Stuti is a general term for devotional literary compositions, but literally means praise.
Stemming from the universal Soul, or Brahman, prayer is focused on the personal forms of Devas/Devis, such as Vishnu, Vishnu's Avatars, Rama & Krishna, Shiva as well as Shakti, or Shakti's forms such as Lakshmi or Kali.
Before the process of ritual involving the invoking of various deities for the fulfillment of needs (great/small, varying in urgency), came the human aspiration for the highest truth.
Brahman, which summarily can be called the unknowable, true, infinite and blissful Divine Ground, is the source & being of all existence from which the Cosmos spring.
The following prayer was part & parcel of all Vedic ceremonies, continuing to be invoked in Hindu temples presently throughout India and the World.