Nataraja

I am learning the Siva tandava and this is the most beautiful rendition by Sharon Janis. Siva tandava Stotra was written by that king of demons Ravana. It was written in praise of Siva Nataraj and describes his power and beauty as he who dances and destroys even destroying death. Ravana was granted indestructability by powers of heavens and kidnapped the wife janaki/Sita of Rama who is Lord Vishnu incarnate

matted hair-thick as forest-water-flow-consecrated-area
गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् |
in the throat-stuck-hanging-snake-lofty-garland
डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं
damad-damad-damad-damad-having sound-drum-this
चकार चण्ड्ताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् ||१||
did-fierce-Tandava-may he shower-on us-Siva-auspiciousness
With his neck, consecrated by the flow of water flowing from the thick forest-like locks of hair, and on the neck, where the lofty snake is hanging garland, and the Damaru drum making the sound of Damat Damat Damat Damat, Lord Siva did the auspicious dance of Tandava and may He shower prosperity on us all.

जटाकटाहसंभ्रमभ्रमन्निलिम्पनिर्झरी-
matted hair-a well-agitation-moving-celestial river
- विलोलवीचिवल्लरीविराजमानमूर्धनि |
agitating-waves-rows-glorified-head
धगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वलल्ललाटपट्टपावके
Dhagad-dhagad-dhagat-flaming-forehead-flat area-fire
किशोरचन्द्रशेखरे रतिः प्रतिक्षणं मम ||२||
baby-moon-crest jewel-love-every moment-for me
I have a very deep interest in Lord Siva, whose head is glorified by the rows of moving waves of the celestial river Ganga, agitating in the deep well of his hair-locks, and who has the brilliant fire flaming on the surface of his forehead, and who has the crescent moon as a jewel on his head.

धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीविलासबन्धुबन्धुर
King of mountains-daughter-sportive-kith-beautiful-
स्फुरद्दिगन्तसन्ततिप्रमोदमानमानसे |
glorious-horizon-all living beings-rejoicing-mind
कृपाकटाक्षधोरणीनिरुद्धदुर्धरापदि
compassion-look-continuous flow-obstructed-hardships
क्वचिद्दिगम्बरे मनो विनोदमेतु वस्तुनि ||३||
some time-in the omnipresent-mind-pleasure-may seek-in a thing
May my mind seek happiness in the Lord Siva, in whose mind all the living beings of the glorious universe exist, who is the sportive companion of Parvati (daughter of the mountain king), who controls invincible hardships with the flow of his compassionate look, who is all-persuasive (the directions are his clothes).

लताभुजङ्गपिङ्गलस्फुरत्फणामणिप्रभा
creeping-snake-reddish brown-shining-hood-gem-luster-
कदम्बकुङ्कुमद्रवप्रलिप्तदिग्वधूमुखे |
variegated-red dye-melting-applied-directions-beloved-face
मदान्धसिन्धुरस्फुरत्त्वगुत्तरीयमेदुरे
intoxicated-elephant-glittering-skin-upper garment-covered
मनो विनोदमद्भुतं बिभर्तु भूतभर्तरि ||४||
mind-pleasure-wonderful-may it seek-in him who supports all life
May I seek wonderful pleasure in Lord Siva, who is supporter of all life, who with his creeping snake with reddish brown hood and with the luster of his gem on it spreading out variegated colors on the beautiful faces of the maidens of directions, who is covered with a glittering upper garment made of the skin of a huge intoxicated elephant.

सहस्रलोचनप्रभृत्यशेषलेखशेखर
Indra/Vishnu-and others-all-lined up-heads-
प्रसूनधूलिधोरणी विधूसराङ्घ्रिपीठभूः |
flower-dust-force-grayed-feet-seat
भुजङ्गराजमालया निबद्धजाटजूटकः
snake-red-garland (with) tied-locked hair
श्रियै चिराय जायतां चकोरबन्धुशेखरः ||५||
for the prosperity-for a long time-may he be-Cakora bird-relative-on head
May Lord Siva give us prosperity, who has the moon (relative of the Cakora bird) as his head-jewel, whose hair is tied by the red snake- garland, whose foot-stool is grayed by the flow of dust from the flowers from the rows of heads of all the Gods, Indra/Vishnu and others.

ललाटचत्वरज्ज्वलद्धनञ्जयस्फुलिङ्गभा-
forehead-flat area-flaming-fire-sparks-luster
- निपीतपञ्चसायकं नमन्निलिम्पनायकम् |
devoured-God of Love-bowing-Gods-leader
सुधामयूखलेखया विराजमानशेखरं
cool-rayed-crescent-beautiful-head
महाकपालिसम्पदेशिरोजटालमस्तु नः ||६||
for the Siddhi-prosperity-head-locked hair-may it be-to us
May we get the wealth of Siddhis from Siva's locks of hair, which devoured the God of Love with the sparks of the fire flaming in His forehead, who is bowed by all the celestial leaders, who is beautiful with a crescent moon

करालभालपट्टिकाधगद्धगद्धगज्ज्वल-
dreadful-forehead-flat area-dhagat-dhagat-flaming
द्धनञ्जयाहुतीकृतप्रचण्डपञ्चसायके |
fire-offered-powerful-God of Love
धराधरेन्द्रनन्दिनीकुचाग्रचित्रपत्रक-
king of mountains-daughter-breast-tip-colorful-decorative lines
- प्रकल्पनैकशिल्पिनि त्रिलोचने रतिर्मम ||७||
drawing-sole-artist - in the three-eyed -deep interest-mine
My interest is in Lord Siva, who has three eyes, who has offered the powerful God of Love into the fire, flaming Dhagad Dhagad on the flat surface of his forehead who is the sole expert artist of drawing decorative lines on the tips of breasts of Parvati, the daughter of the mountain king.

नवीनमेघमण्डली निरुद्धदुर्धरस्फुरत्-
new-cloud-circle - obstructed-harsh-striking-
कुहूनिशीथिनीतमः प्रबन्धबद्धकन्धरः |
new moon-midnight-darkness-tightly-tied-neck
निलिम्पनिर्झरीधरस्तनोतु कृत्तिसिन्धुरः
celestial-river-wearing-may he bless-skin-red
कलानिधानबन्धुरः श्रियं जगद्धुरंधरः ||८||
moon-lovely-prosperity-universe-bearer of the burden
May Lord Siva give us prosperity, who bears the burden of this universe, who is lovely with the moon, who is red wearing the skin, who has the celestial river Ganga, whose neck is dark as midnight of new moon night covered by many layers of clouds.

प्रफुल्लनीलपङ्कजप्रपञ्चकालिमप्रभा-
well-opened-blue-lotus-universe-darkness-luster
- वलम्बिकण्ठकन्दलीरुचिप्रबद्धकन्धरम् |
hanging-inside-temple-luster-tied-neck
स्मरच्छिदं पुरच्छिदं भवच्छिदं मखच्छिदं
Manmatha-killer-city-destroyer-mundane life -destroyer-sacrifice destroyer
गजच्छिदांधकछिदं तमंतकच्छिदं भजे ||९||
elephant-killer-demon-killer-him-destroyer of Lord Yama-I worship
I pray to Lord Siva, whose neck is tied with the luster of the temples hanging on the neck with the glory of the fully-bloomed blue lotuses which looked like the blackness (sins) of the universe, who is the killer of Manmatha, who destroyed Tripuras, who destroyed the bonds of worldly life, who destroyed the sacrifice, who destroyed the demon Andhaka, the destroyer of the elephants, and who controlled the God of death, Yama.

अखर्वसर्वमङ्गलाकलाकदंबमञ्जरी
great-all-auspicious-art-variegated-bunch-
रसप्रवाहमाधुरी विजृंभणामधुव्रतम् |
enjoyment-flow-sweetness-flaring up-bees
स्मरान्तकं पुरान्तकं भवान्तकं मखान्तकं
Manmatha-destroyer-city-destroyer-worldly bond-destroyer -sacrifice-destroyer
गजान्तकान्धकान्तकं तमन्तकान्तकं भजे ||१०||
elephant-killer-Andhaka-demon-killer-him-Yama-controller-I worship
I pray to Lord Siva, who has bees flying all over because of the sweet honey from the beautiful bunch of auspicious Kadamba flowers, who is the killer of Manmatha, who destroyed Tripuras, who destroyed the bonds of worldly life, who destroyed the sacrifice, who destroyed the demon Andhaka, the killer of the elephants, and who controlled the God of death, Yama.

जयत्वदभ्रविभ्रमभ्रमद्भुजङ्गमश्वस-
victorious-foot-sky-whirling-roaming-snake-breath-
- द्विनिर्गमत्क्रमस्फुरत्करालफालहव्यवाट् |
coming out-shaking-evident-dreadful-forehead-fire
धिमिद्धिमिद्धिमिध्वनन्मृदङ्गतुङ्गमङ्गल
Dhimid-dhimid-dhimid-sounding-drum-high-auspicious-
ध्वनिक्रमप्रवर्तित प्रचण्डताण्डवः शिवः ||११||
sound-series-caused-fierce-Tandava dance-Siva
Lord Siva, whose dance of Tandava is in tune with the series of loud sounds of drum making Dhimid Dhimid sounds, who has the fire on the great forehead, the fire that is spreading out because of the breath of the snake wandering in whirling motion in the glorious sky.

स्पृषद्विचित्रतल्पयोर्भुजङ्गमौक्तिकस्रजोर्-
touching-varied-ways-snake-embodied-garland
- गरिष्ठरत्नलोष्ठयोः सुहृद्विपक्षपक्षयोः |
most precious-gems-brilliance-friends-enemies-two wings
तृष्णारविन्दचक्षुषोः प्रजामहीमहेन्द्रयोः
grass-lotus-eyes people and the great emperor
समप्रवृत्तिकः (समं प्रवर्तयन्मनः) कदा सदाशिवं भजे ||१२||
equal-behaviour-always-Lord Siva-worship-I
When will I worship Lord Sadasiva (eternally auspicious) God, with equal vision towards the people and an emperor, and a blade of grass and lotus-like eye, towards both friends and enemies, towards the valuable gem and some lump of dirt, towards a snake and a garland and towards varied ways of the world

कदा निलिम्पनिर्झरीनिकुञ्जकोटरे वसन्
when-celestial river-bush-hollow place(in)-living
विमुक्तदुर्मतिः सदा शिरःस्थमञ्जलिं वहन् |
released-bad mind-always-on the head-folded hands-
विमुक्तलोललोचनो (विलोललोललोचनो) ललामफाललग्नकः
agitation-shaking-eyes-the best-forehead-interested
शिवेति मंत्रमुच्चरन् कदा सुखी भवाम्यहम् ||१३||
"Siva"-this-mantra-uttering-when-happy-will-be-I
When will I be happy, living in the hollow place near the celestial river, Ganga, carrying the folded hands on my head all the time, with my bad thinking washed away, and uttering the mantra of Lord Siva and devoted in the God with glorious forehead with vibrating eyes.

इदम् हि नित्यमेवमुक्तमुत्तमोत्तमं स्तवं
This-indeed-daily-thus-said-the best of the best-stotra
पठन्स्मरन्ब्रुवन्नरो विशुद्धिमेतिसंततम् |
reading-remembering-saying-a person-sanctity-gets-always
हरे गुरौ सुभक्तिमाशु याति नान्यथा गतिं
in Siva-in Guru-deep devotion-quickly-gets-no-other-way
विमोचनं हि देहिनां सुशङ्करस्य चिंतनम् ||१४||
removal of delusion-indeed-for the people-blessed Siva's thought
Whoever reads, remembers and says this best stotra as it is said here, gets purified for ever, and obtains devotion in the great Guru Siva. For this devotion, there is no other way. Just the mere thought of Lord Siva indeed removes the delusion.

पूजावसानसमये दशवक्त्रगीतं यः
worship-end-time-Ravana-sung
शंभुपूजनपरं पठति प्रदोषे |
he-who-Siva-worship-dedicated-reads-early in the morning
तस्य स्थिरां रथगजेन्द्रतुरङ्गयुक्तां
to him-stable-chariot-elephant-horse-having
लक्ष्मीं सदैव सुमुखिं प्रददाति शंभुः || १५||
Lakshmi-always-definitely-favourable-gives-Siva
Early morning, at the end of Puja, whoever utters this stotra dedicated to the worship of Siva, Lord Siva blessed him with very stable Lakshmi (prosperity) with all the richness of chariots, elephants and horses.

इति श्री रावणकृतम् शिवताण्डवस्तोत्रम् सम्पूर्णम्
thus sri Ravana-done Siva-tandava-stotra ends.

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