Ravan Tandav Stotra - Mahamrityunjay Mantra
The Ravan Tandav Stotra is one of the most powerful mantras dedicated to Lord Shiva by any of his bhaktas or devotees. All through the majority of north Indian states Ravan ┬аis seen as a figure of unmitigated evil. During the festival of Dussehra effigies of Ravan and his siblings are burnt, marking the victory of Lord Rama (human avatar of Lord Vishnu) over evil. Considering that Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma constitute the Hindu Trinity, one wonders how can the devotee of one of them end up being a cursed enemy of another? To answer that question and to better understand the character of Shiva himself, one must take a closer look at the legends surrounding Ravan.
Ravan was the demon king of Lanka. Prince Ram, who would go on to ascend the throne of Ayodhya, found himself challenged by Ravan. Ravan had abducted RamaтАЩs wife Sita and held her as a diplomatic hostage compelling Rama to meet him in battle. Ravan descended from Sage Vishrava grandson of Brahma (the Creator)
himself and the demon princess Kaikesi. KaikesiтАЩs father Sumali was exiled from his kingdom in Lanka by Kuber, Sage VishravaтАЩs other son. It was SumaliтАЩs plan to have Kaikesi married to Vishrava so that the bloodlines of the demons and brahmans would mingle to produce a child with demonic strength and brahmanic intelligence. True to his expectation, Ravan showed signs of exceptional brilliance as he grew up. He had an exceptional grasp over the vedas and excelled in martial skills. Under the tutelage of Vishrava ┬аand Sumali, both his demonic and divine powers grew stronger. Ravan managed to strike the critical balance required to make the most of both his inherent tendencies.
As years passed Ravan became stronger and more learned. He performed difficult tapasya (penance) and pleased Brahma, gaining from him boons of weapons and invincibility. Feeling invincible Ravan went up to Lord ShivaтАЩs abode and tried to pluck out Mount Kailash from its roots. Lord Shiva was offended and placed his little toe on the ground and Ravan found himself unable to hold up Kailash. He was trapped under gigantic rocks and found it difficult to breathe. Realising his folly he prayed to Lord Shiva for forgiveness. It is this prayer song that is now known as the Ravan Tandav Stotra. Generous and kind as he is, Lord Shiva was so pleased with RavanтАЩs ingenious creativity reflected in the Stotra, composed under extreme duress, not only did he forgive Ravan, but having extricated him from under the rocks, also bestowed upon him the Chandrahaas Astra. Ravan in turn remained ever devoted to Lord Shiva throughout his life.
So earnest was Lord ShivaтАЩs influence on Ravan that he learnt the values of not being trapped in the world of materiality. Many who worship Ravan in temples dedicated to him praise the fact that when his ultimate battle with Rama neared, he gave up his control over the 9 planets or Navagraha whom he had imprisoned to derive power from them. RavanтАЩs devotees also believe that he undoubtedly wanted to be recognised as the most powerful ruler of all creation, but he wanted to do this more to spread the name and honour of the demon races all around creation than for personal aggrandisement. As far as Ravan was concerned the ultimate fight between him and Rama was a fight of two races that of the Aryas and the Daityas. It is debateable if Rama and his cohorts would have managed to win against Ravan had it not been for┬а┬аthe betrayal of Vibhishan, RavanтАЩs brother, who gave away RavanтАЩs strategic secrets┬аto RamaтАЩs army, enabling them to weaken Ravan at crucial junctures. The foremost betrayals included the stealthy murder of Meghnad, RavanтАЩs son, while he was in deep ┬аmeditation and the destruction of RavanтАЩs тАЬAbhijeet Chandi YajnaтАЭ atop Ratnagiri hill. Ostensibly these sabotages were conducted by Lakshman and his friends, despite the express disapproval of Rama.
The ultimate sign of RavanтАЩs renunciation in keeping with Shaivaite principles is said to be his decision to not counter RamaтАЩs Brahmastra with one of his own. Ravan, it is believed, desisted because the clash of two Brahmastras had the potential to destroy all of creation. Victory at the cost of such destruction was not what he sought. Consequently, he welcomed the fired weapon with respect and upon being hit, thanked Lord Rama for granting him moksha from the the cycles of births and rebirths. Ravan recognised Lord Vishnu in Rama and realised he was simply playing his part in a larger cosmic game, ordered according to VidhiтАЩs Vidhan or the inscrutable divine will. All these facts are remembered by devotees of Shiva and Ravan when they chant the Ravan Tandav Stotra.
Loosely translated in English, the Ravan Tandav Stotra appears as follows:
That ┼Ъiva, Who having held a long-garland of the best-snake (cobra) at the neck which is purified by the flow of trickling water-drops in the forest-like twisted hair-locks, Who danced the fierce T─Бс╣Зс╕Нava-dance to the music of a sounding-drum, тАФ May that ┼Ъiva extend my bliss.[1]
At every moment, may I find pleasure in ┼Ъiva, Whose head is situated in between the creeper-like unsteady waves of Nilimpanirjhar─л (Ga┼Дg─Б) which is swirling unsteadily in the vessel forged from twisted hair-locks, Who has crackling and blazing fire at the surface of forehead, and Who has a crescent-moon (young moon) at the forehead.[2]
May my mind seeks happiness in ┼Ъiva, Whose mind has the shining universe and all the living-beings inside, Who is the charming sportive-friend of the daughter of the mountain-king of the Earth (i.e. Him─Бlaya), Whose uninterrupted series of merciful-glances conceals immense-troubles, and Who has as much direction as His clothes?[3]
May my mind embrace ┼Ъiva, by Whom тАФ with the light from the jewels of the shining-hoods of creeper-like yellow-snakes тАФ the face of Dikkany─БsтАЩ are smeared with Kadamba-juice like red Ku┼Дkuma, Who looks dense due to the glittering skin-garment of an intoxicated tiger, and Who is the Lord of the ghosts.[4]
For a long time, may ┼Ъhiva тАФ Whose toes are grey due to the pollen dust from flowers at the head of Indra (Sahasralocana) and all other demi-gods, Whose matted hairlocks are tied by a garland of the king of snakes, and Who has the crown-jewel of the friend of cakora bird тАФ produce prosperity.[5]
May we acquire the possession of tress-locks of ┼Ъiva, Which absorbed the five-arrows (of K─Бmadeva) in the sparks of the blazing fire stored in the rectangular-forehead, Which are bowed to by the leader of supernatural-beings, Who has an enticing-forehead with a beautiful streak of crescent-moon.[6]
May I find pleasure in Trilochana, Who offered the five great-arrows (of K─Бmadeva) to the blazing and chattering fire of the plate-like forehead, and Who is the sole-artist placing variegated artistic lines on the breasts of the daughter of Him─Бlaya (P─Бrvat─л).[7]
May ┼Ъiva тАФ Whose cord-tied neck is dark like a night with shining-moon obstructed by a group of harsh and new clouds, Who holds the River Ga┼Дg─Б, Whose cloth is made of tiger-skin, Who has a curved and crescent moon placed at the forehead, and Who bears the universe тАФ expand [my] wealth.[8]
I adore ┼Ъiva, Who supports the dark glow of blooming blue lotus series ┬аaround the girdle of His neck, Who cuts-off Smara (K─Бmadeva), Who cuts-off Pura, Who cuts-off the mundane existence, Who cuts-off the sacrifice (of Dakс╣гa), Who cuts-off the demon Gaja, Who cuts-off Andhaka, and Who cuts-off Yama (death).[9]
I adore ┼Ъiva, Who only eats the sweet-flow of nectar from the beautiful flowers of Kadamba-trees which are the abode of all important auspicious qualities, Who destroys Smara (K─Бmadeva), Who destroys Pura, Who destroys the mundane existence, Who destroys the sacrifice (of Dakс╣гa), Who destroys the demon Gaja, Who destroys Andhaka, and Who contains Yama (death).[10]
May ┼Ъiva, Whose dreadful forehead has oblations of plentitude, turbulent and wandering hissing snakesтАФhaving first come out of a pillar of flames and then glowing eternally, Whose fierce t─Бс╣Зс╕Нava-dance is set in motion by the sound-series of the auspicious and best-drum (с╕Нamaru) тАФ which is sounding with тАШdhimit-dhimitтАЩ sounds, be victorious.[11]
When will I adore Sad─Б┼Ыiva with an equal vision towards varied ways of the world, a snake or a pearl-garland, royal-gems or a lump of dirt, friend or enemy sides, a grass-eyed or a lotus-eyed person, and common men or the king.[12]
Living in the hollow of a tree in the thickets of River Ga┼Дg─Б, always free from ill-thinking, bearing a├▒jali on the forehead, free from lustful eyes, when will I become content while reciting the mantra тАШтАШ┼Ъiva?тАЩтАЩ[13]
Reading, remembering, and reciting this eternal, having spoken thus, and the best among best eulogy indeed incessantly leads to purity. By the perception of Hara (┼Ъiva) an immediate state of complete devotion is achieved; no other option is needed. Just the thought of ┼Ъiva (┼Ъa┼Дkara) is enough for the people.[14]
At the time of completing the prayer, s/he who reads this song by Da┼Ыavaktra (R─Бvaс╣Зa) тАФ ┼Ъambhu shall grant him/her ┬аstable wealth including chariots, elephants and horses, and a beautiful visage.[15]
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