# stotra

> Sanskrit devotional hymns and prayers covering major stotras by deity (Vishnu, Shiva, Devi, Ganesha), stotra types (ashtakam, sahasranama, kavacham), famous composers (Shankaracharya, Vedanta Desika), and recitation guidance. Use when explaining stotras, providing hymn texts, discussing devotional poetry, or answering questions about Hindu prayers and their significance.

- Author: Krishna Thapa
- Repository: thapakrish/sanskrit-skills
- Version: 20260204085343
- Stars: 2
- Forks: 1
- Last Updated: 2026-02-06
- Source: https://github.com/thapakrish/sanskrit-skills
- Web: https://mule.run/skillshub/@@thapakrish/sanskrit-skills~stotra:20260204085343

---

---
name: stotra
description: Sanskrit devotional hymns and prayers covering major stotras by deity (Vishnu, Shiva, Devi, Ganesha), stotra types (ashtakam, sahasranama, kavacham), famous composers (Shankaracharya, Vedanta Desika), and recitation guidance. Use when explaining stotras, providing hymn texts, discussing devotional poetry, or answering questions about Hindu prayers and their significance.
---

# Stotra (Devotional Hymns)

Guide to Sanskrit devotional literature: hymns, prayers, and sacred poetry.

## Types of Stotras

| Type | Meaning | Structure |
|------|---------|-----------|
| **स्तोत्रम्** | Hymn of praise | Variable verses |
| **अष्टकम्** | Eight verses | 8 verses + phala shruti |
| **शतकम्** | Hundred verses | 100+ verses |
| **सहस्रनाम** | Thousand names | 1000 divine names |
| **कवचम्** | Armor | Protection prayer |
| **स्तुति** | Eulogy | Praise verses |
| **सुप्रभातम्** | Morning prayer | Wake-up hymn |
| **पञ्चरत्नम्** | Five jewels | 5 verses |
| **मङ्गलम्** | Auspicious | Blessing verses |
| **चालीसा** | Forty verses | 40 verses (Hindi influence) |

## Stotras by Deity

### विष्णु/कृष्ण (Vishnu/Krishna)

| Stotra | Author | Verses |
|--------|--------|--------|
| विष्णुसहस्रनाम | व्यास (in महाभारत) | 1000 names |
| भगवद्गीता | व्यास | 700 verses |
| नारायणकवचम् | — | Protection |
| अच्युताष्टकम् | शङ्कराचार्य | 8 verses |
| गोविन्दाष्टकम् | शङ्कराचार्य | 8 verses |
| मधुराष्टकम् | वल्लभाचार्य | 8 verses |
| मुकुन्दमाला | कुलशेखर | 40 verses |
| श्रीवेङ्कटेशसुप्रभातम् | — | Morning prayer |

### शिव (Shiva)

| Stotra | Author | Verses |
|--------|--------|--------|
| शिवमहिम्नःस्तोत्रम् | पुष्पदन्त | 43 verses |
| लिङ्गाष्टकम् | शङ्कराचार्य | 8 verses |
| बिल्वाष्टकम् | शङ्कराचार्य | 8 verses |
| शिवपञ्चाक्षरस्तोत्रम् | शङ्कराचार्य | 6 verses |
| शिवताण्डवस्तोत्रम् | रावण | 17 verses |
| रुद्राष्टकम् | गोस्वामी तुलसीदास | 8 verses |
| द्वादशज्योतिर्लिङ्गस्तोत्रम् | शङ्कराचार्य | 12+1 verses |

### देवी (Devi)

| Stotra | Author | Verses |
|--------|--------|--------|
| ललितासहस्रनाम | — (in ब्रह्माण्डपुराण) | 1000 names |
| सौन्दर्यलहरी | शङ्कराचार्य | 103 verses |
| महिषासुरमर्दिनीस्तोत्रम् | शङ्कराचार्य (attr.) | 21 verses |
| देव्यपराधक्षमापनस्तोत्रम् | शङ्कराचार्य | — |
| अन्नपूर्णास्तोत्रम् | शङ्कराचार्य | 11 verses |
| कनकधारास्तोत्रम् | शङ्कराचार्य | 21 verses |
| मीनाक्षीपञ्चरत्नम् | शङ्कराचार्य | 5 verses |
| भवान्यष्टकम् | शङ्कराचार्य | 8 verses |
| दुर्गासूक्तम् | — (Vedic) | — |

### गणेश (Ganesha)

| Stotra | Author | Verses |
|--------|--------|--------|
| गणेशपञ्चरत्नम् | शङ्कराचार्य | 5 verses |
| गणेशाष्टकम् | — | 8 verses |
| संकटनाशनगणेशस्तोत्रम् | — | — |

### हनुमान् (Hanuman)

| Stotra | Author | Verses |
|--------|--------|--------|
| हनुमानचालीसा | तुलसीदास | 40 verses (Awadhi) |
| हनुमत्पञ्चरत्नम् | शङ्कराचार्य | 5 verses |

### सूर्य (Surya)

| Stotra | Author | Verses |
|--------|--------|--------|
| आदित्यहृदयम् | अगस्त्य (in रामायण) | 31 verses |
| सूर्याष्टकम् | — | 8 verses |

### सरस्वती (Saraswati)

| Stotra | Author | Verses |
|--------|--------|--------|
| सरस्वतीस्तोत्रम् | — | Variable |
| मेधासूक्तम् | — (Vedic) | — |

## Major Composers

### शङ्कराचार्य (Shankaracharya) — 8th century

**Most prolific stotra composer**

| Category | Examples |
|----------|----------|
| Vishnu | गोविन्दाष्टकम्, अच्युताष्टकम् |
| Shiva | शिवपञ्चाक्षरस्तोत्रम्, दक्षिणामूर्तिस्तोत्रम् |
| Devi | सौन्दर्यलहरी, भवान्यष्टकम् |
| Ganesha | गणेशपञ्चरत्नम् |
| Vedanta | निर्वाणषट्कम्, आत्मषट्कम् |

### Other Composers

See [references/composers.md](references/composers.md) for detailed list.

## References

Detailed information:
- [references/vishnu-stotras.md](references/vishnu-stotras.md) - Vishnu/Krishna hymns with texts
- [references/shiva-stotras.md](references/shiva-stotras.md) - Shiva hymns with texts
- [references/devi-stotras.md](references/devi-stotras.md) - Devi hymns with texts
- [references/composers.md](references/composers.md) - Stotra authors

## Famous Opening Verses

| Stotra | Opening |
|--------|---------|
| विष्णुसहस्रनाम | शुक्लाम्बरधरं विष्णुं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम् |
| शिवमहिम्नःस्तोत्रम् | महिम्नः पारं ते परमविदुषो यद्यसदृशी |
| सौन्दर्यलहरी | शिवः शक्त्या युक्तो यदि भवति शक्तः प्रभवितुम् |
| आदित्यहृदयम् | ततो युद्धपरिश्रान्तं समरे चिन्तया स्थितम् |
| हनुमानचालीसा | श्रीगुरु चरन सरोज रज निज मनु मुकुरु सुधारि |

## Stotra Structure

### Typical Pattern

1. **आवाहन / ध्यान** — Invocation/meditation verse
2. **मूल स्तोत्र** — Main hymn body
3. **फलश्रुति** — Benefits of recitation
4. **समर्पण** — Offering/dedication

### Phala Shruti (Benefits)

Most stotras end with verses describing:
- Spiritual benefits (मोक्ष, भक्ति)
- Material benefits (धन, सन्तान, आरोग्य)
- Protection (रक्षा, शत्रुनाश)
- Conditions (how/when to recite)

## Recitation Guidelines

### Sankalpa (Resolution)

Before reciting, state:
- Date (तिथि, वार, नक्षत्र)
- Location (देश, स्थान)
- Purpose (कामना)

### Common Practices

| Practice | Description |
|----------|-------------|
| जप | Repetition with counting |
| पारायण | Complete recitation |
| अनुष्ठान | Prescribed number over days |
| नित्यपाठ | Daily recitation |

### Auspicious Times

| Time | Suitable For |
|------|--------------|
| ब्राह्ममुहूर्त | All stotras |
| प्रातः | सुप्रभातम्, आदित्यहृदयम् |
| सन्ध्या | गायत्री, सन्ध्यावन्दन |
| प्रदोष | शिव stotras |
| अर्धरात्रि | Devi stotras (special occasions) |

## Scripts

Utilities in `shared/scripts/`:

```bash
cd shared/scripts && uv sync
```

| Script | Use |
|--------|-----|
| `transliterate.py` | Convert stotra text between scripts |
| `chandas.py` | Identify meter of stotra verses |

## Related Skills

| Need | Use |
|------|-----|
| Analyze specific verse | **sloka** |
| Grammar of stotra text | **vyakarana** |
| Word meanings | **kosha** |
| Literary context | **sahitya** |