A stotra is a Sanskrit hymn of praise addressed to a deity or the divine in general. Stotras range from short four-verse compositions (like the Shiva Tandava Stotram's 15 verses) to elaborate thousand-name hymns (sahasranamas like the Vishnu Sahasranama with 108 shlokas). They are typically composed in classical Sanskrit meters (anushtubh, indravajra, mandakranta, etc.) by renowned sages, saints, or devotee-poets. Stotras serve multiple purposes: direct devotional expression, invocation of deity qualities, protection (kavachas are armour-stotras), and spiritual elevation. Many stotras have specific recitation rules — time of day, number of repetitions, ritual context.