Shiva Tandava Stotram (शिवताण्डवस्तोत्रम्) is a
stotra (
Hindu hymn) that describes the
Hindu God
Shiva's power and beauty. It is traditionally attributed to
Ravana, the
rakshasa (demon) king of
Lanka and devotee of Shiva. Both the ninth and tenth
quatrains of this hymn conclude with lists of Shiva's epithets as destroyer, even the destroyer of death itself.
Alliteration and
onomatopoeia create roiling waves of resounding beauty in this example of Hindu devotional poetry.