If Shiv Tandava was written by Ravana, does it mean it was ultimately written by Valmiki?

 So as per the legend, Ravana supposedly composed the Stotram depicting Shiva’s dance which is called as Tandava Stotram however, there is no real proof to say that he as such composed the Stotram. Yet, I give it the benefit of doubt as it is mentioned that he sung a praise of Lord Shiva which may or may not have been the Tandava Stotram.

Its mentioned that he sung various praises of Lord Mahadeva from various hymns and sacred texts which impressed the mighty god. Even if he was singing the Tandava Stotram, I do not think he composed the Shiv Tandav Stotram. The Stotram would have been existing before Ravana himself. He just recited the same Stotram to please Lord Shankara so that he can be forgiven for his arrogance.

Valmiki Ramayana Uttara Kanda - Mahadeva humbles Ravan

Then, O Rama, Mahadeva, the foremost of the Gods, as if in sport, pressed the mountain with his great toe and, at the same time, he crushed Ravana’s arms, that resembled pillars of granite, to the great consternation of all the counsellors of that Rakshasa. And he, in pain and fury, suddenly let forth a terrible cry, causing the Three Worlds to tremble, so that his ministers thought it to be the crash of thunder at the dissolution of the worlds!
Thereupon the Gods, with Indra at their head, stumbled on their way; the oceans became agitated, the mountains shook, and the Yakshas, Vidyadharas and Siddhas cried out:—
‘What is this? Do you pacify Mahadeva, the Blue-throated One, the Lord of Uma; apart from Him, there is no refuge in the world, O Dashanana! By hymns and prostration seek refuge with Him, propitiated and gratified, Shankara will look on you with favour.’
“Hearing the words of his ministers, Dashanana, bowing before Him, worshipped the God Whose standard bears the bull, by the recitation of hymns and innumerable sacred texts. Thus did that titan lament for a thousand years.
“Thereafter the Lord Mahadeva, propitiated, released the arms of Dashanana from under the mountain and addressed him saying:—
‘“I am gratified with your courage and endurance, O Dashanana! When you wast imprisoned under the rock, you didst emit a terrible cry, striking terror in the Three Worlds. For this reason, O King, from now on your name shall be Ravana, and Celestials, Men, Yakshas and other Beings in the universe shall call you “Ravana”—“He who causes the worlds to cry out”. O Paulastya [i.e., Mahasena—The Lord of War, Karttikeya], follow the path that pleases you without fear, you have my sanction to depart.’

The origin of the Tandava dance is said to be when Ma Kali slew the demon Daruka. Its said that her rage could destroy the worlds, thats when Lord Shiva performed the dance of Tandava to please Bhavani devi.

Linga Purana 1.106

25-28. In order to propitiate her, the delighted tridentbearing lord of Devas performed the tāṇḍava dance at dusk, along with the ghosts and leaders of goblins. After quaffing the nectar-like dance of Śiva upto the throat [i.e. after enjoying the dance of Śiva very much] Parameśvarī danced in the midst of ghosts, happily along with Yoginīs. Devas all round, including Brahmā, Indra and Viṣṇu, bowed to and eulogised Kālī and then prayed to the goddess Pārvatī. Thus, the Tāṇḍava of the trident-bearing lord has been briefly mentioned to you. Others[5] are of the opinion that the Tāṇḍava of the lord is due to the Bliss of yoga.

The reason I am saying this is, after Ma Gauri had slain the demon Mahishasura, she worshipped Lord Shankara as Arunachaleshwara and mentioned his dance as the Tandava. This event happened before Ravana was even born which means the Stotram existed before Ravana’s birth and he merely would have recited it to impress Lord Shiva.

Skanda Purana 1.4.20.34

jaya saṃdhyāsamopetasaṃbhṛtānaṃdatāṃḍava |
jaya gīrvāṇagaṃdharvasiddhavidyādharārcita || 34 ||

34. Be victorious, O Lord, indulging in blissful Tāṇḍava dance at the advent of the time of dusk. Be victorious, O Lord, worshipped by Devas, Gandharvas, Siddhas and Vidyādharas.

Another reference to the Tandava comes from Banasura who was another devotee of Lord Shiva. He had a thousand arms and was an expert Veena player. To please Lord Shiva he played the Tandava while Lord Shiva danced. This actually might refer to the Tandava we know today.

Shrimad Bhagavat Purana 10.62.2

bāṇaḥ putra-śata-jyeṣṭho
baler āsīn mahātmanaḥ
yena vāmana-rūpāya
haraye ’dāyi medinī
tasyaurasaḥ suto bānaḥ
śiva-bhakti-rataḥ sadā
mānyo vadānyo dhīmāṁś ca
satya-sandho dṛḍha-vrataḥ
śoṇitākhye pure ramye
sa rājyam akarot purā
tasya śambhoḥ prasādena
kiṅkarā iva te ’marāḥ
sahasra-bāhur vādyena
tāṇdave ’toṣayan mṛḍam

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Bāṇa was the oldest of the hundred sons fathered by the great saint Bali Mahārāja, who gave the whole earth in charity to Lord Hari when He appeared as Vāmanadeva. Bāṇāsura, born from Bali’s semen, became a great devotee of Lord Śiva. His behavior was always respectable, and he was generous, intelligent, truthful and firm in his vows. The beautiful city of Śoṇitapura was under his dominion. Because Lord Śiva had favored him, the very demigods waited on Bāṇāsura like menial servants. Once, when Śiva was dancing his tāṇḍava-nṛtya, Bāṇa especially satisfied the lord by playing a musical accompaniment with his one thousand arms.

There is another reference from the Linga Purana where all Apsara’s perform the Tandava dance to impress Lord Shiva.

Linga Purana 1.82

71-73a. May the celestial damsels and the goddesses, engaged in the worship of Śiva dispel my impurities—viz., Urvaśī, Menakā, Rambhā, Rati, Tilottamā, Sumukhī, Durmukhī, Kāmukī, Kāmavardhanī and other divine Apsarases in all the worlds and the goddesses who are highly purified by doing the Tāṇḍava dance for Śiva.

Hara Hara Mahadeva 🙏🏻🪔🌸🔱

Namo Narayana 🙏🏻🪔🌸🦅