Harivarasanam is recited before closing the temple door every night.
The Harivarasanam prayer, which is sung at Sabarimala is a Urakkupattu.
It is composed by Sri Kambangudi Kulathur Srinivasa Iyer in Sanskrit.
It is said that Srinivasa Iyer used to recite the composition after the Athazha Puja, standing in front of the shrine of Ayyappa in the main temple.
With the efforts of Swami Vimochanananda, it came to be accepted as the lullaby by the Tantri and Melshanthi.
The composition has 352 letters, 108 words in 32 lines in 8 stanzas.
Harivarasanam, also known as Hariharasuthāshtakam, is a highly sanskritised Malayalam Hindu devotional song composed in the astakam metre, recited at Sabarimala, before closing the temple door every night.
Though there have been many versions of this song sung by many renowned vocalists like P. Unni Krishnan, the Sabarimala temple plays the rendition by K. J. Yesudas of a musical version composed by the renowned music director G. Devarajan every evening after the final pooja.
Meaning of Harivarasanam
Many people are under the impression that “Harivarasanam" was written by Jesudas.... This wonderful work was composed by Shri. Kulathur Iyer(who lived at Chennai belonging to the illustrious Kambankudi family..) If I remember right, He published it in a book called "Darma Sastha Stuti Kadambam" (A garland of praises to Lord Darma Sastha)
It is again a myth that this "Ashtakam" is song to make the Lord sleep.... How can you make the Master of the universe sleep? The ashtakam says "devam-ashraye.." - I take refugee in you.. I surrender to you... How can you surrender to a sleeping person?
And the "Sharanam Ayyappaa Swami Sharanam Ayyappa" doesn't appear in the earlier texts and might have been a later addition... [dear devotees... it is not Sararanam Ayyappa... or Charanam Ayyappa... its Sharanam Ayyappa]
Now the audio recording at Sabarimalai has "Panchadreeshwara Mangalam...." added after Harivarasanam - which is again from the work of Shri. Kambankudi Kulathu Iyer (Last Sloka of Sasthru Shatakam - 100 verses on Lord Sastha)
In the early 1950s the area was just a wild jungle - with only a handful of devotees visited. One devotee, a Menon, stayed there at Sannidhanam and he was very fond
of this Ashtakam and used to recite it at the Sannidhanam. Some years later, due to administrative reasons he was moved out and he died as an orphan. Thirumeni Eashwaran Nampoothiri, an old Mel Santhi of the temple remembered his friend and started reciting Harivarasanam while closing the doors... Thus started a tradition that continues to this day.
Harivarasanam Viswamohanam Haridadhiswara Aaradhyapadhukam
Arivimardhanam Nithyanarthanam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye
One who is seated on a supreme Simhasana, One who enchants the universe, One whose holy feet is worshipped by Surya(Haridadhiswara - is Surya), One who kills enemies(of good deeds), One who always dances the cosmic dance, Oh Hariharaputra Deva! (Son of Hari and Hara !)- I take refuge in thee.
Sharanakirtanam Shakhtamanasam Bharanalolupam Narthanalasam
Arunabhasuram Bhoothanayakam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye
One whose mind gladdens on hearing the Sharana Gosham, One who is the great ruler(of the universe), One who loves to dance, One who shines like the rising sun, One who is the Master of all beings, Oh Hariharaputra Deva! - I take refuge in thee.
Pranaya Sathyaka Praananayakam Pranathakalpakam Suprabhanjitham
Pranavamanidram Keerthanapriyam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye
One who is the darling of his dear most soul Sathyaka(son of Lord Sastha), One who grants all the wishes of the devotees, One who shines with a divine glow, One who is the very abode of “OM”(Pranavam), One who loves songs, Oh Hariharaputra Deva! - I take refuge in thee.
Thuragavahanam Sundarananam Varagadhayudham Vedavarnitham
Gurukrupakaram Keerthanapriyam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye
One who rides a horse, who has a beautiful face, One who has the divine mace as his weapon, One who is described by the Vedhas, One who bestows the grace like a teacher, One who loves songs, Oh Hariharaputra Deva! - I take refuge in thee.
Tribuvanarchitam Devathathmakam Trinayanam Prabhum Divyadeshikam
Tridashapoojitham Chinthithapradam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye
One who is worshiped by the three worlds, who is the soul of all divine beings, One who is the Three - eyed Lord, One who is worshipped by devas(Tridasha = Devas), One who grants all the desires, Oh Hariharaputra Deva! - I take refuge in thee.
Bhavabhayapaham Bhavukavaham Bhuvanamohanam Bhoothibhooshanam
Dhavalavahanam Divyavaranam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye
One who destroys fear(of Birth & Death), who grants brings prosperity to the devotees like a father, One who is enchanter of the entire universe, One who is adorned with the holy ash(Voboothi) as ornament, One who rides on a divine white elephant, Oh Hariharaputra Deva! - I take refuge in thee.
Kalamrudusmitham Sundarananam Kalabhakomalam Gathramohanam
Kalabhakesari Vajivahanam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye
One who has an enchanting smile, who has a beautiful face, One who has an enchanting , soft, pretty form, One who has Elephant, Lion and Horse as his Vahanas Oh Hariharaputra Deva! - I take refuge in thee.
Srithajanapriyam Chinthithapradam Sruthivibhushanam Sadhujeevanam
Sruthimanoharam Geethalalasam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye
One who is dear to the people (who have surrendered to him), One who fulfills all the wishes, One has Vedas as his ornaments and One who is the very life of Good people, One whose glory is wonderfully praised by the Shrutis(Vedas) and who enjoys divine music Oh Hariharaputra Deva! - I take refuge in thee.
