Shiva Tandava Stotram — Verse 2

Sanskrit

Transliteration

jaṭākaṭāhasambhrama bhramannilimpanirjharī vilola vīcivallari virājamāna mūrdhani dhagaddhagaddhagajjval lalāṭapaṭṭa pāvake kiśora candraśekhare ratiḥ pratikṣaṇaṁ mama

Word Meanings

jaṭā—matted hair; kaṭāha—basin/vessel; sambhrama—agitation; bhramat—whirling; nilimpa—divine; nirjharī—river (Ganga); vilola—wavering; vīci—waves; vallari—creeper; virājamāna—resplendent; mūrdhani—on the head; dhagat—blazing (sound of fire); lalāṭa—forehead; paṭṭa—surface; pāvake—fire; kiśora—crescent; candra—moon; śekhare—as a crest ornament; ratiḥ—delight; pratikṣaṇam—every moment; mama—my.

Translation

My delight is every moment in Shiva, whose head is adorned with the wavering waves of the divine River Ganga, churning in the basin of His matted locks — and on whose forehead the blazing fire crackles (Dhagad Dhagad), and who wears the crescent moon as His crest jewel.

Commentary

Ravana describes three simultaneous phenomena on Shiva's head: the cascading Ganga (water), the blazing third-eye fire (fire), and the cool crescent moon (coolness). These three contradictory forces — cool water, hot fire, and the ever-waxing-waning moon — coexist peacefully on Shiva. This is the cosmic paradox: Shiva integrates all opposites without contradiction.