A stotra is a structured hymn extolling a deity's names, deeds, and qualities, recited as an act of devotion. Famous examples include the Vishnu Sahasranama and Lalita Sahasranama (litanies of a thousand names), the Shiva Tandava Stotra attributed to Ravana, Adi Shankaracharya's Bhaja Govindam and Kanakadhara Stotra, and the Hanuman-centered Bajrang Baan. Unlike mantras, whose power is held to lie in their precise sound and transmission, stotras work primarily through their meaning and devotional mood, and can generally be recited by anyone without formal initiation. Many devotees recite a chosen stotra daily or on the deity's special day of the week.