Stotra
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adding an example
{{Original research|date=September 2007}}
{{Hindu scriptures}}
In Hinduism, a '''Stotra''' is a hymn of praise.<ref>For definition of {{lang|sa|स्तोत्र}} (''{{IAST|stotra}}'') as "A hymn of praise, panegyric", see: {{Harvnb|Apte|1965|p=1005}}.</ref> These hymns praise aspects of the divine, such as [[Devi]], [[Siva]], or [[Vishnu]]. Stotras, according to Swami Tapasyananda, are invariably uttered aloud and consist of chanting verses conveying the glory and attributes of God.
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<ref>[http://www.hindupedia.com/en/index.php?title=Vishnu_Sahasranamam Vishnu Sahasranamam] on Hindupedia, the Online Hindu Encyclopedia</ref>. According to Hinduism, the names of God are valuable tools for devotion.
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==References==
*{{Harvard reference
| last=Apte
| first=Vaman Shivram
| year=1965
| title=The Practical Sanskrit Dictionary
| place=Delhi
| publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers
| edition=Fourth revised and enlarged
| volume=
| isbn=81-208-0567-4
}}
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[[Category:Hindu worship]]
[[Category:Sanskrit words and phrases]]
[[es:Stotra]]
[[it:Stotra]]
[[te:స్తోత్రము]]