Shiv Tandav Strotram - 1

The Shloka

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जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् ।

डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु शिवः शिवम् ॥

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jaTāṭavīgalajjalapravāhapāvitasthale gale’valambya lambitāṁ bhujaṅgatuṅgamālikām।

ḍamaḍḍamaḍḍamaḍḍamanninādavaḍḍamarvayaṁ cakāra caṇḍatāṇḍavaṁ tanotu śivaḥ śivam ॥

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Meaning / Summary

This shloka invokes the powerful and auspicious presence of Lord Shiva. It highlights his control over the forces of nature and his role as the creator and destroyer. The verse is a powerful invocation, seeking blessings and auspiciousness from Lord Shiva, the embodiment of cosmic energy and divine grace.

His neck, where the forest-like tangled hair resides, is washed by the flow of water that forcefully emerges. Around His neck is hanging a garland of great snakes. Lord Shiva dances the Tandava, creating the sound ‘Damad, Damad, Damad’, from his Damru. May that Shiva grant auspiciousness.

This shloka describes Shiva’s powerful form, with the Ganges flowing through his hair, a garland of snakes around his neck, and the sound of his Damru filling the universe as he performs the Tandava dance. It is a prayer for Shiva to grant auspiciousness.

The first verse describes Lord Shiva’s majestic appearance and the powerful effect of his Tandava dance. The phrase ‘Jata-tavi-galaj-jala-pravaha-pavita-sthale’ paints a picture of the Ganges flowing through Shiva’s matted locks, purifying the surroundings. The garland of snakes (‘Gale Abalambya Lambitam Bhujanga Tunga Malikam’) symbolizes his control over fear and death. The sound of his Damru (‘Damad Damad Damad Daman Ninada’) is the rhythm of creation and destruction, the heartbeat of the universe. The verse concludes with a prayer that Lord Shiva, in his fierce yet benevolent form, may grant auspiciousness to all.

Sentence - 1

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जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले

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Meaning

Whose neck and nearby places are purified by the flow of water flowing from the forest of matted hair.

Meaning of Words

जटाटवी	jaTāṭavī
Forest of matted hair A dense collection of matted or tangled hair, like a forest on the head of Lord Shiva. ‘Jata’ means matted hair and ‘Atavi’ means forest.
गलत्	galaj
Flowing To flow or drip. In this context, it indicates the water flowing or dripping from Shiva’s hair.
जलप्रवाह	jalapravāha
Water flow The stream or current of water. Here, it refers to the Ganges river flowing through Shiva’s hair.
पावितस्थले	pāvitasthale
Purified place A place that is purified or made sacred. The area around Shiva’s neck and head is purified by the waters of the Ganges.

Sentence - 2

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गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम्

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Meaning

Whose neck is adorned with a long garland of auspicious snakes.

Meaning of Words

गले	gale	Neck
अवलम्ब्य	avalambya	Hanging or suspended from.
लम्बितां	lambitāṁ	Hanging That which is hanging or dangling.
भुजङ्ग	bhujaṅga
Snake Referring to a serpent or snake. This symbolizes control over fear and death, and also represents the energy of kundalini.
तुङ्ग	tuṅga	High Tall, elevated, or prominent.
मालिकाम्	mālikām
Garland A string of flowers, beads, or in this case, snakes, worn as an ornament.

Sentence - 3

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डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं चकार

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Meaning

Who makes the sound ‘Damad Damad Damad’ emanating from the Damaru.

Meaning of Words

डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्	ḍamaḍḍamaḍḍamaḍḍaman
Damad Damad Damad The sound of the Damru, Shiva’s drum, repeatedly played.
निनाद	nināda
Sound The resonance or vibration created by the Damru.
वड्डमर्वयं	vaḍḍamarvayaṁ
Damaru A small two-headed drum, traditionally associated with Lord Shiva.
चकार	cakāra	Made Caused or created the sound.

Sentence - 4

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चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु शिवः शिवम्

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Meaning

May Shiva, who performs this vigorous Tandava dance, bestow auspiciousness.

Meaning of Words

चण्डताण्डवं	caṇḍatāṇḍavaṁ
Fierce Tandava The vigorous, energetic, and powerful dance of Shiva, symbolizing creation and destruction.
तनोतु	tanotu	May he spread May he extend, perform, or bestow.
शिवः	śivaḥ	Lord Shiva, the auspicious one.
शिवम्	śivam	Auspiciousness Goodness, welfare, or prosperity.

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