Stotras
Encyclopedia
In Hinduism, a Stotra is a hymn of praise. These hymns praise aspects of the divine, such as Devi
, Siva
, or Vishnu
. Relating to word "stuti", coming from the same verb, stu (to praise), and basically both mean "praise".
Stotras are a type of popular devotional literature and are not bound by the strict rules as some other Hindu scriptures, such as the Vedas
. They are accessible by the everyday householder.
One type of stotra is based on chanting a litany of names for a deity. A category of stotra of that type is the Sahasranama
, which is a litany of a thousand names for a particular deity. Sahasranama
means "1000 names"; Sahasra means 1000 and nama means names. For example, Vishnu Sahasranama
means 1000 names of Vishnu. According to Hinduism, the names of God are valuable tools for devotion.
Devi
Devī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents...
, Siva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
, or Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
. Relating to word "stuti", coming from the same verb, stu (to praise), and basically both mean "praise".
Stotras are a type of popular devotional literature and are not bound by the strict rules as some other Hindu scriptures, such as the Vedas
Vedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
. They are accessible by the everyday householder.
One type of stotra is based on chanting a litany of names for a deity. A category of stotra of that type is the Sahasranama
Sahasranama
A sahasranama is a type of Hindu scripture in which a deity is referred to by 1,000 or more different names. Sahasranamas are classified as stotras, or hymns of praise, a type of devotional scripture. Sahasra means a thousand, or more generally, a very large number. Nama means name...
, which is a litany of a thousand names for a particular deity. Sahasranama
Sahasranama
A sahasranama is a type of Hindu scripture in which a deity is referred to by 1,000 or more different names. Sahasranamas are classified as stotras, or hymns of praise, a type of devotional scripture. Sahasra means a thousand, or more generally, a very large number. Nama means name...
means "1000 names"; Sahasra means 1000 and nama means names. For example, Vishnu Sahasranama
Vishnu sahasranama
The Vishnu sahasranama is a list of 1,000 names of Vishnu, one of the main forms of God in Hinduism and the personal supreme God for Vaishnavas . It is also one of the most sacred and commonly chanted stotras in Hinduism...
means 1000 names of Vishnu. According to Hinduism, the names of God are valuable tools for devotion.