Stotra (Sanskrit: स्तोत्र) is a Sanskrit term meaning "ode, eulogy or a hymn of praise." The word derives from the root stu, meaning "to praise," and is closely related to the term stuti, which carries a similar sense. Stotras form a distinct literary genre within Indian religious texts, designed to be melodically sung, in contrast to a shastra, which is composed to be recited.
A stotra may take the form of a prayer, a description, or a conversation, but it always follows a poetic structure. Some stotras are simple poems expressing praise and personal devotion to a deity, while others embed spiritual and philosophical doctrines within their verses. Apart from Nama stotras, a common feature of most stotras is the repetition of a refrain at the end of every verse. For instance, each verse of the Mahiṣāsura Mardinī Stotra concludes with the line "Jaya Jaya Hē Mahiṣāsura-mardini Ramyakapardini śailasute."
Many stotras praise aspects of the divine, including Devi, Shiva and Vishnu. Among the well-known compositions in this genre are the Shiva Tandava Stotram, in praise of Shiva, and the Rama Raksha Stotra, a prayer seeking protection from Rama. Stotras constitute a popular form of devotional literature and continue to play a key role in Hindu rituals and blessings.
Among the early texts with stotras are those by Kuresha, which combine Ramanuja's Vedantic ideas on qualified monism — concerning Atman and Brahman as the ultimate, unchanging reality — with temple practices. This blending of philosophical thought with devotional expression is characteristic of the broader stotra tradition, which has remained an enduring feature of Hindu religious life.