The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore.

• • • Stotra (Sanskrit: स्तोत्र)(sometimes stotram, स्तोत्रम्) is a word that means 'ode, eulogy or a hymn of praise'. It is a literary genre of Indian religious texts designed to be melodically sung, in contrast to a which is composed to be recited. A stotra can be a prayer, a description, or a conversation, but always with a poetic structure. It may be a simple poem expressing praise and personal devotion to a deity for example, or poems with embedded spiritual and philosophical doctrines. Many stotra hymns praise aspects of the divine, such as,,. Relating to word ' stuti', coming from the same Sanskrit root * stu- ('to praise'), and basically both mean 'praise'. Notable stotras are in praise of Shiva and, a prayer for protection to.

Stotras are a type of popular devotional literature. Among the early texts with Stotras are by Kuresha, [ ] which combine 's Vedantic ideas on qualified about and (ultimate, unchanging reality), with temple practices. — Appar, Ardhanarishvara Stotra, Nama-stotra [ ] The nama-stotra is based on chanting a litany of names for a deity. The, a type of nama-stotra, is a litany of a thousand names for a particular deity. Means '1000 names'; Sahasra means 1000 and nama means names. For example, means 1000 names of Vishnu.

Other nama-stotras may include 100 or 108 epithets of the deity. According to Hinduism, the names of God are valuable tools for devotion. Notable stotras [ ] • • • • • • • • • Jainism • See also [ ] • • References [ ].

Narayana Kavacham Translated by P. R.Ramachander Text, Lyrics, Meaning, Translations of Stothras of Lord Vishnu, Purusha Suktam, Vishnu Sahasra Namam, Narayana Suktam, Achyuthashtakam, Dattatreya Stotram, Krishna Ashtakam, Mukunda Mala, Madhurashtakam, Nama Ramayana, Nrusimha Stotram, Vishnu Suktam [Narayana Kavacham occurs in Bhagavada Purana in the sixth Skanda and occurs in Chapter eight. It is an Armour to protect ourselves from our enemies seen and unseen. I personally feel that this is possibly one of the first Kavachams ever taught to man. Raja Parikshith, the son of Abhimanyu asks his teacher Sage Shuka for a means to protect himself from his enemies. Sage Shuka then teaches him Narayana Kavacham, which was taught by Sage Viswaroopa the son of Thwashtra to Devendra.

It is believed that the soul of the man who reads this Kavacha (even if he is a sinner) becomes extremely holy and that any one who reads this would be protected by Lord Vishnu in his various incarnations, by his various weapons and his various assistants. Sloka 4-11 of this great stotra give us in detail about the preparations that we should take before reading this great work. These naturally should be learned from a teacher well versed in such procedures. I am sure many of you may not be able to do that. You can either chant only the Kavacham with out doing Kara and Anga nyasa or follow the method suggested in it is mentioned that before commencing the recital, chant 'Om Namo Naraayanaya' or ‘Om Namo Bhagvathey Vaasudevaaya' (‘ey' pronounced as Whey) or your favourite mantra 12 times. Visualize yourself and/or your loved ones, totally protected. Rukovodstvo po remontu i ekspluatacii avtobusa yutong 6737d.

My favourite way of doing it is by visualizing a family portrait. You could ‘see' them dressed in an armor. You could see them immersed in white or violet light.

You could see them in a tube of Light. You could see an impenetrable ring of white Light around them. ‘Sound' started with the chanting of Om. The entire SamVeda was transferred through the notes of the ‘sargam' Music commenced with the recitation of Mantras and Shlokas.

There is Spiritual strength in it. The above web site also gives a translation of the Kavacham in to English.

Apart from consulting that I have also consulted a Malayalam translation in a very old dilapidated book (author unknown) as well as a Hindi translation published by Hari Prakasan Mandir, Delhi] Rajo Uvacha: Yaya guptha sahasraksha savaahaan ripu sainikan, Kreedanniva vinirjithya trilokya bhubhuje sriyam, 1 Bhagawam sthan mamakhyahi varma narayanathmakam, Yadha athathayina shathroon yena guptho jayan mrudhe. 2 The king said: Oh God please share with me that armour of Narayana, By which the thousand eyed Indra was able to drive away, The well armed soldiers of his enemy as if it is a play, And gain control of the three worlds and wealth, And also was safe in the battle field and became victorious. Sri Shuka Uvacha: Vrutha, purohitha thwashtro mahendra yanu pruchathe, Narayanakhyam varmaha thadihaika mana srunu. 3 Sri Shuka said: Viswaroopa the son of Thwashtra, when he was made, The priest Of Indra taught him this armour of Narayana, And I will teach you that and please listen to it with concentration. Viswaroopa Uvacha: Dhouthangri panir achamya sapavithra udang mukha, Kruthaswa anga kara nyaso manthrabhyam vagyatha suchi. 4 Narayana mayam varma sannahyedh bhaya agathe, Daiva bhoothathma karmebhya narayana maya puman. 5 Padyor janu noruvor udhare hrudhyadhorasi, Mukhe sirasya anu poorva omgaradheeni vinyaseth.