Shiva Tandava Stotram – Origin Story and Benefits

In Hindu scriptures, Lord Shiva is popularly also known as Natarajan which translates to the ‘Dancing God’. This form of Lord Shiva is known for the divine art performed by him along with his divine consort, Goddes Parvati Devi. This dance, according to the Hindu scriptures, performed by Lord Shiva, is known as Tandava. Lord Shiva’s Tandava is a vigorous dance that is the source of the cycle of creation, preservation and dissolution. Also known as Shiv Tandava, this divine art form depicts the lord’s violent nature as the destroyer of the universe.

Origin of Shiva Tandava Stotram

Ravana was a fierce devotee of Shiva and there are many stories about them. He came to Kailash all the way from down south and began to sing Shiva’s praises. He had a drum which he used to set the beat and composed 1008 verses extempore, which is called the Shiva Tandava Stotram.

Shiva was so pleased and enamored listening to this music. As he sang, slowly, Ravana started climbing Kailash from its Southern Face. When Ravana was almost on top, and with Shiva still engrossed in this music, Parvati saw this man climbing up.

There is space only for two people on top! So Parvati tried to bring Shiva out of his musical rapture. She said, “This man is coming all the way up!” But Shiva was too engrossed in the music and poetry. Then finally, Parvati managed to bring him out of being enthralled, and when Ravana reached the peak, Shiva just pushed him off with his feet. Ravana went sliding down the South Face of Kailash. They say his drum was dragging behind him as he slid down and it left a furrow on the mountain all the way down. If you look at the South Face, you will see a wedge-like scar in the center going straight down.

It is a little inappropriate to distinguish or to discriminate between one face of Kailash and the other, but the South Face is dear to us because Agastya Muni merged into the South Face. It is just a South Indian prejudice that we like the South Face and I think it is the most beautiful face! It is definitely the whitest face because it is very snowy there.

In many ways it is the most intense face but very few people go to the South Face. It is far less accessible and involves a more difficult route than the other faces, and only certain type of people go there.

The Main Story

Muni Naarad advised Raavan to bring Shiva to his Place .Raavan being haughty decided to uproot whole Himalaya and as he started to lift it Shiva pressed his foot thumb which sent Raavan to patala, crushed by weight of Shivas thumb he cried in immense pain did one RAAV (crying in agony ) his Raav was so powerful that it trembled three worlds, and later it is here when Shiva gave him name RAAVAN, this name was dearest to Raavan because Shiva gave him this name but even after applying his full strength Raavan could not get away from its weight. He waited for 14 days chanting Shiva mantras asking for forgiveness than on the evening of Pradosha day he chanted this Taandav stotra to appease Shiva at pradosha kaal he chanted it in perfect rhythm and with immense devotion ,seeing such devotion and hearing this powerful stotra Shiva smiled and Mother Goddess having pity on Raavan asked Shiva to free him and hence Shiva freed Raavan and gave him several boons being appeased by this stotra .

This is very powerful rhythmic stotra though it is not easy to read or pronounce but with some sincere efforts one can do it if he has devotion. This stotra is very important on pradosha muhurta it gives immense spiritual and mundane benefits to those who chant it in on Pradosha with devotion. What fruits it brings is described in last stanzas of this stotra also .

This is one of the most famous stotras of Shiva being adopted in several films and Tv programs just chanting it brings bliss spiritual energies its words have immense positive effects. This is one of the most important Stotras of shiva and very dear to him and his devotees.

Benefits of Shiva Tandava Stotram

There are innumerable benefits of chanting Shiva Tandava Stotram. Chanting or listening to Shiv Tandav Stotram confers one with immense power, beauty, and mental strength. It is said that chanting the stotram removes all the negative energies and makes the atmosphere pious.

When to Chant Shiva Tandav Stotram?

Shiv Tandav Stotram has no specific time and anyone can chant anytime. However, there are some recommendations:

1) During eclipse: It is said when you chant Om Namah Shivaya or Shiva Tandava Stotram during the time of eclipse it reduces all the ill effects of planets. During the eclipse, chanting, meditation, or praying has a hundred times more effective.

2) During dawn and dusk: It is said whatever activity you do during Brahma Muhurta, its impact is more. It reduces the amount of energy consumed and doubles productivity. During the dusk time, lamps are lit in every house, prayers are offered in many households. Some even conduct Satsang to soak in the positive vibrations.

3) Pradosh Vrat: Pradosh Kaal is the time of the month that falls on the 13th day and is also known as Trayodashi tithi. This tithi falls fortnightly. It is said that chanting Shiv Stotram on every Trayodashi tithi helps burn sins. Note that Pradosh Kaal varies according to different locations.

Characteristics of Tandava Dance

According to scholars, ‘Characteristics of the Tandava Dance’ have been described in the fourth chapter of Bharat Muni’s Nata Shastra, which is referred to as fifth Veda and an expression of Lord Shiva’s eternal dance – Tandava. It says that Shiva’s Tandava is embellished with 108 karanas and the 32 anghaharas – the composite parts of the dance. Bharat Muni further says that Lord Shiva conceived the dance, as he was very much fond of dancing every evening. Shiva further mentioned that 108 karnas included in tandava could be employed in the course of dance, fight, and personal combats and in other special movements like strolling.

Types of Tandava

Some scholars believe that there are seven different types of Tandava. The tandava performed with joy is called Ananda Tandava and that which is performed in violent mood is called Rudra Tandava. The other types of tandava identified are Tripura Tandava, Sandhya Tandava, Samara Tandava, Kaali Tandava, Uma Tandava and Gauri Tandava. However, there are few people who believe that there are 16 types of Tandava.

Significance of Shiva′s Tandava Nritya

According to religious scholars, the cosmic dance of Shiva, called ′Anandatandava,′ meaning, ‘the Dance of Bliss’ symbolizes the cosmic cycles of creation and destruction, as well as the daily rhythm of birth and death. The dance is a pictorial allegory of the five principle manifestations of eternal energy – creation, destruction, preservation, salvation, and illusion.

According to learned scholar, Coomerswamy, the dance of Shiva also represents his five activities namely,

• ′Shrishti′ – creation, evolution
• ′Sthiti′ – preservation, support
• ′Samhara′ – destruction, evolution
• ′Tirobhava′ – illusion
• ′Anugraha′ – release, emancipation, grace

The overall temper of the image is paradoxical, uniting the inner tranquillity, and outside activity of Shiva.

Lasya

The dance performed by Goddess Parvati is known as Lasya. In Lasya, the movements are gentle, graceful and sometimes erotic. Some scholars call Lasya, the feminine version of Tandava. Lasya is of two kinds – Jarita Lasya and Yauvaka Lasya. According to the Puranas, Shiva dances a wild and vigorous (tandava) dance in the cremation grounds at night but dances a soft and graceful (lasya) dance in the tranquillity of the twilight.

In Hinduism, the Shiv Tandava Stotram is one of the most well-known stutis of Lord Shiva. Its rhythmic flow has the ability to transport one to a transcendental space. On chanting this Shiva Tandava Stotram, Lord Shiva was impressed my the evil King Ravana and he eventually granted king Ravana boons and blessings. The Shiv Tandav Stotram can be chanted in any Shiv temple or can even be chanted at home in front of a Lord Shiva idol. The scriptures have mentioned that it can be chanted at any time by anyone in this world, without any restriction. Chanting the Shiva Tandav Stotram brings blessings of happiness, prosperity, mental strength, power and the list of grace goes on. Concluding, the Shiva Tandav Stotram can provide one with mesmerising outcomes and chanting it at Pradosh Kaal, which is one hour before and aller Sunset, is said to be more effective as Ravana had chanted it at that time and was forgiven by Lord Shiva.

Who Can Worship Shiva and Chant Shiva Tandav Stotram?

Anybody can worship Shiva, This is Shastra Agya Veda’s Declaration that’s why you will find every single God or Rishi or any Great character of our Shastras has worshipped Shiva and established Shiva temple in their names. The only and important qualification to worship Shiva is The Devotion , Bhakti Towards him, than following Shastrokta method as mentioned every women or man of any awastha (state) jati (cast),social status or work status ,all are allowed to worship Shiva, yet of course as per the ways charted in Shastras. Famous Vratas like, Saawan Somwar or Solah Somwar are meant for women mostly where they are meant to worship Shiva Shakti all day long, So female and males of any kind or species even Yaksha, Devas Nagas etc too can worship Shiva, sing his Stotras with devotion and Shudha Bhawa.