Why We Chant Stotra?
Stotras are Hindu prayers that praise aspects of God, such as Devi, Siva, or Vishnu. Stotras, according to Swami Tapasyananda, are invariably uttered aloud and consist of chanting verses conveying the glory and attributes of God.
The three most famous and sacred stotras in Hinduism are Lalitha Sahasranama, Shri Rudram Chamakam, and Vishnu Sahasranama. Other famous Stotras are: Narayana Kavacha, Sri Ramraksha Stotra, and Sri Maruti Stotra.
Stotras are useful for cutting away at karma. They are not bound by the rules that Shruti such as the Vedas are bound by, so therefore, they are accessible by the everyday householder. But that is not to say that they are not as potent as the Vedic mantras.
Any stotra chanted with (a) concentration (b) devotion will have a net effect of eliminating karmas and purifying the life of the reciter, so as to render him/her with favourable circumstances. It is a mistake to compare Stotras with Vaidik mantras, since each are unique and special unto themselves.
Stotras contain the names of God. According to Hinduism, the names of God are the most valuable tools for the liberation and annihilation of the mind. The mind is the only thing standing between the practitioner and God.