DEVOTION THROUGH STOTRAS.
Stotra is a Sanskrit word that means “praise,” “hymn of praise,” “ode” and “eulogy.” It typically refers to a genre of Hindu texts that are sung (rather than recited) and that praise various aspects and incarnations of the Divine, such as Shiva, Rama, Hanuman, Vishnu, Durga and Lakshmi.
Stotras (or stotram) originate in the Vedas, the earliest of Hindu scriptures, particularly the Rig Veda, and in the Puranas.
Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra (Rig Veda 7.59.12)
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे
सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् ।
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्
मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥
Om Try-Ambakam Yajaamahe
Sugandhim Pusstti-Vardhanam
Urvaarukam-Iva Bandhanaan
Mrtyor-Mukssiiya Maa-[A]mrtaat ||
Rudrashtakam (Goswami Tulsidas)
नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं
विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्मवेदस्वरूपम् ।
निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं
चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेऽहम् ॥१॥
Namaam-Iisham-Iishaana Nirvaanna-Ruupam
Vibhum Vyaapakam Brahma-Veda-Svaruupam |
Nijam Nirgunnam Nirvikalpam Niriiham
Cidaakaasham-Aakaasha-Vaasam Bhaje-[A]ham ||1||
SUTRAS
Sutra a precept summarizing Vedic teaching also: a collection of these precepts.
Sutra refers to an aphorism or a collection of wise sayings in the form of a manual or, more broadly, a condensed manual or text.
Yoga citta vritti nirodhah (Patanjali yoga Sutras, Chapter 1, v. 2)
"Yoga is the resolution of the agitations of the mind.
"Liberation can be attained by that pranayama which is accomplished by disjoining the course of inspiration and expiration.” —Yoga Sutras II:49
“The cause of bandha and moksha (bondage and liberation) is our own minds. If we think we are bound, we are bound. If we think we are liberated, we are liberated. . . . It is only when we transcend the mind that we are free from all these troubles. (117)”― Sri S. Satchidananda, The Yoga Sutras
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