Harivarasanam

Harivarasanam is a Sanskrit devotional ashtakam (eight stanzas) dedicated to Hindu deity Ayyappan at the Śabarimala temple, situated in the state of Kerala, India. The song is sung as a lullaby to Ayyappan and is sang at 11:00 PM IST at the temple in the ritual of putting the deity to sleep before the doors to the sanctum of the temple is shut for the day. The song became popular through the first stanza in the Kīrtanam known as "Hariharatmajashtakam" (ഹരിഹരാത്മജാഷ്ട്ടകം)

The exact origin of the song is unclear, but it is believed that Kamabnkudi Kulathu Iyer wrote it (source: https://kesariweekly.com/33730/). But it has been claimed recently without evidence that the song was written by Konnakathu Janaki Amma in 1923, as an offering to Lord Ayyappa. It is claimed she had submitted the work to her father, Ananthakrishna Iyer, who was then the Sabarimala Melshanthi (Chief Priest). But, this is a recent claim, with no concurrent proof, apart from handwritten notes. There is ample evidence to prove the claim wrong because Kulathu Iyer and Anantha Krishna Iyer belonged to Kalladakurichi, Tamil Nadu. (https://kesariweekly.com/33730/). Anantha Krishna Iyer was the Sabarimala chief priest from 1907-1920.

Kulathu Iyer published his Sastha Sthuthi Kadambam in Tamil in 1920. According to legend, When Ayyappa went to fetch tiger's milk for his ailing Queen mother, came to Karandayar Palayam agraharam in Kalladaikurichi, wet in heavy rains, to the house of a brahmin named Vijayan, had bajra porridge (which is kambu in Tamil) and slept in their house that night with the childless couple. When the couple realised early in the morning that the boy has disappeared from the bed, a divine voice told them that they would be blessed with children, and their next generation will be blessed by HIM whenever they wish.

Since the Lord was offered porridge made of kambu, his next generation would be called Kambukody-which later came to be known as Kampankudi. And the members of this family are made Sthanigar(President) of the Sasthapreethi conducted in Karandayar Palayam and are given a high seat and great recognition. The branches of the family later migrated to Kerala.

According to P R Ramachandar, who translated Harivarasanam into English, a Kambankudi branch had been there in his native village of Chelakkara too.

It is the Chelakkara branch that published two books in the name of Kulathu Iyer, at the beginning of the 20th century, from Thiruvananthapuram, and Ramachandar keeps photocopies of both the books, titled Dharma Sastha Sthuthi Kadambam.

The original version of the song is only sung vocally, inside the temple during the daily temple closing ceremony and the popular version of the song, which is sung differently from the original version is also played simultaneously through megaphones and speakers, for the devotees.

Background

The lyrics are composed in Sanskrit and also included in his Sastha Thuthi Kadambam of Kambankudi Kulathur Ayyar published in 1963, in Malayalam script by Jayachandra Book Depot, Chalai, Thiruvananthapuram. The first singers of Harivarasanam were the bhajan singers of Kalladaikurichi and later Purakkattu Anandeswaram Siva Temple. Devotees known as Kalladakkoottam (people from Kalladaikurichi) sang this song everywhere in Kerala and it started to become popular throughout the state. In the 1950s, Melsanthi Eswaran Nambudiri of Mavelikara started to recite this ashtakam in the Sabarimala temple, beside the sanctum, every night after the Athaazha Sheeveli (a ritual after the divine dinner) as a song to put Ayyappa to sleep.

The song became extremely popular all over southern India, when it was included in the famous Malayalam film Swami Ayyappan '' Swami Ayyappan'' in 1975. The song was rendered by a Carnatic vocalist and playback singer K. J. Yesudas and composed in the Madhyamavati raga by composer late G. Devarajan. During his pilgrimage to Sabarimala in 2017, Yesudas claimed that the words ‘ari’ (enemy) and ‘vimardhanam’ (annihilation) in the lyrics should have been spelt separately, on behalf of the advice and new information he received from a scholar, and he would be happy to re-record it with due corrections.

Mr Padmakumar had claimed that Harivarasanam was written by Konnakathu Janaki Amma, his grandfather’s sister, whose father, Ananthakrishna Iyer, was the head priest at Sabarimala from 1907 to 1920.

Lyrics

The song is in the Sanskrit language, originally written using Malayalam script.

Malayalam	Tamil	Kannada	Telugu	Devanagari
ഹരിവരാസനം വിശ്വമോഹനം ഹരിദധീശ്വരം ആരാധ്യപാദുകം അരി വിമര്‍ദ്ദനം നിത്യ നര്‍ത്തനം ഹരിഹരാത്മജം ദേവമാശ്രയേ ശരണ കീര്‍ത്തനം ഭക്തമാനസം ഭരണലോലുപം നര്‍ത്തനാലസം അരുണഭാസുരം ഭൂതനായകം ഹരിഹരാത്മജം ദേവമാശ്രയേ പ്രണയസത്യകം പ്രാണനായകം പ്രണതകല്പകം സുപ്രഭാഞ്ചിതം പ്രണവ മന്ദിരം കീര്‍ത്തനപ്രിയം ഹരിഹരാത്മജം ദേവമാശ്രയേ തുരഗവാഹനം സുന്ദരാനനം വരഗദായുധം വേദവര്‍ണ്ണിതം ഗുരുകൃപാകരം കീര്‍ത്തനപ്രിയം ഹരിഹരാത്മജം ദേവമാശ്രയേ ത്രിഭുവനാര്‍ച്ചിതം ദേവതാത്മകം ത്രിനയനം പ്രഭും ദിവ്യദേശികം ത്രിദശപൂജിതം ചിന്തിതപ്രദം ഹരിഹരാത്മജം ദേവമാശ്രയേ ഭവഭയാവഹം ഭാവുകാവഹം ഭുവനമോഹനം ഭൂതിഭൂഷണം ധവളവാഹനം ദിവ്യവാരണം ഹരിഹരാത്മജം ദേവമാശ്രയേ കളമൃദുസ്മിതം സുന്ദരാനനം കളഭകോമളം ഗാത്രമോഹനം കളഭകേസരി വാജിവാഹനം ഹരിഹരാത്മജം ദേവമാശ്രയേ ശ്രിതജനപ്രിയം ചിന്തിതപ്രദം ശ്രുതിവിഭൂഷണം സാധുജീവനം ശ്രുതിമനോഹരം ഗീതലാലസം ഹരിഹരാത്മജം ദേവമാശ്രയേ ശരണമയ്യപ്പാ സ്വാമി ശരണമയ്യപ്പാ ശരണമയ്യപ്പാ സ്വാമി ശരണമയ്യപ്പാ ശരണമയ്യപ്പാ സ്വാമി ശരണമയ്യപ്പാ ശരണമയ്യപ്പാ സ്വാമി ശരണമയ്യപ്പാ	ஹரிவராசனம் விஸ்வமோகனம் ஹரிததீஸ்வரம் ஆராத்யபாதுகம் அரிவிமர்த்தனம் நித்யநர்த்தனம் ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவமாஷ்ரயே சரணகீர்த்தனம் பக்தமானஸம் பரணலோலுபம் நர்த்தனாலயம் அருணபாசுரம் பூதநாயகம் ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவமாஷ்ரயே ப்ரணயசத்யகம் ப்ராணநாயகம் ப்ரணதகல்பகம் சுப்ரபாஞ்சிதம் பிரணவமந்திரம் கீர்த்தனப்பிரியம் ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவமாஷ்ரயே துரகவாகனம் சுந்தரானனம் வரகதாயுதம் வேதவர்ணிதம் குருக்ருபாகரம் கீர்த்தனப்பிரியம் ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவமாஷ்ரயே திரிபுவனார்ச்சிதம் தேவதாத்மகம் திரிநயனம் பிரபும் திவ்யதேசிகம் திரிதசப்பூஜிதம் சிந்திதப்பிரதம் ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவமாஷ்ரயே பவபயாபகம் பாவுகாவகம் புவனமோகனம் பூதிபூஷணம் தவளவாகனம் திவ்யவாரணம் ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவமாஷ்ரயே களம்ருதுஸ்மிதம் சுந்தரானனம் களபகோமளம் காத்ரமோகனம் களபகேசரி வாஜிவாகனம் ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவமாஷ்ரயே ஸ்ரிதஜனப்ரியம் சிந்திதப்ரதம் ஸ்ருதிவிபூஷணம் சாதுஜீவனம் ஸ்ருதிமனோகரம் கீதலாலசம் ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவமாஷ்ரயே சரணம் ஐயப்பா சுவாமி சரணம் ஐயப்பா சரணம் ஐயப்பா சுவாமி சரணம் ஐயப்பா சரணம் ஐயப்பா சுவாமி சரணம் ஐயப்பா சரணம் ஐயப்பா சுவாமி சரணம் ஐயப்பா	ಹರಿವರಾಸನಂ ವಿಶ್ವಮೋಹನಮ್ ಹರಿದ್ಧೀಶ್ವರಮಾರಾಧ್ಯಪಾದುಕಮ್ ಅರಿವಿಮರ್ದನಂ ನಿತ್ಯನರ್ತನಮ್ ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜನ್ ದೇವಮಾಶ್ರಯೇ ಚರಣಕೀರ್ತನಂ ಭಕ್ತಮಾನಸಮ್ ಭರಣಲೋಲುಪಂ ನರ್ತನಲಸಂ. ಅರುಣ್ಭಾಸುರಂ ಭೂತನಾಯಕಂ ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜನ್ ದೇವಮಾಶ್ರಯೇ ಪ್ರಾಣಾಯಾಸತ್ಯಕಂ ಪ್ರಾಣಾಯಕಮ್ಪ್ರ ನಾಟಕಕಲ್ಪಕಂ ಸುಪ್ರಭಂಚಿತಮ್ ಪ್ರಣವಮನ್ದಿರಂ ಕೀರ್ತನಪ್ರಿಯಮ್ ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜನ್ ದೇವಮಾಶ್ರಯೇ ತುರ್ಗವಾಹನಂ ಸುಂದರನನಂ ವರ್ಗಾದಾಯುಧಂ ವೇದವರ್ಣಿತಮ್ ಗುರುಕೃಪಾಕರಂ ಕೀರ್ತನಪ್ರಿಯಮ್ ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜನ್ ದೇವಮಾಶ್ರಯೇ ತ್ರಿಭುವನರ್ಚಿತಂ ದೇವತ್ತಕಮ್ ತ್ರಿನಯನಪ್ರಭು ದಿವ್ಯದೇಶಿಕಮ್. ತ್ರಿದಶಪೂಜಿತ್ ಚಿಂತಲಪ್ರದಮ್ ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜನ್ ದೇವಮಾಶ್ರಯೇ ಭವಭಯಪಹಂ ಭಾವಕವಾಕಬ್ಹು ವನಮೋಹನ ಭೂತಿಭೂಷಣಮ್. ಧವಲವಾಹನಂ ದಿವ್ಯಾವರಣಮ್ ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜನ್ ದೇವಮಾಶ್ರಯೇ ಕಾಲಮೃದುಸ್ಮಿತಂ ಸುನ್ದರನನಮ್ ಕಲಭಕೋಮಲ್ ಗಾತ್ರಮೋಹನಮ್. ಕಲಭಕೇಸರಿಮಜೀವಹನಮ್ ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜನ್ ದೇವಮಾಶ್ರಯೇ ಶ್ರೀತ್ಜನಪ್ರಿಯ ಚಿನ್ತಲಪ್ರದಮ್ ಶ್ರುತಿವಿಭೂಷಣಂ ಸಾಧುಜೀವನಮ್ ಶ್ರುತಿಮನೋಹರನ್ ಗಿಟ್ಲಾಲ್ಸಂ ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜನ್ ದೇವಮಾಶ್ರಯೇ ಶರಣಂ ಅಯ್ಯಪ್ಪ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಶರಣಂ ಅಯ್ಯಪ್ಪ ಶರಣಂ ಅಯ್ಯಪ್ಪ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಶರಣಂ ಅಯ್ಯಪ್ಪ ಶರಣಂ ಅಯ್ಯಪ್ಪ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಶರಣಂ ಅಯ್ಯಪ್ಪ ಶರಣಂ ಅಯ್ಯಪ್ಪ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಶರಣಂ ಅಯ್ಯಪ್ಪ	హరివరాసనం విశ్వమోహనం హరిదదిస్వరం ఆరాధ్యపాదుకం అరివిమర్థనం నిత్యనర్తనం హరిహరాత్మజం దేవమాశ్రయే శరణకీర్తనం భక్తమానసం భరణలోలుపం నర్తనాలసం అరుణభాసురం భూతనాయకం హరిహరాత్మజం దేవమాశ్రయే ప్రణయసత్యకం ప్రాణనాయకం ప్రణతకల్పకం సుప్రభాన్చితం ప్రణవమందిరం కీర్తనప్రియం హరిహరాత్మజం దేవమాశ్రయే తురగవాహనం సుందరాననం వరగదాయుధం వేదవర్ణితం గురు కృపాకరం కీర్తనప్రియం హరిహరాత్మజం దేవమాశ్రయే త్రిభువనార్చనం దేవతాత్మకం త్రినయనంప్రభుం దివ్యదేశికం త్రిదశపూజితం చిన్తితప్రదం హరిహరాత్మజం దేవమాశ్రయే భవభయాపహం భావుకావహం భువనమోహనం భూతిభూషణం ధవలవాహనం దివ్యవారణం హరిహరాత్మజం దేవమాశ్రయే కళ మృదుస్మితం సుందరాననం కలభకోమలం గాత్రమోహనం కలభకేసరి వాజివాహనం హరిహరాత్మజం దేవమాశ్రయే శ్రితజనప్రియం చిన్తితప్రదం శృతివిభూషణం సాధుజీవనం శృతిమనోహరం గీతలాలసం హరిహరాత్మజం దేవమాశ్రయే శరణం అయ్యప్ప స్వామి శరణం అయ్యప్ప శరణం అయ్యప్ప స్వామి శరణం అయ్యప్ప శరణం అయ్యప్ప స్వామి శరణం అయ్యప్ప శరణం అయ్యప్ప స్వామి శరణం అయ్యప్ప	हरिवरासनं विश्वमोहनम् हरिदधीश्वरमाराध्यपादुकम् । अरिविमर्दनं नित्यनर्तनम् हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये ॥ १॥ चरणकीर्तनं भक्तमानसम् भरणलोलुपं नर्तनालसम् । अरुणभासुरं भूतनायकम् हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये ॥ २॥ प्रणयसत्यकं प्राणनायकम्प्र णतकल्पकं सुप्रभाञ्चितम् । प्रणवमन्दिरं कीर्तनप्रियम् हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये ॥ ३॥ तुरगवाहनं सुन्दराननम् वरगदायुधं वेदवर्णितम् । गुरुकृपाकरं कीर्तनप्रियम् हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये ॥ ४॥ त्रिभुवनार्चितं देवतात्मकम् त्रिनयनप्रभुं दिव्यदेशिकम् । त्रिदशपूजितं चिन्तितप्रदम् हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये ॥ ५॥ भवभयापहं भावुकावकम्भु वनमोहनं भूतिभूषणम् । धवलवाहनं दिव्यवारणम् हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये ॥ ६॥ कलमृदुस्मितं सुन्दराननम् कलभकोमलं गात्रमोहनम् । कलभकेसरीमाजिवाहनम् हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये ॥ ७॥ श्रितजनप्रियं चिन्तितप्रदम् श्रुतिविभूषणं साधुजीवनम् । श्रुतिमनोहरं गीतलालसम् हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये ॥ ८॥ शरणं अय्यप्पा स्वामी शरणं अय्यप्पा शरणं अय्यप्पा स्वामी शरणं अय्यप्पा शरणं अय्यप्पा स्वामी शरणं अय्यप्पा शरणं अय्यप्पा स्वामी शरणं अय्यप्पा

English Transliteration English Meaning Harivarasanam Viswamohanam Haridadheeswaram Aaradhyapadukam Ari vimarddanam Nithyanarthanam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa Repository of Hari’s boons, Enchanter of the universe, Essence of Hari’s grace, He whose holy feet is worshipped, He who kills enemies by good thought, He who daily dances the cosmic dance, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee, Oh Lord My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa Sharanakirthanam bakthamanasam Bharanalolupam Narthanalasam Arunabhasuram Bhoothanayakam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa He who likes song of refuge, He who is in the mind of devotees, He who is the great ruler, He who loves to dance, He who shines like the rising sun, He who is the king of all beings, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee, Oh Lord My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa Pranayasathyakam Praananayakam Pranathakalpakam Suprabhanchitham Pranavamandiram Keerthanapriyam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa He whose is true love, He who is the darling of soul, He who created universe, He who shines with a glittering halo, He who is the temple of “OM”, He who loves songs, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee, Oh Lord My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa Thuragavahanam Sundarananam Varagadayudham Vedavarnitham Gurukrupakaram Keerthanapriyam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa He who rides a horse, He who has a pretty face, He who has the blessed mace as weapon, He who is glorified by Vedas He who bestows grace like a teacher, He who loves songs, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee, Oh Lord My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa Thribhuvanarchitham Devathathmakam Thrinayanam Prabhum Divyadeshikam Thridashapoojitham Chinthithapradam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa He who is worshiped by the three worlds, He who is the soul of all gods, He who is lord Shiva, He who resides in holy place, He who is worshipped three times a day, He whose thought itself is fulfilling, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee, Oh Lord My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa Bhavabhayapaham Bhavukavaham Bhuvanamohanam Bhoothibhooshanam Dhavalavahanam Divyavaranam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa He who destroys fear, He who brings prosperity, He who is enchanter of universe, He who wears holy ash as ornament, He who rides a white noble elephant, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee, Oh Lord My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa Kalamridusmitham Sundarananam Kalabhakomalam Gathramohanam Kalabhakesari Vaajivahanam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa He who blesses with enchanting smile, He who has a pretty face, He who is adorned by sandal paste, He who has a pretty physique, He who rides on a royal lion and tiger, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee, Oh Lord My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa Shrithajanapriyam Chinthithapradam Shruthivibhushanam Sadhujeevanam Shruthimanoharam Geethalalasam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa He who is dear to his devotees, He whose thought itself is fulfilling, He who is praised by songs, He who lives life of ascetics, He who is the essence of hearing sweet music, He who enjoys divine music, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee, Oh Lord My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa Mangala Sthuthi Panchadreeshwari Mangalam Hariharapremakruthey Mangalam Pinchalamkrutha Mangalam Pranamathaam Chinthamane Mangalam Panchasyadhwaja Mangalam Thrujagadhamadhyaprabhoo Mangalam Panchastropama Mangalam Shruthisirolankaara Sanmangalam

Harivarasanam Award

The Harivarasanam Award is an award jointly instituted by the Government of Kerala and Travancore Devaswom Board. It is awarded for contributions towards propagation of secularism, equanimity and universal brotherhood of Sabarimala through music. It is being awarded since 2012. Each year, Harivarasanam Award is announced ahead of Makaravilakku festival in Sabarimala. The award consists of cash prize of ₹1 lakh, citations and plaque.

Harivarasanam Centenary Celebrations

As it is known that Harivarasanam was originally written in the year 1920, and by the year 2023 Centenary celebrations are taken up by Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam across India. Celebrations were launched by the Governor of Tamil Nadu state, Maestro Ilayaraja - Music Director has been selected as National Committee Chairman for the same.

See also

• Ayyappan
• Shasta
• Sabarimala
• Mahishasuramardini Stotra