Harivarasanam (Ayyappa Stotram)
हरिवरासनम्
What is Harivarasanam?
Harivarasanam (Ayyappa Stotram) Harivarasanam is an eight-verse Sanskrit hymn to Lord Ayyappa, sung every night as a lullaby at the closing of the Sabarimala temple to gently send the deity to sleep. Its refrain, 'hariharatmajam devamashraye', means 'I take refuge in the god who is the son of Hari and Hara.'
Harivarasanam, also called the Hariharatmaja Ashtakam, is the devotional hymn chanted at Sabarimala as the sanctum lamps are dimmed and the shrine is closed for the night. Because it is sung to lull Lord Ayyappa to rest, devotees affectionately call it the urakkupattu, the sleep-song or lullaby of the Lord. The eight verses praise Ayyappa as Hariharatmaja, the son of Vishnu (Hari) and Shiva (Hara), and each one ends by surrendering to him for refuge.The hymn became inseparable from Sabarimala through the celebrated rendering by playback singer K. J. Yesudas, whose recording is played over the temple sound system every evening. This page carries the full Sanskrit text in Devanagari with a clear Roman transliteration, a plain-English meaning for every verse, guidance on when and how to recite it, and the spiritual benefits devotees associate with the chant.
Harivarasanam Lyrics (Sanskrit & English)
Eight verses; every verse closes with the refrain 'hariharatmajam devamashraye' – 'I take refuge in Lord Hariharatmaja.' Tap a verse to read its meaning.
harivarasanam vishwamohanam
haridadhishwaram aradhyapadukam
arivimardanam nityanartanam
hariharatmajam devamashraye
हरिवरासनं विश्वमोहनं
हरिदधीश्वरं आराध्यपादुकम्
अरिविमर्दनं नित्यनर्तनं
हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये
Meaning
He is seated on Hari's noble throne and charms the whole of creation. He is the master whose feet are honoured even by the directions, and whose sandals are worthy of worship. He crushes the enemies of his devotees and is forever caught up in his cosmic dance. To that god, the son of Hari and Hara, I turn for refuge.
sharanakirtanam shaktamanasam
bharanalolupam nartanalasam
arunabhasuram bhutanayakam
hariharatmajam devamashraye
शरणकीर्तनं शक्तमानसं
भरणलोलुपं नर्तनालसम्
अरुणभासुरं भूतनायकं
हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये
Meaning
He delights in the chant of surrender that rises from strong, steady hearts. He is eager to nurture and protect those who depend on him, and he is absorbed, almost languid, in his dance. Glowing like the crimson dawn, he is the lord of all beings. To that god, the son of Hari and Hara, I turn for refuge.
pranayasatyakam prananayakam
pranatakalpakam suprabhanchitam
pranavamandiram kirtanapriyam
hariharatmajam devamashraye
प्रणयसत्यकं प्राणनायकं
प्रणतकल्पकं सुप्रभाञ्चितम्
प्रणवमन्दिरं कीर्तनप्रियं
हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये
Meaning
He is true to the love his devotees offer him and is the very lord of their life-breath. To all who bow before him he is the wish-granting tree, and he shines with a lovely radiance. He is the living temple of the sacred syllable Om, and he loves the songs sung in his praise. To that god, the son of Hari and Hara, I turn for refuge.
turagavahanam sundarananam
varagadayudham vedavarnitam
gurukripakaram kirtanapriyam
hariharatmajam devamashraye
तुरगवाहनं सुन्दराननं
वरगदायुधं वेदवर्णितम्
गुरुकृपाकरं कीर्तनप्रियं
हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये
Meaning
He rides upon a horse and his face is beautiful to behold. He carries the noble mace as his weapon and is described in the words of the Vedas. He pours out grace like a true teacher and loves to hear his own hymns sung. To that god, the son of Hari and Hara, I turn for refuge.
tribhuvanarchitam devatatmakam
trinayanam prabhum divyadeshikam
tridashapujitam chintitapradam
hariharatmajam devamashraye
त्रिभुवनार्चितं देवतात्मकं
त्रिनयनं प्रभुं दिव्यदेशिकम्
त्रिदशपूजितं चिन्तितप्रदं
हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये
Meaning
He is worshipped across the three worlds and is the inner soul of the gods themselves. Three-eyed like his father Shiva, he is the sovereign lord and the divine guide. The immortals adore him, and he grants whatever is longed for in the heart. To that god, the son of Hari and Hara, I turn for refuge.
bhavabhayapaham bhavukavaham
bhuvanamohanam bhutibhushanam
dhavalavahanam divyavaranam
hariharatmajam devamashraye
भवभयापहं भावुकावहं
भुवनमोहनं भूतिभूषणम्
धवलवाहनं दिव्यवारणं
हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये
Meaning
He drives away the fear of birth and death and carries only well-being wherever he goes. He captivates the worlds and wears sacred ash as his ornament. He rides a shining white mount and is served by a divine elephant. To that god, the son of Hari and Hara, I turn for refuge.
kalamridusmitam sundarananam
kalabhakomalam gatramohanam
kalabhakesari vajivahanam
hariharatmajam devamashraye
कलमृदुस्मितं सुन्दराननं
कलभकोमलं गात्रमोहनम्
कलभकेसरी वाजिवाहनं
हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये
Meaning
His soft, gentle smile lights up a beautiful face. He is tender as a young elephant, and his very form enchants those who look upon him. To elephant-like foes he is a lion, and his chosen vehicle is the horse. To that god, the son of Hari and Hara, I turn for refuge.
shritajanapriyam chintitapradam
shrutivibhushanam sadhujivanam
shrutimanoharam gitalalasam
hariharatmajam devamashraye
श्रितजनप्रियं चिन्तितप्रदं
श्रुतिविभूषणं साधुजीवनम्
श्रुतिमनोहरं गीतलालसं
हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये
Meaning
He is dear to all who take shelter in him and grants the desires they hold in mind. He is the ornament of the Vedas and the very life of the good and the righteous. His praise is sweet to the ear, and he revels in devotional song. To that god, the son of Hari and Hara, I turn for refuge.
Meaning & Significance
Harivarasanam is a hymn of pure surrender. Rather than asking for anything, the singer simply lays out the beauty, power and compassion of Lord Ayyappa and, at the close of every verse, hands over the self with the words hariharatmajam devamashraye – ‘I take refuge in the son of Hari and Hara.’ That repeated act of surrender is the heart of the composition.
The son of Hari and Hara
Ayyappa is called Hariharatmaja because tradition holds him to be the son of Vishnu, in his enchanting Mohini form (Hari), and Shiva (Hara). The hymn returns to this identity in every refrain, celebrating a deity who unites the grace of Vishnu with the ascetic power of Shiva. Epithets such as three-eyed, ash-adorned and horse-riding weave together the imagery of both fathers.
A lullaby of surrender
Because it is chanted as the sanctum is closed and the Lord is put to rest, the mood of Harivarasanam is quiet and tender rather than triumphant. The gentle, cradle-like rhythm is deliberate; the words describe a soft smile, a lovely face and a form that enchants, so that the day ends with the devotee resting in the same peace as the sleeping deity.
How to Chant Harivarasanam
- Sit facing the shrine – Settle before an image of Ayyappa or a lit lamp, sitting quietly with a calm breath.
- Begin with surrender – Start by uttering 'Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa' to place the mind in a mood of refuge.
- Recite all eight verses – Chant slowly and softly, in the lullaby-like tempo, giving each closing refrain 'hariharatmajam devamashraye' its full weight.
- Keep the gentle rhythm – Do not rush; the hymn is meant to lull, so let the pace stay unhurried and even.
- Close in silence – End by dimming the lamp or bowing, and rest a few moments in the calm the chant leaves behind.
What Are the Benefits of Chanting?
Devotees turn to Harivarasanam for peace of mind and the felt presence of Lord Ayyappa.
- Calms the mind before sleep: Its slow, cradle-like cadence quiets the thoughts, which is why it is chanted as a nightly lullaby.
- Deepens surrender: The refrain of taking refuge trains the heart to let go of worry and rest in the Lord's care.
- Supports the Sabarimala vratam: Reciting it through the 41-day observance keeps the pilgrim's mind fixed on Ayyappa.
- Invokes protection: Ayyappa is praised as the crusher of foes and remover of the fear of birth and death, and devotees chant for that shelter.
- Fulfils heartfelt wishes: The hymn repeatedly names him as the granter of what is longed for, and devotees recite it with their prayers in mind.
- Cultivates devotion: Sung daily, it steadies bhakti and turns the last waking moments of the day toward the divine.
Who Composed This Stotram?
Harivarasanam is widely attributed to Kambakudi Kulathur Iyer, a devotee believed to have composed the verses in the early twentieth century as an offering at Sabarimala. Written in simple, flowing Sanskrit, the hymn was already sung at the shrine before it reached a wider audience.
Its fame spread across South India and beyond through the recording by playback singer K. J. Yesudas, whose voice is played over the Sabarimala sound system as the temple closes each night. That association turned the eight verses into the signature closing rite of the shrine: the melsanthi (chief priest) performs the final deeparadhana, the lamps are lowered, and the Lord is symbolically sent to sleep as the hymn is sung. Today Harivarasanam is recognised well beyond Kerala as the tender lullaby of Lord Ayyappa.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Harivarasanam mean?
The opening word 'harivarasanam' describes Lord Ayyappa as one seated on the noble throne of Hari (Vishnu). The whole hymn is a string of such praises, ending each verse with 'I take refuge in the son of Hari and Hara.'
Why is Harivarasanam sung at Sabarimala?
It is chanted every night as the sanctum is closed, to gently send Lord Ayyappa to sleep. For this reason it is known as the urakkupattu, the lullaby of the Lord.
Who wrote Harivarasanam?
The hymn is traditionally attributed to Kambakudi Kulathur Iyer, an early-twentieth-century devotee of Ayyappa. It became famous nationwide through the recording by singer K. J. Yesudas.
How many verses are in Harivarasanam?
The standard form, the Hariharatmaja Ashtakam, has eight verses of four lines each, thirty-two lines in all, with the same refrain closing every verse.
Who is Hariharatmaja?
Hariharatmaja means the son of Hari and Hara, that is, Lord Ayyappa, held in tradition to be born of Vishnu in the Mohini form and Shiva. He is also called Hariharaputra and Shasta.
Can Harivarasanam be recited at home?
Yes. Many devotees chant it at night before sleep, in front of a lamp or an image of Ayyappa, and especially during the 41-day Sabarimala vratam.
॥ हरिहरात्मजं देवमाश्रये ॥