Harivarasanam
Harivarasanam (Malayalam: ഹരിവരാസനം) is a Sanskritised Malayalam[1] ashtakam sung as a lullaby to Lord Ayyappan at the Sabarimala Sree Dharma Sastha Temple, situated in Kerala, India. The song became popular through the first stanza in the Keerthanam known as Hariharatmajashtakam (Malayalam: ഹരിഹരാത്മജാഷ്ട്ടകം). The traditional version of the song is sung vocally inside the temple during the daily temple closing ceremony and the popular version of the song is played simultaneously for the devotees[1].
Background
The exact origin of the song is unclear and contested. The earliest one of the claims mentions Kambankudi Kulathu Iyer as the composer, who authored a collection of devotional songs named "Harivarasanam Viswamohanam" which included the song. The latter claims the composer as Konnakathu Janaki Amma, which goes on to mention that she composed the keerthanam as an offering to Lord Ayyappa and she had submitted the work to her father, Ananthakrishna Iyer, who was the then Sabarimala Melshanthi (Chief Priest)[1].
A Padmakumar, Ex-TDB president and also a descendant of Konnakathu Janaki Amma, had claimed that the family possess original handwritten notes of the author to prove the authorship. All these records mention Srinivasa Iyer as the sambadakan (compiler). The reason behind this is believed that back then, people would not write their name when submitting a creative work as an offering at the temple.
It is believed that Swami Vimochanananda was the first to recite the keerthanam at Sabarimala in the early 1950s. The practice has been to recite it at the end of the day's rituals, to put Lord Ayyapan to sleep, and the tradition has continued since.[1]
The lullaby became extremely popular all over southern India, when it was included in the famous Malayalam film Swami Ayyappan in 1975. The song was rendered by Carnatic vocalist and playback singer K. J. Yesudas and composed in the Madhyamavati raga by composer late G. Devarajan.
Lyrics
| In Malayalam | IAST transcription[2] | English translation[3] |
|---|---|---|
|
ഹരിവരാസനം വിശ്വമോഹനം |
harivarāsanaṃ viśvamōhanam |
Repository of Hari’s boons, Enchanter of the universe, |
Harivarasanam Centenary Celebrations
Harivarasanam was originally written in the year 1923, and in the year 2023, Centenary celebrations were taken up by Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam across India. Celebrations were launched by Governor of Tamil Nadu state, and meastro Ilayaraja was selected as National Committee Chairman for the celebrations.
Harivarasanam Award
The Harivarasanam Award was instituted in 2012 and is jointly awarded by the Government of Kerala and the Travancore Devaswom Board. It is awarded for contributions towards propagation of religious coexistence, equanimity, and universal brotherhood of Sabarimala through music.[4] The award winner is announced ahead of the annual Makaravilakku festival.[5]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d PTI (19 November 2017). "This Sabarimala season, an updated lullaby for Lord Ayyappan". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
- ^ "Harivarasanam (Hariharatmaja Ashtakam)". Vignanam. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ^ Ltd, Celextel Enterprises Pvt (11 July 2018). "Vedanta Shastras Library". Vedanta Shastras Library. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
- ^ "Renowned music composer Ilaiyaraaja was awarded the Harivarasanam Award for 2020 by the Kerala Government". Vajiram. 16 January 2021. Archived from the original on 17 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ "Harivarasanam Award for Ilaiyaraja". The Times of India. 28 December 2019. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2020.