Harivarasanam

Harivarasanam vishwamohanam
Hariharathmajam devamashraye.....

Synonymous with the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala, this ashtakam extolling the virtues of Lord Ayyappan/Ayyanaar is sung just before the closure of the shrine at night after the final poojas. As the concluding stanzas are recited, the assistant Santhis (Priests) leave the Sanctum Sanctorum; only the Mel Santhi (Head Priest) remains inside the Sreekovil. Extinguishing the lamps one by one, he shuts temple doors for the night.

Harivarasanam celebrates the union of the human soul with the ultimate and expounds the greatness of Ayyappan. It is believed to have been composed by Kumbakudi Kulathur Iyer and was first recited at Sabarimala in 1955 by Swami Vimochananad.

Birth of a tradition
In the early decades of the 20th century, the Ayyappa Sannidhanam on Sabarimala was a mere jungle that was mostly shunned by pilgrims. A V.R. Gopala Menon of Alappuzha built a hut in the temple precincts and stayed there even after the temple was closed for the year. Befriending the wild creatures that frequented the area, this pious soul led a life of renunciation and penance; it is learned that he constantly used to sing Harivarasanam in utter devotion to the Lord. Later, after the formation of the Travancore Devaswom Board, he was asked to leave the premises to make way for development; Menon, it is understood, died a lonely death at a tea estate at Vandiperiyar.

During his sojourn on Sabarimala Gopala Menon was the sole companion of Thirumeni Eashwaran Namboodiri, an old Mel Santhi at the temple. Namboodiri was grief-stricken when he heard of Menon's demise. After the final poojas that day, when he was about to close the temple for the night, the Mel Santhi remembered his dear friend and chanted Harivarasanam, thus beginning a tradition that remains unbroken even today.
Harivarasanam Viswamohanam
Haridadhiswaram Aaradhyapadhukam
Arivimardhanam Nithyanarthanam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye

Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

Saranakirtanam Bakhtamanasam
Bharanalolupam Narthanalasam
Arunabhasuram Bhoothanayakam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye

Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

Pranayasathyakam Praananayakam
Pranathakalpakam Suprabhanjitham
Pranavamanidram Keerthanapriyam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye

Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

Thuragavahanam Sundarananam
Varagadhayudham Vedavavarnitham
Gurukrupakaram Keerthanapriyam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye

Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

Tribuvanarchitam Devathathmakam
Trinayanam Prabhum Divyadeshikam
Tridashapoojitham Chinthithapradam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye

Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

Bhavabhayapaham Bhavukavaham
Bhuvanamohanam Bhoothibhooshanam
Dhavalavahanam Divyavaranam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye

Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

Kalamrudusmitham Sundarananam
Kalabhakomalam Gathramohanam
Kalabhakesari Vajivahanam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye

Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

Srithajanapriyam Chinthithapradam
Sruthivibhushanam Sadhujeevanam
Sruthimanoharam Geethalalasam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye

Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa
Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa