Fury and passion of Shiva
The Shiva Tandava Stotram is literally what the name
reveals. It is a hymn that unleashes the fury and passion of Shiva. But a fact
that's not very well known is that it was composed by none other than Ravana,
the Lanka king, who was an ardent Shiva devotee.
The Stotram
The Shiva Tandava Stotram is a stotra which describes
Shiva's power and beauty. It is traditionally attributed to Ravana, the
rakshasa (demon) king of Lanka and devotee of Shiva.
Song Of Destruction
The song, an example of Hindu devotional poetry,
recreates images of waves of resounding beauty! The ninth and tenth quatrains
of this hymn pay ode to Shiva's epithet as The Destroyer, perhaps, even the
destroyer of death itself!
A Heartfelt Wish!
When Ravana got tired of rampaging across the earth, he
returned to Lord Shiva to request moksha, or release from the bondage of
endless rebirth.
Shiva's Mantra
The final quatrain of the poem depicts Ravana asking,
"When will I be happy?" Ravana's poignant cry finds an echo in the
modern man’s quest for earthly fulfillment and ultimate liberation from
bondage.
Shiva’s Boon
Because of the intensity of his prayers and ascetic
meditation, Ravana received from Shiva supernatural powers as well as a
celestial sword. The sword is known as the chandrahas, or moon sword,
considered one of the most powerful weapons in Hindu mythology.
A Complex Character
A compelling and complex personality, Ravana is not
merely the king who usurped Sita, the wife of Rama, the Prince of Ayodhya, but
also a scholar of immense intelligence and the devoted husband of Mandodari.
Ravana And Mandodari
Ravana married Maya's daughter, Mandodari, an extremely
beautiful lady as well as a righteous wife. He had a son by her, named
Meghanaada, whose name means “the sound of thunderclouds”.
How Meghanaada Became Indrajit
Meghanaada defeated Indra, the king of the Gods, and
earned the title of 'Indrajit'.
How Ravana Became Egoistic
Ravana's great-grandfather was Brahma, the god of
Ultimate Knowledge, and thus, Ravana had the advantage of d advanced knowledge
of mathematics, science and Ayurveda. He soon became obsessed with his powers.
Display of Prowess
To make a display of his powers, Ravana attempted to move
Mount Kailash, the abode of Shiva, Ravana’s ancestor God. Indeed, he managed to
lift the mountain, but Shiva immediately placed it back, crushing Ravana's
fingers in the process.
The Tandav Stotra
That is when Ravana sings the "Tandav Stotra"
in praise of Shiva and in acceptance of his defeat at Shiva’s hands…and that is
how Shiva danced to Ravana’s tune!
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