Ayyappan Ashtottara Shatanamavali: 108 Names of Lord Ayyappan - Text & Meaning
Bhagwan Ayyappan Ashtottara Shatanamavali - Sanskrit Text (Opening Names)
The following are the opening names of the 108-name Ashtottara Shatanamavali of Lord Ayyappan (Hariharaputra). The complete namavali contains one hundred and eight names, each beginning with Om and ending with Namah; a verified opening portion is reproduced here.
ॐ महाशास्त्रे नमः ।
ॐ महादेवाय नमः ।
ॐ महादेवसुताय नमः ।
ॐ अव्यय नमः ।
ॐ लोककर्त्रे नमः ।
ॐ लोकभर्त्रे नमः ।
ॐ लोकहर्त्रे नमः ।
ॐ परात्पराय नमः ।
ॐ त्रिलोकरक्षकाय नमः ।
ॐ धन्विने नमः ।
ॐ तपस्विने नमः ।
ॐ भूतसैनिकाय नमः ।
ॐ मन्त्रवेदिने नमः ।
ॐ महावेदिने नमः ।
ॐ मारुताय नमः ।
ॐ जगदीश्वराय नमः ।
ॐ लोकाध्यक्षाय नमः ।
ॐ अग्रण्ये नमः ।
ॐ श्रीमते नमः ।
ॐ अप्रमेयपराक्रमाय नमः ॥
… (the namavali continues through 108 names) …
Transliteration (Roman/IAST)
oṃ mahāśāstre namaḥ | oṃ mahādevāya namaḥ | oṃ mahādevasutāya namaḥ | oṃ avyaya namaḥ | oṃ lokakartre namaḥ | oṃ lokabhartre namaḥ | oṃ lokahartre namaḥ | oṃ parātparāya namaḥ | oṃ trilokarakṣakāya namaḥ | oṃ dhanvine namaḥ |
oṃ tapasvine namaḥ | oṃ bhūtasainikāya namaḥ | oṃ mantravedine namaḥ | oṃ mahāvedine namaḥ | oṃ mārutāya namaḥ | oṃ jagadīśvarāya namaḥ | oṃ lokādhyakṣāya namaḥ | oṃ agraṇye namaḥ | oṃ śrīmate namaḥ | oṃ aprameyaparākramāya namaḥ ||
Meaning
Each name is an act of reverent salutation (namah) to one quality of Lord Ayyappan: the Great Teacher (Mahashasta), the Great God, the son of Mahadeva, the imperishable one, the maker, sustainer and dissolver of the worlds, higher than the highest, protector of the three worlds, the great archer, the ascetic, leader of the ghost-armies, knower of mantras and of the Vedas, lord of the universe, overseer of all worlds, the foremost, the glorious, and the one of immeasurable valour. Reciting the 108 names is a complete meditation on his divine nature.
About this Stotra
Lord Ayyappan, worshipped above all at the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, is revered as Hariharaputra - the son of Hari (Vishnu, in the form of Mohini) and Hara (Shiva) - and as Manikandan and Dharma Shasta. The Ashtottara Shatanamavali is a litany of his one hundred and eight names. Chanting it is a core part of the devotee’s daily worship and of the rigorous forty-one-day vratham observed before the Sabarimala pilgrimage.
Significance & Spiritual Benefits
Reciting the 108 names is believed to bestow protection, courage, self-control and the fulfilment of righteous desires. Because Ayyappan unites the powers of Vishnu and Shiva, his namavali is considered exceptionally complete and balancing. Devotees recite it for removal of obstacles, victory over inner and outer enemies, mental discipline, and the grace to complete the demanding pilgrimage with a pure heart.
Astrological Relevance
As Dharma Shasta, the lord of righteous order, Ayyappan is associated with Shani (Saturn) - the planet of discipline, austerity and karmic justice - and the strict celibate vratham of his worship mirrors Saturn’s demand for restraint. His namavali is therefore drawn upon as a devotional support during Sade Sati, Shani mahadasha and Saturn afflictions, and to strengthen self-discipline, perseverance and protection from negativity.
How to Chant (Vidhi)
After bathing and wearing clean (traditionally black or blue) clothes, sit before an image of Ayyappan. Light a lamp, offer flowers, and recite the 108 names with devotion, ideally touching or counting on a mala. Those observing the Sabarimala vratham wear the tulsi or rudraksha mala and maintain strict purity, celibacy and a sattvic diet throughout. Conclude with “Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa.”
Best Day & Time
Saturday is especially auspicious for Ayyappan and Shasta worship, as is the Malayalam month of Mandalam (mid-November to late December) culminating in Makaravilakku. Early morning is the ideal time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lord Ayyappan?
He is Hariharaputra, the son of Vishnu (as Mohini) and Shiva, worshipped as Dharma Shasta and Manikandan, with his chief shrine at Sabarimala in Kerala.
Why are there 108 names?
One hundred and eight is a sacred number in Hindu tradition; reciting all 108 names is a complete meditation on the deity’s qualities and is believed to bring his full grace.
Which planet is linked with Ayyappan worship?
As the lord of dharma and austerity, Ayyappan is associated with Saturn (Shani), and his namavali is used as a remedy during Saturn periods and for self-discipline.
The 108 Names of Ayyappan and the Path of Vratha Discipline
The Ashtottara Shatanamavali of Lord Ayyappan is far more than a list of epithets -- it is a meditative map of the deity's nature as Hariharaputra, the son born of both Vishnu and Shiva. Each name illuminates a facet of his being: his role as protector of the forest, guardian of the weak, and embodiment of absolute celibacy and discipline (brahmacharya). Devotees undertaking the forty-one-day mandala deeksha before the Sabarimala pilgrimage traditionally incorporate this namavali into their daily practice, chanting it as a means of aligning body, speech, and mind with the austere ideal Ayyappan himself represents. It is most commonly recited on Saturdays and during the mandala season between Karthika and Makara Vilakku.
In the Jyotish tradition, Ayyappan is strongly linked with Saturn (Shani), the planet of discipline, karma, and detachment. Chanting his names is therefore regarded as beneficial for those seeking to navigate Saturn's periods with steadiness and spiritual focus. The beauty of this namavali lies in how it transforms ritual difficulty -- the cold baths, the bare feet, the vegetarian restraint of the vratha -- into an act of joyful surrender. Tradition holds that sincere recitation cultivates inner fortitude and a deepened sense of equanimity in daily life.