[Advaita-l] Shiva Tandava Stotram

[Raghav Kumar Dwivedula]

Thank you. I hope the Ananda Ramayana, the later regional variation of the
Ramayana has the Stotram. If there is any precise verse or chapter number,
that would clinch the issue.

Because, as we all know, generative AI is prone to what is being called
"hallucinating", i.e., confidently fabricating assertions without any basis.



On Thu, 14 Nov, 2024, 9:00 am Kartik Vashishta, <kartik.unix at gmail.com>
wrote:

> From ChatGpt:
>
> The *Shiva Tandava Stotra* is not found in the earliest or most canonical
> version of the Ramayana by *Valmiki*. Instead, it appears in later
> retellings and regional adaptations that expanded upon Ravana's devotion to
> Lord Shiva. The specific versions that include it are primarily associated
> with later devotional and Shaiva-oriented literature rather than the
> original text itself. Here’s where the stotra is most commonly referenced:
>
>    1.
>
>    *Ananda Ramayana*: One of the most notable sources of the Shiva
>    Tandava Stotra is the *Ananda Ramayana*, a later Sanskrit text that
>    narrates many stories of Lord Rama and elaborates on episodes that are
>    either summarized or absent in Valmiki’s Ramayana. The Ananda Ramayana
>    provides a detailed description of Ravana’s intense devotion to Lord Shiva,
>    including his singing of the Shiva Tandava Stotra as an act of penance and
>    praise.
>    2.
>
>    *Regional and Devotional Versions*: The *Tamil Kamba Ramayanam*,
>    composed by the poet *Kambar* in the 12th century, and other *South
>    Indian renditions* of the Ramayana, particularly those with Shaivite
>    influences, often emphasize Ravana’s devotion to Shiva. However, these
>    versions do not contain the stotra word-for-word but capture the story of
>    Ravana as a Shiva devotee. Similarly, in various *Puranic and folk
>    traditions*, the story of Ravana’s stotra appears, though not always
>    as the exact Sanskrit verses found in the Shiva Tandava Stotra.
>    3.
>
>    *Oral Tradition and Shaivite Texts*: The hymn gained prominence
>    through *oral tradition* and *Shaiva literature* rather than being
>    rooted in the Ramayana texts. It became a central part of Ravana’s legend,
>    especially among Shiva devotees, emphasizing his dedication to Lord Shiva
>    despite his antagonistic role in the Ramayana.
>
> In sum, the Ananda Ramayana is the primary written source that explicitly
> references Ravana’s composition of the Shiva Tandava Stotra. The hymn has
> since become popularized through devotional and oral traditions, securing
> its place in Shaivite worship and lore associated with the Ramayana.
>
> On Wed, Nov 13, 2024 at 9:13 PM Raghav Kumar Dwivedula <
> raghavkumar00 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I checked. It's not there in the uttarakANDa as far as I know. Only the
>> (left leaning) wikipedia has the claim which is unreliable. No verse or
>> chapter number is given anywhere.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Om
>>
>> On Thu, 14 Nov, 2024, 8:35 am Kartik Vashishta, <kartik.unix at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> It seems to be in the Uttarakhand
>>>
>>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiva_Tandava_Stotra
>>>
>>> On Wed, Nov 13, 2024 at 8:42 PM Raghav Kumar Dwivedula via Advaita-l <
>>> advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Namaste ji
>>>> Actually none of the verses of the shiva tANDava Stotram have any
>>>> traceable
>>>> internal connection to either Ravana or to Ramayana.
>>>>
>>>> There is a sort of 'colophon' inserted at the very end which is in a
>>>> totally different metre altogether, which says "dashavaktra-gItaM'. But
>>>> the
>>>> difference in chandas indicates it's likely a later interpolation.
>>>>
>>>> I write all this to say, it's quite likely a composition of some other
>>>> great later day Shiva Bhakta. And by the cultural processes of
>>>> 'legendification' has been likely wrongly attributed to Ravana.
>>>>
>>>> The stotra stands on its own merit and the apocryphal association with
>>>> Ravana is likely a superfluous later extrapolation.
>>>>
>>>> Om
>>>> Raghav
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, 13 Nov, 2024, 8:46 pm R Krishnamoorthy via Advaita-l, <
>>>> advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> > Dear
>>>> > This stothram is composed by  Ravana as per the internal evidence.
>>>> > R.Krishnamoorthy.
>>>> >
>>>> > Sent from my iPad
>>>> >
>>>> > > On 13-Nov-2024, at 8:11 PM, Raghav Kumar Dwivedula via Advaita-l <
>>>> > advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
>>>> > >
>>>> > > Namaste
>>>> > > Is there any source book for the popular shiva tANDava stotram -जटा
>>>> टवी
>>>> > > गलज्जल प्रवाह पावितस्थले etc ? I have heard it's from Ramayana
>>>> Uttara
>>>> > > kANDa. But any clarity is welcome.
>>>> > >
>>>> > > Thank you
>>>> > > Om
>>>> > > Raghav
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