Composing…
स्तोत्र
stotra
A hymn of praise; literary form combining devotion and meter. Famous: Vishnu Sahasranama, Lalita Sahasranama, Hanuman Chalisa, Soundarya Lahari.
स्तोत्र; देव-स्तुति।
Hindu thought is built from a vocabulary of carefully-distinguished terms. Words like stotra are not loose translations — each has a precise scriptural genealogy, a specific role in ritual or philosophy, and often a counterpart that completes its meaning. Many of the major Hindu darśanas (Sāṅkhya, Yoga, Vedānta, Mīmāṃsā, Nyāya, Vaiśeṣika) refined their vocabulary over centuries; the same Sanskrit term can carry different shades in different schools.
Stotra sits within a cluster of related concepts — chalisa, ashtottara, sahasranama. Reading these together gives you the actual texture of the idea, rather than treating it as an isolated definition. Each Sanskrit term in this glossary is cross-linked to the others it presupposes.
Where useful we cite the primary scriptural source — the Upaniṣad, sūtra, or smṛti passage where the term is given its classical sense — alongside trusted modern dictionaries (Monier-Williams, V.S. Apte, Sanskrit Heritage). For practical questions about usage in pūjā or daily life, ask a paṇḍita in your tradition.
'Forty' — a hymn of forty verses (chaupais + dohas). Most famous: Hanuman Chalisa (Tulsidas). Also: Durga Chalisa, Shiv Chalisa, Sai Chalisa.
'108' — short for ashtottara-shata-namavali, a litany of 108 names of a deity. Standard for daily archana.
'Thousand names' — a litany of 1,000 (or 1,008) names of a deity, recited as a stotra. Most famous: Vishnu Sahasranama (Mahabharata 13.149), Lalita Sahasranama (Brahmanda Purana).
Devotional hymn sung while performing aarti — typically in the local language with chorus. 'Om Jai Jagdish Hare' (Vishnu), 'Jai Ambe Gauri' (Devi), 'Sukhakarta Dukhaharta' (Ganesha).
31-verse hymn to Surya from Valmiki Ramayana (Yuddha Kanda 105), taught to Rama by sage Agastya before the final battle with Ravana. Recited daily at sunrise for victory and energy.
'I am Brahman' — Mahavakya from Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.10. Realisation of the seer.
Eight-verse hymn — popular literary form. Examples: Madhurashtakam, Achyutashtakam, Lingashtakam, Bilvashtakam, Mahishasura-mardini-stotram (technically Aigiri Nandini, 22 verses but often grouped here), Govindashtakam, Mahalakshmi Ashtakam, Bhavani Ashtakam.
'108' — short for ashtottara-shata-namavali, a litany of 108 names of a deity. Standard for daily archana.
Powerful Hanuman stotra by Tulsidas; commands Hanuman to remove obstacles. Often recited 7 or 11 or 21 times for urgent relief.
Aphorisms on bhakti — two main collections: Narada Bhakti Sutras (84 sutras) and Shandilya Bhakti Sutras (100 sutras). Define and analyse para-bhakti.
Commentary; the most authoritative kind of exegesis. Famous: Shankara Bhashya, Ramanuja's Sri Bhashya, Madhva Bhashya, Vyasa Bhashya (on Yoga Sutras), Sayana Bhashya (on Vedas).
Awaiting paṇḍita verification before final publication. If you spot an inaccuracy in the Sanskrit, IAST, or interpretation, please write to us.