śrīśivatāṇḍavastotram

From the forest of His matted lock, water flows and wets His neck, on which hangs the greatest of snake-garlands, and His damaru drum emits the sound 'Damat Damat Damat Damat'. Lord Shiva did the passionate Tandava dance; may He shower prosperity on us all.

I have a very deep interest in Lord Shiva, whose head is glorified by the rows of moving waves of the celestial river Ganga, agitating in the deep well of His matted locks, who has the brilliant fire blazing on the surface of His forehead, and who has the crescent moon as a jewel on His head.

May my mind seek happiness in Lord Shiva, in whose mind all the living beings of the glorious universe exist, who is the companion of Parvati (daughter of the mountain king), who controls unsurpassed adversity with His compassionate glance, and who is omnipresent and wears the directions as His clothes.

May I find wonderful joy in Lord Shiva, the supporter of all life, with His creeping snake with its reddish-brown hood and the shine of its gem spreading out like red kumkum on the faces of the maidens of the directions, and who is covered with the thick, vibrating skin of the demon elephant.

May Lord Shiva, whose footstool is grayed by the dust of the flowers from the crowns of all the gods, including Indra, and whose matted locks are tied by the king of snakes, and whose crest is adorned by the crescent moon (friend of the Chakora bird), grant us prosperity forever.

May Lord Shiva, who devoured the God of Love with the fire burning on His forehead, who is revered by all the celestial kings, who is adorned with the crescent moon, and who carries a skull-bowl, bless us with the wealth of His matted locks.

My interest is in Lord Shiva, who has three eyes, who offered the powerful God of Love into the fire blazing on His dreadful forehead, and who is the sole artist capable of tracing decorative lines on the breasts of the daughter of the mountain king (Parvati).

May Lord Shiva, whose neck is as dark as the midnight of a new moon completely covered by layers of clouds, who bears the river Ganga, who is draped in the skin of the demon elephant, who is beautiful with the crescent moon, and who bears the burden of the universe, bestow prosperity upon us.

I pray to Lord Shiva, whose neck is tied with the luster of the dark blue lotus flowers in full bloom, who destroyed the God of Love (Smara), the Tripuras (Pura), the worldly existence (Bhava), the sacrifice (Makha) of Daksha, the demon Gaja, the demon Andhaka, and the God of Death (Yama).

I pray to Lord Shiva, who is like a bee enjoying the sweet honey of the blooming Kadamba flowers of the auspicious Parvati, who destroyed the God of Love (Smara), the Tripuras (Pura), the worldly existence (Bhava), the sacrifice (Makha) of Daksha, the demon Gaja, the demon Andhaka, and the God of Death (Yama).

Victory to Lord Shiva, who has the blazing fire on His forehead continuously fanned by the breath of the snake wandering in terrifying motion, and who dances the fierce Tandava to the majestic and auspicious sounds of 'Dhimid, Dhimid, Dhimid' of the Mridanga drum.

When will I be able to worship Lord SadaShiva, having an equal vision towards all things—whether it is a stone or a soft bed, a snake or a pearl garland, a precious gem or a lump of dirt, a friend or an enemy, a blade of grass or a lotus-eyed person, an ordinary citizen or an emperor?

When will I be happy, living in the hollow of a cave near the celestial river Ganga, with my hands folded on my head, entirely free of impure thoughts, with my eyes focused on the one with the prominent forehead (Shiva), and continuously chanting the mantra 'Shiva'?

Anyone who reads, remembers, or recites this excellent stotram daily becomes forever purified and attains deep devotion to the supreme Guru, Lord Shiva. There is no other path, as the constant contemplation of Lord Shankara removes all the delusions of mortals.

Whoever reads this hymn sung by the ten-headed Ravana at the end of the worship of Lord Shiva during the Pradosha time, Lord Shambhu blesses them with a stable mind and bestows upon them enduring wealth, chariots, elephants, and horses.