḍḍamaḍḍamanninādavaḍḍamarvayan
Chakār chaṇḍatāṇḍavan tanotu nah shivah shivam ॥1॥

Jaṭākaṭāhasambhramabhramannilimpanirjharī
Vilolavīchivallarīvirājamānamūrdhani ।
Dhagaddhagaddhagajjvalallalāṭapaṭṭapāvake
Kishorachandrashekhare ratiah pratikṣhaṇan mam ॥2॥

Dharādharendranandinīvilāsabandhubandhura
Sfuraddigantasantatipramodamānamānase ।
Kṛupākaṭākṣhadhoraṇīniruddhadurdharāpadi
Kvachiddigambare(kvachichchidambare) mano vinodametu vastuni ॥3॥

Jaṭābhujangapingalasfuratfaṇāmaṇiprabhā
Kadambakunkumadravapraliptadigvadhūmukhe ।
Madāndhasindhurasfurattvaguttarīyamedure
Mano vinodamadbhutan bibhartu bhūtabhartari ॥4॥

Sahasralochanaprabhṛutyasheṣhalekhashekhara
Prasūnadhūlidhoraṇī vidhūsarānghripīṭhabhūah ।
Bhujangarājamālayā nibaddhajāṭajūṭaka
Shriyai chirāya jāyatāan chakorabandhushekharah ॥5॥

Lalāṭachatvarajvaladdhananyjayasfulingabhā
Nipītapanychasāyakan namannilimpanāyakam ।
Sudhāmayūkhalekhayā virājamānashekharan
Mahākapālisampadeshirojaṭālamastu nah ॥6॥

Karālabhālapaṭṭikādhagaddhagaddhagajjvala
Ddhananyjayāhutīkṛutaprachaṇḍapanychasāyake ।
Dharādharendranandinīkuchāgrachitrapatraka
Prakalpanaikashilpini trilochane ratirmam ॥7॥

Navīnameghamaṇḍalī niruddhadurdharasfurat
Kuhūnishīthinītamah prabandhabaddhakandharah ।
Nilimpanirjharīdharastanotu kṛuttisindhurah
Kalānidhānabandhurah shriyan jagaddhurandharah ॥8॥

Prafullanīlapankajaprapanychakālimaprabhā
Valambikaṇṭhakandalīruchiprabaddhakandharam ।
Smarachchhidan purachchhidan bhavachchhidan makhachchhidan
Gajachchhidāandhakachchhidan tamantakachchhidan bhaje ॥9॥

Agarva sarvamangalākalākadambamanyjarī
Rasapravāhamādhurī vijṛumbhaṇāmadhuvratam ।
Smarāntakan purāntakan bhavāntakan makhāntakan
Gajāntakāndhakāntakan tamantakāntakan bhaje ॥10॥

Stotra with meaning

Jaṭāṭavīgalajjalapravāhapāvitasthale
Gale’valambya lambitāan bhujangatungamālikām ।
Ḍamaḍḍamaḍḍamaḍḍamanninādavaḍḍamarvayan
Chakār chaṇḍatāṇḍavan tanotu nah shivah shivam ॥1॥
Meaning - going to the sacred place
She used to hang a garland of snake heads around her neck.
Damaddamaddamaddammannidavaddamaravayam
He performed Chhandatandav, May Lord Shiva grant us auspiciousness.

Jaṭākaṭāhasambhramabhramannilimpanirjharī
Vilolavīchivallarīvirājamānamūrdhani ।
Dhagaddhagaddhagajjvalallalāṭapaṭṭapāvake
Kishorachandrashekhare ratiah pratikṣhaṇan mam ॥2॥
Meaning - Jatakatahasambramabhramannilimpanirjhari
Her head was adorned with a swirling beach and a creeper.
Dhagaddhagaddhagajjvalallalalatapattapavake
My passion is every moment for the young moon peak.

Dharādharendranandinīvilāsabandhubandhura
Sfuraddigantasantatipramodamānamānase ।
Kṛupākaṭākṣhadhoraṇīniruddhadurdharāpadi
Kvachiddigambare(kvachichchidambare) mano vinodametu vastuni ॥3॥
Meaning - Dharadharendranandinivilasabandhubandhura
The sparkling sky is the source of all joy in the mind.
Kripakatakshadhoraninirudhadurdharapadi
Sometimes in the digambara (sometimes in the sky) the mind may enjoy the object.

Jaṭābhujangapingalasfuratfaṇāmaṇiprabhā
Kadambakunkumadravapraliptadigvadhūmukhe ।
Madāndhasindhurasfurattvaguttarīyamedure
Mano vinodamadbhutan bibhartu bhūtabhartari ॥4॥
Meaning - matted hair, arms, pink, sparkling tail, gem-like radiance
The face of the bride was smeared with the liquid of kadamba and saffron.
Madandhasindhurasphuratvaguttariyamedure May the mind be filled with wonderful joy in the Lord of all beings.

Sahasralochanaprabhṛutyasheṣhalekhashekhara
Prasūnadhūlidhoraṇī vidhūsarānghripīṭhabhūah ।
Bhujangarājamālayā nibaddhajāṭajūṭaka
Shriyai chirāya jāyatāan chakorabandhushekharah ॥5॥
Sahasralochanprabhrtyasheshalekhashekhar The ground was covered with flower dust and the
seat of the feet of the widow. Bhujangarajamalaya nibaddhajatjutaka May the peak of the friend of the rainbow be born for a long time for prosperit

Lalāṭachatvarajvaladdhananyjayasfulingabhā
Nipītapanychasāyakan namannilimpanāyakam ।
Sudhāmayūkhalekhayā virājamānashekharan
Mahākapālisampadeshirojaṭālamastu nah ॥6॥
Lalatachatvarajvaldhananjayasphulingabha
He bowed down to the five-arrowed Nilimpanayaka.
The peak sitting with the inscription of the nectar beam
May the lotus flower of the great skull be ours.

Karālabhālapaṭṭikādhagaddhagaddhagajjvala
Ddhananyjayāhutīkṛutaprachaṇḍapanychasāyake ।
Dharādharendranandinīkuchāgrachitrapatraka
Prakalpanaikashilpini trilochane ratirmam ॥7॥
Karalabhalapattikadhagaddhagaddhagajjvala
Dhananjaya offered sacrifices to the five arrows of Prachanda.
Dharadharendranandinikuchagrachitrapatraka
My passion is for the three-eyed one who is the only craftsman of design.

Navīnameghamaṇḍalī niruddhadurdharasfurat
Kuhūnishīthinītamah prabandhabaddhakandharah ।
Nilimpanirjharīdharastanotu kṛuttisindhurah
Kalānidhānabandhurah shriyan jagaddhurandharah ॥8॥
The new clouds sparkled in the restrained Durdhar
The darkness of the whispering night, his shoulders tied together in a management.
Let the sea of creation extend its breasts with waterfalls of Nilimpa
He is the friend of the treasures of art and the holder of the world's prosperity.

Prafullanīlapankajaprapanychakālimaprabhā
Valambikaṇṭhakandalīruchiprabaddhakandharam ।
Smarachchhidan purachchhidan bhavachchhidan makhachchhidan
Gajachchhidāandhakachchhidan tamantakachchhidan bhaje ॥9॥
The darkness of the world of blossoming blue lotuses
The neck of the valambika is covered with the taste of a banana.
They cut the memory, they cut the city, they cut the being, they cut the sacrifice
I worship that elephant-cutter who cuts the darkness and who cuts the death-cutter.

Agarva sarvamangalākalākadambamanyjarī
Rasapravāhamādhurī vijṛumbhaṇāmadhuvratam ।
Smarāntakan purāntakan bhavāntakan makhāntakan
Gajāntakāndhakāntakan tamantakāntakan bhaje ॥10॥
Agarva Sarvamangalakalakaladambamanjari
The sweetness of the flow of taste is the sweetness of the expansion.
The destroyer of memories, the destroyer of ancients, the destroyer of death, the destroyer of sacrifices
I worship that destroyer of elephants and the destroyer of darkness.

Benefits of chanting Shiv Tandav Stotra

The Shiv Tandav Stotram, composed by the sage Ravana, extols the glory and greatness of Lord Shiva. Chanting or listening to this powerful hymn offers several benefits:

Spiritual Upliftment: The Shiv Tandav Stotram evokes devotion and reverence for Lord Shiva, aiding in spiritual growth and enlightenment.
Removal of Obstacles: Devotees believe that reciting this stotram with devotion can help overcome obstacles and challenges in life, as Lord Shiva is the remover of all obstacles (Vighnaharta).
Strength and Courage: The rhythmic verses of the stotram resonate with the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva, instilling strength, courage, and resilience in the devotee's heart.
Inner Peace and Tranquility: Chanting or listening to the Shiv Tandav Stotram brings a sense of peace and tranquility, helping to alleviate stress, anxiety, and negative emotions.
Blessings of Lord Shiva: The hymn praises various attributes of Lord Shiva, including his cosmic dance (Tandava), his third eye (Trinetra), and his role as the destroyer of evil. By invoking these aspects, devotees seek the blessings and protection of Lord Shiva in their lives.
Purification of Mind and Soul: The profound verses of the stotram have the power to purify the mind and soul of the devotee, helping them overcome impurities and attain spiritual purity.
Healing and Wellness: Some devotees believe that chanting or listening to the Shiv Tandav Stotram can have therapeutic effects, promoting physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Overall, the Shiv Tandav Stotram is revered for its spiritual potency and the blessings it bestows upon devotees who recite or meditate upon it with sincerity and devotion.

Who can chant Shiv Tandav Stotram & When to chant?
The Shiv Tandav Stotram (शिव तांडव स्तोत्रम्) can be chanted by anyone seeking the blessings and divine grace of Lord Shiva. There are no specific restrictions regarding who can recite this stotram. Devotees from all walks of life, irrespective of age, gender, or background, can chant the Shiv Tandav Stotram to invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva. As for when to chant the Shiv Tandav Stotram, it can be recited at any time, but there are certain auspicious occasions and days that are considered particularly suitable for its recitation..

How to chant the stotram?
Before chanting the Shiv Raksha Stotra, here are some traditional practices that devotees may follow to prepare for a more focused and meaningful experience:
Inner Cleanliness: Take a bath or wash your hands and face to feel physically clean. This can symbolize inner purification as well.
Peaceful Environment: Find a quiet, clean space free from distractions where you can focus on the chanting.
Simple Attire: Wear comfortable and clean clothes that allow you to sit comfortably.
Devotional Mindset: Approach the chanting with reverence and devotion to Lord Shiva. Set an intention for your chanting, whether it's seeking protection, peace, or spiritual growth.
Prayer (Optional): You can offer a short prayer to Lord Shiva before chanting, expressing your gratitude and seeking his blessin