Harivarasanam


Harivarasanam, also known as Hariharasuthāshtakam, is a Malayalam Hindu devotional song composed in the astakam mete, recited at Sabarimala, before closing the temple door every night. Though there have been many versions of this song sung by many renowned vocalists, the Sabarimala temple plays the rendition by K. J. Yesudas of a musical version composed by G. Devarajan for the film Swami Ayyappan.

Song

ഹരിവരാസനം (മലയാളം)

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 ദേവവര്‍ണ്ണിതം
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…..

Malayalam Phonetic Transcription

Harivarasanam Viswamohanam
Haridadhiswaram Aaradhyapadhukam
Arivimardhanam Nithyanarthanam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa
Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa
Saranakirtanam Sakhthamanasam
Bharanalolupam Narthanalasam
Arunabhasuram Bhoothanayakam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa
Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa
Pranayasathyakam Praananayakam
Pranathakalpakam Suprabhanjitham
Pranavamanidram Keerthanapriyam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa
Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa
Thuragavahanam Sundarananam
Varagadhayudham Vedavavarnitham
Gurukrupakaram Keerthanapriyam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa
Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa
Tribuvanarchitam Devathathmakam
Trinayanam Prabhum Divyadeshikam
Tridashapoojitham Chinthithapradam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa
Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa
Bhavabhayapaham Bhavukavaham
Bhuvanamohanam Bhoothibhooshanam
Dhavalavahanam Divyavaranam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa
Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa
Kalamrudusmitham Sundarananam
Kalabhakomalam Gathramohanam
Kalabhakesari Vajivahanam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa
Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa
Srithajanapriyam Chinthithapradam
Sruthivibhushanam Sadhujeevanam
Sruthimanoharam Geethalalasam
Hariharatmajam Devamashreye
Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa
Sharanam Ayyappa Swamy Sharanam Ayyappa

Background

'Harivarasanam' is written in eight stanzas, called 'Ashtakam'. The authorship is contested, and can be ascribed to either Kambangudi Kulathur Srinivasa Iyer, or Konnakathu Janaki Amma who had seemingly written stanzas of the song in the 1920s. It was first rendered at Sabarimala in 1955 by Swami Vimochanananda. Notably the tradition of singing the song as an urakku paattu after the Athazha Puja, can be attributed to the story of VR Gopala Menon and V Eshwaran Namboothiri.
Sabarimala is located in the deep jungle area, and in the past a few pious devotees managed the difficult pilgrimage. The temple opens during the pilgrimage season and also on the first day of every Malayalam month.
VR Gopala Menon, from Alapuzha used to accompany Thirumeni Eashwaran Namboothiri, the Melshanthi, to Sannidhanam every time, and would stay there by himself even when the temple was closed, remaining undisturbed by the wild animals. Gopala Menon used to recite "Harivarasanam" with devotion during his time at Sannidhanam. When the Devaswom Board was formed, he was asked to move out. He eventually died at a tea estate at Vandiperiyar. When Thirumeni Eashwaran Namboothiri heard about Menon's passing, he was deeply saddened. At the end of the day's rituals, the Namboothiri was about to close the doors of the Sannidhanam when he remembered the dedication and sacrifice of Gopala Menon and began to recite "Harivarasanam"' starting a tradition that remains unbroken till date.
Today, as the final verses are being sung, all the assistant Santhis leave the Sreekovil one by one. As the song ends, only the Melsanthi is inside. He extinguishes the lamps one at a time and closes the doors for the night.