Stotra (Sanskrit: स्तोत्र) is a Sanskrit word that means "ode, eulogy or a hymn of praise."[1][2] It is a literary genre of Indian religious texts designed to be melodically sung, in contrast to a shastra which is composed to be recited.[1]
A stotra can be a prayer, a description, or a conversation, but always with a poetic structure. It may be a simple poem expressing praise and personal devotion to a deity for example, or poems with embedded spiritual and philosophical doctrines.[3]
Many stotra hymns praise aspects of the divine, such as Devi, Shiva, or Vishnu. Relating to word "stuti", coming from the same Sanskrit root *stu- ("to praise"), and basically both mean "praise". Notable stotras are Shiva Tandava Stotram in praise of Shiva and Rama Raksha Stotra, a prayer for protection to Rama.
Stotras are a type of popular devotional literature. Among the early texts with Stotras are by Kuresha,[clarification needed] which combine Ramanuja's Vedantic ideas on qualified monism about Atman and Brahman (ultimate, unchanging reality), with temple practices.[3]
Stotra comes from the Sanskrit root stu- which means "to praise, eulogize or laud".[3] Literally, the term refers to "poems of praise".[4] The earliest trace of stotras are Vedic, particularly in the Samaveda.[4]
Exampleedit
A seated Ardhanarishvara with both the vahanas
The following is a Peterson translation of a Stotra by the Tamil poet Appar for Ardhanarishvara, the Hindu concept of a god who incorporates both the masculine and the feminine as inseparable halves.[5]
An earring of bright new gold one ear, a coiled conch shell sways on the other, On one side he chants the Vedic melodies, on the other, he gently smiles, Matted hair adorned with sweet konrai blossoms on one half of his head, and a woman's curls on the other, he comes. The one the nature of his form, the other of hers, And both are the very essence of his beauty.
The nama-stotra is based on chanting a litany of names for a deity. The Sahasranama, a type of nama-stotra, 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.[6] Other nama-stotras may include 100 or 108 epithets of the deity. According to Hinduism, the names of God are valuable tools for devotion.
^ abcNancy Ann Nayar (1992). Poetry as Theology: The Śrīvaiṣṇava Stotra in the Age of Rāmānuja. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. pp. ix–xi. ISBN978-3447032551.
^ abNancy Ann Nayar (1992). Poetry as Theology: The Śrīvaiṣṇava Stotra in the Age of Rāmānuja. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. pp. 15–16. ISBN978-3447032551.
^ abEllen Goldberg (2012). Lord Who Is Half Woman, The: Ardhanarisvara in Indian and Feminist Perspective. State University of New York Press. pp. 91–96. ISBN978-0791488850.
^Vishnu Sahasranamam on Hindupedia, the Online Hindu Encyclopedia
Bibliographyedit
Apte, Vaman Shivram (1965), The Practical Sanskrit Dictionary (Fourth revised and enlarged ed.), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, ISBN81-208-0567-4
External linksedit
(archived 14 May 2011)
Alphabetical List of the Stotras
January 01, 1970
stotra, sanskrit, sanskrit, word, that, means, eulogy, hymn, praise, literary, genre, indian, religious, texts, designed, melodically, sung, contrast, shastra, which, composed, recited, stotra, prayer, description, conversation, always, with, poetic, structure. Stotra Sanskrit स त त र is a Sanskrit word that means ode eulogy or a hymn of praise 1 2 It is a literary genre of Indian religious texts designed to be melodically sung in contrast to a shastra which is composed to be recited 1 A stotra can be a prayer a description or a conversation but always with a poetic structure It may be a simple poem expressing praise and personal devotion to a deity for example or poems with embedded spiritual and philosophical doctrines 3 Many stotra hymns praise aspects of the divine such as Devi Shiva or Vishnu Relating to word stuti coming from the same Sanskrit root stu to praise and basically both mean praise Notable stotras are Shiva Tandava Stotram in praise of Shiva and Rama Raksha Stotra a prayer for protection to Rama Stotras are a type of popular devotional literature Among the early texts with Stotras are by Kuresha clarification needed which combine Ramanuja s Vedantic ideas on qualified monism about Atman and Brahman ultimate unchanging reality with temple practices 3 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Example 3 Nama stotra 4 Notable stotras 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Bibliography 7 External linksEtymology editStotra comes from the Sanskrit root stu which means to praise eulogize or laud 3 Literally the term refers to poems of praise 4 The earliest trace of stotras are Vedic particularly in the Samaveda 4 Example edit nbsp A seated Ardhanarishvara with both the vahanas The following is a Peterson translation of a Stotra by the Tamil poet Appar for Ardhanarishvara the Hindu concept of a god who incorporates both the masculine and the feminine as inseparable halves 5 An earring of bright new gold one ear a coiled conch shell sways on the other On one side he chants the Vedic melodies on the other he gently smiles Matted hair adorned with sweet konrai blossoms on one half of his head and a woman s curls on the other he comes The one the nature of his form the other of hers And both are the very essence of his beauty Appar Ardhanarishvara Stotra 5 Nama stotra editThe nama stotra is based on chanting a litany of names for a deity The Sahasranama a type of nama stotra 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 6 Other nama stotras may include 100 or 108 epithets of the deity According to Hinduism the names of God are valuable tools for devotion Notable stotras editShiva Tandava Stotra Ashtalakshmi Stotra Hayagriva Stotra Dakshinamurti Stotra Hari Stotra Shiva Mahimna Stotra Panchakshara Stotra Rama Raksha Stotra Mahishasura Mardini Stotra Maruti Stotra Agasti Lakshmi Stotra Dvadasha Stotra Annapurna Stotra Radha Sahasranama Stotra Narasimha Kavacham Stotra Jainism Bhaktamara Stotra Uvasagharam StotraSee also editKhadgamala List of suktas and stutisReferences edit a b Monier Williams Monier Williams Sanskrit English Dictionary Oxford University Press Article on Stotra Apte 1965 p 1005 a b c Nancy Ann Nayar 1992 Poetry as Theology The Srivaiṣṇava Stotra in the Age of Ramanuja Otto Harrassowitz Verlag pp ix xi ISBN 978 3447032551 a b Nancy Ann Nayar 1992 Poetry as Theology The Srivaiṣṇava Stotra in the Age of Ramanuja Otto Harrassowitz Verlag pp 15 16 ISBN 978 3447032551 a b Ellen Goldberg 2012 Lord Who Is Half Woman The Ardhanarisvara in Indian and Feminist Perspective State University of New York Press pp 91 96 ISBN 978 0791488850 Vishnu Sahasranamam on Hindupedia the Online Hindu Encyclopedia Bibliography edit Apte Vaman Shivram 1965 The Practical Sanskrit Dictionary Fourth revised and enlarged ed Delhi Motilal Banarsidass Publishers ISBN 81 208 0567 4External links editRead Stotras in multiple languages archived 14 May 2011 Alphabetical List of the Stotras Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Stotra amp oldid 1206212150, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
