Harivarasanam: Sanskrit Text, Meaning & Benefits of the Ayyappa Hymn
Harivarasanam - Sanskrit Text
॥ श्रीहरिहरात्मजाष्टकम् ॥
हरिवरासनं विश्वमोहनम्
हरिदधीश्वरमाराध्यपादुकम् ।
अरिविमर्दनं नित्यनर्तनम्
हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये ॥१॥
शरणकीर्तनं शक्तमानसम्
भरणलोलुपं नर्तनालसम् ।
अरुणभासुरं भूतनायकम्
हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये ॥२॥
प्रणयसत्यकं प्राणनायकम्
प्रणतकल्पकं सुप्रभाञ्चितम् ।
प्रणवमन्दिरं कीर्तनप्रियम्
हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये ॥३॥
तुरगवाहनं सुन्दराननम्
वरगदायुधं देववर्णितम् ।
गुरुकृपाकरं कीर्तनप्रियम्
हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये ॥४॥
त्रिभुवनार्चितं देवतात्मकम्
त्रिनयनं प्रभुं दिव्यदेशिकम् ।
त्रिदशपूजितं चिन्तितप्रदम्
हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये ॥५॥
भवभयापहं भावुकावहम्
भुवनमोहनं भूतिभूषणम् ।
धवलवाहनं दिव्यवारणम्
हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये ॥६॥
कलमृदुस्मितं सुन्दराननम्
कलभकोमलं गात्रमोहनम् ।
कलभकेसरीवाजिवाहनम्
हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये ॥७॥
श्रितजनप्रियं चिन्तितप्रदम्
श्रुतिविभूषणं साधुजीवनम् ।
श्रुतिमनोहरं गीतलालसम्
हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये ॥८॥
॥ इति श्रीहरिहरात्मजाष्टकं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Transliteration (Roman/IAST)
hari-varāsanaṁ viśva-mohanam
haridadhīśvaram ārādhya-pādukam ।
ari-vimardanaṁ nitya-nartanam
hari-harātmajaṁ devam āśraye ॥1॥
śaraṇa-kīrtanaṁ śakta-mānasam
bharaṇa-lolupaṁ nartanālasam ।
aruṇa-bhāsuraṁ bhūta-nāyakam
hari-harātmajaṁ devam āśraye ॥2॥
praṇaya-satyakaṁ prāṇa-nāyakam
praṇata-kalpakaṁ suprabhāñcitam ।
praṇava-mandiraṁ kīrtana-priyam
hari-harātmajaṁ devam āśraye ॥3॥
turaga-vāhanaṁ sundarānanam
vara-gadāyudhaṁ deva-varṇitam ।
guru-kṛpākaraṁ kīrtana-priyam
hari-harātmajaṁ devam āśraye ॥4॥
tri-bhuvanārcitaṁ devatātmakam
tri-nayanaṁ prabhuṁ divya-deśikam ।
tri-daśa-pūjitaṁ cintita-pradam
hari-harātmajaṁ devam āśraye ॥5॥
bhava-bhayāpahaṁ bhāvukāvaham
bhuvana-mohanaṁ bhūti-bhūṣaṇam ।
dhavala-vāhanaṁ divya-vāraṇam
hari-harātmajaṁ devam āśraye ॥6॥
kala-mṛdu-smitaṁ sundarānanam
kalabha-komalaṁ gātra-mohanam ।
kalabha-kesarī-vāji-vāhanam
hari-harātmajaṁ devam āśraye ॥7॥
śrita-jana-priyaṁ cintita-pradam
śruti-vibhūṣaṇaṁ sādhu-jīvanam ।
śruti-manoharaṁ gīta-lālasam
hari-harātmajaṁ devam āśraye ॥8॥
Meaning
Each verse takes refuge in Hariharatmaja - the son of Hari (Vishnu) and Hara (Shiva), Lord Ayyappa - and closes with the refrain "I take refuge in that god, the son of Hari and Hara." He is praised as the one seated on the blessed throne of Hari, enchanter of the universe, whose sandals are worthy of worship, the destroyer of foes, the eternal dancer. He delights in the chant of "sharanam," is eager to protect his devotees, radiant like the dawn, lord of all beings. He is the dwelling-place of the sacred syllable Om, fond of devotional song, riding a horse, of beautiful face, wielding the mace, described by the gods. Worshipped in the three worlds, adored by the thirty gods, he grants whatever is thought of; he removes the fear of worldly existence, enchants the worlds, is adorned with sacred ash, rides the white elephant, and lives in the hearts of the saintly. The devotee surrenders wholly to this gentle-smiling, beautiful lord.
About this Stotra
Harivarasanam, formally titled Hariharatmajashtakam, is the most cherished hymn of Lord Ayyappa, the deity of the Sabarimala temple in Kerala who is revered as the son of Hari and Hara. Every night at Sabarimala, this stotra is sung as the "urakkupattu" (lullaby) just before the sanctum doors are closed, lulling the Lord to sleep. Its tender, rhythmic verses, made famous by the soulful rendition broadcast at the temple, have made it beloved across South India and beyond.
Significance & Spiritual Benefits
The hymn embodies complete surrender (sharanagati) - the central spirit of Ayyappa devotion, expressed in the constant cry of "Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa." Chanting it is believed to remove the fear of worldly existence (bhava-bhaya), grant protection, and bring deep peace, which is why it is sung at night as a calming, sleep-inducing prayer. Devotees recite it for fulfilment of sincere wishes (it calls the Lord "chintita-prada," the giver of what is contemplated), and for the steadiness of mind that comes from total surrender to the divine.
Astrological Relevance
As the son of Vishnu and Shiva, Ayyappa unites the grace of two great deities, and his worship is invoked for overall protection and the balancing of conflicting planetary energies. Because he is associated with celibacy, discipline and renunciation, Harivarasanam carries the remedial spirit of Shani (Saturn) and Ketu - the planets of discipline, detachment and spiritual surrender - making it valuable for those undergoing Sade Sati or seeking control over the restless mind. Sung at night, it is also a soothing remedy for an afflicted Moon, calming anxiety and promoting restful sleep. Its emphasis on fearlessness aids those troubled by malefic transits.
How to Chant (Vidhi)
Bathe and sit before an image of Lord Ayyappa, ideally in the evening or at night. Light a lamp and, if observing the Ayyappa vratam, maintain simplicity and restraint. Recite all eight verses with devotion, dwelling on the refrain of taking refuge. It is especially fitting as the final prayer before sleep. Conclude with the invocation "Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa."
Best Day & Time
Saturday is particularly sacred to Ayyappa, and night-time - just before sleep - is the traditional hour for this hymn. The Mandala-Makaravilakku season (mid-November to mid-January), when devotees undertake the Sabarimala pilgrimage, is the most auspicious period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Harivarasanam sung at night?
At the Sabarimala temple it is sung as a lullaby (urakkupattu) just before the sanctum is closed for the night, symbolically putting the Lord to rest. Its soothing rhythm makes it ideal as a bedtime prayer.
Who is Hariharatmaja?
Hariharatmaja means "the son of Hari and Hara" - Lord Ayyappa, born of Vishnu (in the form of Mohini) and Shiva, worshipped chiefly at Sabarimala.
What is the central message of the hymn?
Total surrender (sharanagati) to the Lord, who removes the fear of worldly existence and grants protection and peace to those who take refuge in him.
Harivarasanam: the lullaby that closes a sacred mountain
Few devotional songs carry the atmospheric power of Harivarasanam in the context of its setting: every evening at Sabarimala, after the final aarti, this gentle lullaby-stotra is sung to send Lord Ayyappa to rest before the temple doors close for the night. The juxtaposition is profound - Ayyappa, born of the union of Hari (Vishnu) and Hara (Shiva), is one of the most potent divine presences in the South Indian tradition, yet the song addresses him with the tenderness a mother brings to a beloved child. This quality of vatsalya, parental love offered in reverse to the Lord, lends the Harivarasanam an intimacy that devotees find deeply moving regardless of whether they have made the arduous pilgrimage to Sabarimala.
The hymn is sung across Kerala and Tamil Nadu not only during the Mandalam and Makaravilakku season but whenever a devotee observes the Ayyappa vrata, and its eight verses are often among the first devotional texts taught to children in households with a tradition of Ayyappa worship. In the Jyotish tradition, Ayyappa as the synthesis of Vishnu and Shiva is associated with the capacity to balance opposing planetary energies; devotees believe that the Harivarasanam, recited with the spirit of surrender that the pilgrimage itself demands, invites the Lord's serene, encompassing protection into daily life even for those unable to climb the sacred hill.