Shri Hanumat Tandava Stotram: Lyrics, Meaning & Benefits
Shri Hanumat Tandava Stotram - Sanskrit Text
॥ श्रीहनुमत्ताण्डवस्तोत्रम् ॥
वन्दे सिन्दूरवर्णाभं लोहिताम्बरभूषितम् ।
रक्ताङ्गरागशोभाढ्यं शोणापुच्छं कपीश्वरम् ॥
॥ स्तोत्र पाठ ॥
भजे समीरनन्दनं, सुभक्तचित्तरञ्जनं,
दिनेशरूपभक्षकं, समस्तभक्तरक्षकम् ।
सुकण्ठकार्यसाधकं, विपक्षपक्षबाधकं,
समुद्रपारगामिनं, नमामि सिद्धकामिनम् ॥१॥
सुशङ्कितं सुकण्ठभुक्तवान् हि यो हितं
वचस्त्वमाशु धैर्यमाश्रयात्र वो भयं कदापि न ।
इति प्लवङ्गनाथभाषितं निशम्य वान-
राऽधिनाथ आप शं तदा, स रामदूत आश्रयः ॥२॥
सुदीर्घबाहुलोचनेन, पुच्छगुच्छशोभिना,
भुजद्वयेन सोदरीं निजांसयुग्ममास्थितौ ।
कृतौ हि कोसलाधिपौ, कपीशराजसन्निधौ,
विदेहजेशलक्ष्मणौ, स मे शिवं करोत्वरम् ॥३॥
सुशब्दशास्त्रपारगं, विलोक्य रामचन्द्रमाः,
कपीश नाथसेवकं, समस्तनीतिमार्गगम् ।
प्रशस्य लक्ष्मणं प्रति, प्रलम्बबाहुभूषितः
कपीन्द्रसख्यमाकरोत्, स्वकार्यसाधकः प्रभुः ॥४॥
प्रचण्डवेगधारिणं, नगेन्द्रगर्वहारिणं,
फणीशमातृगर्वहृद्दशास्यवासनाशकृत् ।
विभीषणेन सख्यकृद्विदेहजातितापहृत्,
सुकण्ठकार्यसाधकं, नमामि यातुधातकम् ॥५॥
नमामि पुष्पमौलिनं, सुवर्णवर्णधारिणं
गदायुधेन भूषितं, किरीटकुण्डलान्वितम् ।
सुपुच्छगुच्छतुच्छलंकदाहकं सुनायकं
विपक्षपक्षराक्षसेन्द्र-सर्ववंशनाशकम् ॥६॥
रघूत्तमस्य सेवकं नमामि लक्ष्मणप्रियं
दिनेशवंशभूषणस्य मुद्रिकाप्रदर्शकम् ।
विदेहजातिशोकतापहारिणम् प्रहारिणम्
सुसूक्ष्मरूपधारिणं नमामि दीर्घरूपिणम् ॥७॥
नभस्वदात्मजेन भास्वता त्वया कृता
महासहायता यया द्वयोर्हितं ह्यभूत्स्वकृत्यतः ।
सुकण्ठ आप तारकां रघूत्तमो विदेहजां
निपात्य वालिनं प्रभुस्ततो दशाननं खलम् ॥८॥
इमं स्तवं कुजेऽह्नि यः पठेत्सुचेतसा नरः
कपीशनाथसेवको भुनक्ति सर्वसम्पदः ।
प्लवङ्गराजसत्कृपाकटाक्षभाजनस्सदा
न शत्रुतो भयं भवेत्कदापि तस्य नुस्त्विह ॥९॥
नेत्राङ्गनन्दधरणीवत्सरेऽनङ्गवासरे ।
लोकेश्वराख्यभट्टेन हनुमत्ताण्डवं कृतम् ॥१०॥
॥ इति श्रीहनुमत्ताण्डवस्तोत्रम् सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Transliteration (Roman/IAST)
vande sindūra-varṇābhaṁ lohitāmbara-bhūṣitam |
raktāṅga-rāga-śobhāḍhyaṁ śoṇā-pucchaṁ kapīśvaram ||
bhaje samīra-nandanaṁ, su-bhakta-citta-rañjanaṁ,
dineśa-rūpa-bhakṣakaṁ, samasta-bhakta-rakṣakam |
su-kaṇṭha-kārya-sādhakaṁ, vipakṣa-pakṣa-bādhakaṁ,
samudra-pāra-gāminaṁ, namāmi siddha-kāminam || 1 ||
su-śaṅkitaṁ su-kaṇṭha-bhuktavān hi yo hitaṁ
vacas tvam āśu dhairyam āśrayātra vo bhayaṁ kadāpi na |
iti plavaṅga-nātha-bhāṣitaṁ niśamya vāna-
rādhi-nātha āpa śaṁ tadā, sa rāma-dūta āśrayaḥ || 2 ||
su-dīrgha-bāhu-locanena, puccha-guccha-śobhinā,
bhuja-dvayena sodarīṁ nijāṁsa-yugmam āsthitau |
kṛtau hi kosalādhipau, kapīśa-rāja-sannidhau,
videha-jeśa-lakṣmaṇau, sa me śivaṁ karotv aram || 3 ||
su-śabda-śāstra-pāragaṁ, vilokya rāma-candramāḥ,
kapīśa nātha-sevakaṁ, samasta-nīti-mārga-gam |
praśasya lakṣmaṇaṁ prati, pralamba-bāhu-bhūṣitaḥ
kapīndra-sakhyam ākarot, sva-kārya-sādhakaḥ prabhuḥ || 4 ||
pracaṇḍa-vega-dhāriṇaṁ, nagendra-garva-hāriṇaṁ,
phaṇīśa-mātṛ-garva-hṛd daśāsya-vāsa-nāśa-kṛt |
vibhīṣaṇena sakhya-kṛd videha-jāti-tāpa-hṛt,
su-kaṇṭha-kārya-sādhakaṁ, namāmi yātu-dhātakam || 5 ||
namāmi puṣpa-maulinaṁ, suvarṇa-varṇa-dhāriṇaṁ
gadāyudhena bhūṣitaṁ, kirīṭa-kuṇḍalānvitam |
su-puccha-guccha-tuccha-laṅka-dāhakaṁ su-nāyakaṁ
vipakṣa-pakṣa-rākṣasendra-sarva-vaṁśa-nāśakam || 6 ||
raghūttamasya sevakaṁ namāmi lakṣmaṇa-priyaṁ
dineśa-vaṁśa-bhūṣaṇasya mudrikā-pradarśakam |
videha-jāti-śoka-tāpa-hāriṇam prahāriṇam
su-sūkṣma-rūpa-dhāriṇaṁ namāmi dīrgha-rūpiṇam || 7 ||
nabhasvad-ātmajena bhāsvatā tvayā kṛtā
mahā-sahāyatā yayā dvayor hitaṁ hy abhūt sva-kṛtyataḥ |
su-kaṇṭha āpa tārakāṁ raghūttamo videha-jāṁ
nipātya vālinaṁ prabhus tato daśānanaṁ khalam || 8 ||
imaṁ stavaṁ kuje'hni yaḥ paṭhet su-cetasā naraḥ
kapīśa-nātha-sevako bhunakti sarva-sampadaḥ |
plavaṅga-rāja-sat-kṛpā-kaṭākṣa-bhājanas sadā
na śatruto bhayaṁ bhavet kadāpi tasya nus tv iha || 9 ||
netrāṅga-nanda-dharaṇī-vatsare'naṅga-vāsare |
lokeśvarākhya-bhaṭṭena hanumat-tāṇḍavaṁ kṛtam || 10 ||
Meaning
Dhyana: I worship the lord of monkeys, radiant with the colour of vermilion, adorned in red garments, splendid with red-sandal paste upon his limbs, and red of tail.
1. I worship and bow to the son of the wind, who delights the hearts of good devotees, who (as if) swallowed the sun (when he leapt for it as a child), who protects all devotees, who accomplished the task of Sugriva (Sukantha), who thwarts the side of the foe, who crossed the ocean, the fulfiller of every wish.
2. When the doubting Sugriva heard the beneficial, courage-giving words - "Take heart at once, there is no fear for you here" - spoken by the lord of the vanaras (Hanuman), he then found peace. May that messenger of Rama be my refuge.
3. With his long arms and eyes, splendid with his bushy tail, he seated the two lords of Kosala - the husband of Sita (Rama) and Lakshmana - upon his two shoulders in the presence of the monkey-king. May he soon work my welfare.
4. Beholding this servant of the lord of monkeys, master of the science of sound (grammar) and of all the paths of statecraft, Ramachandra praised him to Lakshmana; and the long-armed Lord, accomplisher of his own purpose, made friendship with the king of monkeys.
5. I bow to the slayer of demons (yatudhanas) - of fierce speed, who humbled the pride of the mountain-king, who broke the pride of the serpent-king's mother (Surasa) and destroyed Ravana's dwelling, who befriended Vibhishana and removed Sita's grief, the accomplisher of Sugriva's work.
6. I bow to him crowned with flowers, of golden hue, adorned with his mace, with crown and earrings, who with his bushy tail burned the contemptible Lanka, the good leader, destroyer of the entire clan of the enemy demon-king.
7. I bow to the servant of the best of the Raghus, dear to Lakshmana, who showed (Sita) the signet ring of the jewel of the Sun-dynasty (Rama), remover of Sita's sorrow and striker (of foes), who took a most subtle form and also an immense form; I bow to him of vast form.
8. By you, the radiant son of the wind, was that great help rendered by which the good of both (Rama and Sugriva) was accomplished through your own deed: Sugriva regained Tara, and the best of the Raghus regained Sita - the Lord first felling Vali and then the wicked ten-faced Ravana.
9. The man of good mind who recites this hymn on a Tuesday (Kuja-day), as a servant of the lord of monkeys, enjoys every prosperity; ever a recipient of the gracious sidelong glance of the monkey-king, he never again has any fear from enemies here.
10. In the year marked (by the chronogram) and on the day of Ananga (Kama), this Hanumat-Tandava was composed by the Bhatta named Lokeshvara.
About this Stotra
The Shri Hanumat Tandava Stotram is a stirring, rhythm-driven hymn to Lord Hanuman, composed by the poet Lokeshvara Bhatta, who names himself in the final verse. "Tandava" refers to the vigorous, powerful dance of Shiva, and the hymn's galloping meter and pounding alliteration give it a dance-like, martial energy - fitting for the Mahavira, the great hero. It opens with a vivid dhyana of the vermilion-hued, red-robed Hanuman, then surges through the great deeds of the Sundara Kanda and Ramayana: encouraging the doubting Sugriva, carrying Rama and Lakshmana on his shoulders, befriending Vibhishana, burning Lanka with his blazing tail, showing Sita the signet ring, and aiding the fall of Vali and Ravana.
Where the gentle Hanumat Pancharatnam meditates on Hanuman's beauty and desirelessness, this Tandava Stotram celebrates his raw power, speed and heroism - making it a favourite of those who seek strength, courage and victory.
Significance & Spiritual Benefits
The ninth verse states the fruit plainly: one who recites this hymn on a Tuesday (Kuja, the day of Mars) with a good, devoted mind enjoys "sarva-sampadah" (all prosperity) and, ever blessed by Hanuman's gracious glance, "never again has any fear from enemies." It is therefore chanted above all for protection from enemies, victory over adversaries, courage in adversity, and the removal of fear. Because it recounts Hanuman taking both his most minute and his most colossal forms, it is also a prayer for the inner power to rise to any challenge.
The hymn's energetic rhythm makes it especially uplifting to chant aloud; many devotees report that its vigorous cadence dispels lethargy, fear and despondency, replacing them with the fearless, devoted strength that Hanuman embodies.
Astrological Relevance
The hymn's own instruction to recite it "kuje'hni" - on the day of Kuja (Mars/Mangal) - makes its astrological orientation explicit. Hanuman is the foremost remedial deity for Mangal (Mars), the planet of courage, energy, enemies and conflict, and this powerful, victory-granting stotra is ideally suited as a remedy for an afflicted or malefic Mars, for Mangal dosha affecting marriage and harmony, and for those facing litigation, hostility or competition (all Mars/6th-house matters). Hanuman is also the great protector against the difficulties of Shani (Saturn), so the hymn is recited during Sade Sati and tough Saturn periods for courage and relief. Its repeated theme of fearlessness and triumph over enemies makes it a classic choice for anyone under planetary periods that bring conflict, fear or opposition.
How to Chant (Vidhi)
After a bath, sit facing an image of Hanuman, ideally with Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. Offer sindoor mixed with jasmine or sesame oil (chola), red flowers, a betel-leaf garland, and light a lamp with sesame or mustard oil; offer boondi laddu or jaggery. Begin with "Om Shri Hanumate Namah" and "Shri Ram Jai Ram," then recite the dhyana and the verses with full voice and rhythm - this is a tandava (dance) stotra and is meant to be chanted vigorously, not whispered. The hymn specifies Tuesday as the ideal day. Conclude with the phala-verse, a bow, and a prayer for courage and protection. Reciting it with the Hanuman Chalisa and Bajrang Baan strengthens the practice.
Best Day & Time
Tuesday (Mangalvar) is named in the hymn itself and is the most powerful day; Saturday (for Saturn relief) is also excellent. The early morning at sunrise and the evening twilight are the best times. Hanuman Jayanti and the "Budhwa Mangal" Tuesdays are especially auspicious occasions to recite the Tandava Stotram.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the Hanumat Tandava Stotram?
It was composed by the poet Lokeshvara Bhatta, who names himself in the final (tenth) verse along with a chronogram dating its composition. It is a public-domain Sanskrit hymn to Hanuman.
Why is it called a "Tandava" stotra?
"Tandava" is the vigorous, powerful divine dance. The hymn's driving meter, forceful alliteration and martial imagery give it a dance-like, heroic energy, celebrating Hanuman's strength and victories rather than only his gentleness.
When should it be recited and what does it grant?
Its ninth verse prescribes recitation on a Tuesday (the day of Mars) and promises all prosperity and lasting freedom from fear of enemies. It is chanted especially for courage, protection from adversaries, and as a remedy for an afflicted Mars.
The cosmic dancer who leapt oceans: unpacking the rasa of the Hanumat Tandava
The word tandava evokes Shiva's fearsome, exhilarating dance - and the Shri Hanumat Tandava Stotram boldly borrows that imagery for Hanuman, casting the son of the wind as a cosmic dancer whose every movement reshapes the world. Attributed to Lokeshvara Bhatta, the hymn presents Hanuman not in the posture of a humble devotee but as a sovereign of energy and courage: the force that reduced Lanka to ash, that shattered the proud lineage of Ravana, and that carries Rama's glory as both shield and crown. This choice of rasa - vira (heroic) blended with adbhuta (wonder) - distinguishes the Hanumat Tandava from the more introspective Hanuman Chalisa tradition and gives it an almost martial intensity.
In the Jyotish tradition, Hanuman is intimately associated with Mars and also venerated as a powerful mitigator of Shani's difficult transits, because his boundless energy and devotion are considered to be the counterweight to inertia and obstruction. The phala-shruti of this stotra specifically mentions Tuesday - Mangalvaar, the day of Mars - as the ideal time for recitation, and devotees believe that chanting it on that day cultivates courage, dispels fear of adversaries and invites the radiant blessings of Shri Rama into one's life. For anyone engaged in demanding sadhana or facing situations that require bold, sustained effort, this hymn functions as both prayer and inner kinetic charge.