| Religion: | Hinduism |
| Author: | Yamunacharya |
| Language: | Sanskrit |
| Caption: | Rajput painting of Vishnu upon Garuda. |
| Verses: | 65 |
| Stotra Ratna | |
The Stotra Ratna, also rendered the Alavandarstotra,[1] is a Sanskrit work of Hindu literature written by the Sri Vaishnava philosopher Yamunacharya.[2] The hymn consists of sixty-five stanzas that extol the deity Vishnu.[3]
The title of the work consists of the Sanskrit terms stotra (hymn) and ratnam (jewel), therefore literally meaning, 'the jewel of hymns'.[4]
The main theme of the Stotra Ratna is prapatti, the concept of total surrender to God.[5] In the first few verses, the author pays tribute to his teachers. The subsequent verses establish the supremacy of Vishnu and his accessibility to his devotees, to whom he is referred to as a saviour. Yamunacharya offers his surrender to Vishnu, indicating that even simple acts of service such as offering salutations are effective to his worship. He states that divine mercy would be offered to all those who undertake the path of prapatti, also describing it to be the only means of attaining salvation. The relief of the author in entrusting his burdens to Vishnu and seeking the forgiveness of the deity is also a theme of the work. Vishnu is described to be the source of the power of Brahma and Shiva in the hymn, regarded to perform the functions of creation, preservation, as well as destruction. His consort, Lakshmi, is eulogised as the source of prosperity of the universe. The work is described to disseminate the central tenets of the philosophy of Vishishtadvaita.[6] The hymn also describes Vaikuntha, the abode of Vishnu, and the author's desire to witness the cosmic form of the deity in this realm.[7] The closing line of the hymn describes Yamunacharya requesting Vishnu to look upon him kindly despite his wrongdoings, citing his relationship with his grandfather, the saint Nathamuni.[8]
Yamunacharya is regarded to have been influenced by the hymns of the poet-saints called the Alvars. He pays homage to Nammalvar at the outset of this work.[9]
The ninth hymn of this work glorifies the attributes of Vishnu:[10]
The thirty-eighth hymn of the work mentions Garuda, the vahana (mount) of the deity:[11]