Sri Hariharathmajashtakam

Sri Hariharathmajashtakam 'Harivarasanam' is the creation of Kumbakudi Kulathur Iyer. In 1955, Swami Vimochananad recited this Ashtakam for the first time at Sabarimala. Sannidhanam, in early 1940s, 50s and 60s , was just wild jungle which few pilgrims visited. It is understood that a VR Gopala Menon of Alapuzha used to stay on at Sannidhanam even when the temple was closed. He built a shack and stayed there even when no human being was anywhere nearwhere nearby during those days when the temple was closed. It was said that the wild animals never troubled him and that he used to feed the wildest of animals. Some years later, when Devaswom Board was formed, the Web Master understands, he was asked to move out. He died as an orphan of the world at a tea estate at Vandiperiyar. He was the only companion to Thirumeni Eashwaran Nampoothiri (an old Mel Santhi of Sannidhanam) in those wild old days of solitude and dedication. Revered Menon used to recite `Harivarasanam' with all devotion. It was with immense grief that Thirumeni Eashwaran Nampoothiri heard about the demise of Revered Menon. At that end of the pooja that day, when he was about to close the doors of the Sanctum Sanctorum, he remembered Revered Menon and recited 'Harivarasanam' starting a nostalgic tradition that remains unbroken to this day. Harivarasanam is recited just prior to closing of the temple doors at night. As the final verses are being sung, all the assistant Santhis leave the Sanctum Sanctorum one by one. As the song ends, only the Mel Santhi is inside the Sreekoil. He extinguishes the lamps one by one and closes the doors for the night after the last lamp is extinguished.

Harivarasanam Viswamohanam Haridadhiswaram Aaradhyapadhukam Arivimardhanam Nithyanarthanam Hariharatmajam Devamashreye Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Saranakirtanam Bakhtamanasam Bharanalolupam Narthanalasam Arunabhasuram Bhoothanayakam Hariharatmajam Devamashreye

Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Pranayasathyakam Praananayakam Pranathakalpakam Suprabhanjitham Pranavamanidram Keerthanapriyam Hariharatmajam Devamashreye Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Thuragavahanam Sundarananam Varagadhayudham Vedavavarnitham Gurukrupakaram Keerthanapriyam Hariharatmajam Devamashreye Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Tribuvanarchitam Devathathmakam Trinayanam Prabhum Divyadeshikam Tridashapoojitham Chinthithapradam Hariharatmajam Devamashreye Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Bhavabhayapaham Bhavukavaham Bhuvanamohanam Bhoothibhooshanam Dhavalavahanam Divyavaranam Hariharatmajam Devamashreye Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Kalamrudusmitham Sundarananam Kalabhakomalam Gathramohanam Kalabhakesari Vajivahanam Hariharatmajam Devamashreye Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Srithajanapriyam Chinthithapradam Sruthivibhushanam Sadhujeevanam Sruthimanoharam Geethalalasam Hariharatmajam Devamashreye Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa

The Web Master had requested an erudite scholar, Srikant of Integral Books (http://www.integralbooks.com) to translate the verses so that any ordinary devotee could understand its meaning. Here is his reply. Swamy Saranam, By Divine Grace, I tried today to find out the meaning of Harivarasanam hymn, and some ideas that came to the mind are given here. These are the initial ideas. After further study, suitable modifications could be made later, if necessary. Swamy Saranam, Srikant. [email protected]

The Lord who reposes in the tranquil yogic posture of Harivaraasanam; the Lord whose beauty enchants the whole universe; the Lord who is the very essence of Lord Vishnu's Grace; the Lord whose holy feet are worshipful; the Lord who destroys the inimical mental trends and forces that affect the devotees ; the Lord who engages in the eternal cosmic dance that creates and dissolves the universe -in that very Lord , who is the spiritual splendour of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, I take my refuge. The Lord who is worshipped by the Sharana Mantra; the Lord who is the source of the power of mind; the Lord who smoothly administers the entire universe; the Lord who playfully engages in the cosmic dance; the Lord who shines with light reddish hue; the Lord who is the Master of all cosmic forces - in that very Lord, who is the spiritual splendour of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, I take my refuge. The Lord whose very nature is the Supreme Truth; the Lord who is the Master of all life-forces; the Lord who splendours with the divine halo; the Lord who is the very source of Pranavam; the Lord who is pleased by devotional hymns - in that very Lord, who is the spiritual splendour of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, I take my refuge. The Lord whose mount is the horse; the Lord whose countenance is beautiful; the Lord who holds the mace called Varagada; the Lord who is extolled by the Devas; the Lord who bestows Divine Grace as the Supreme Guru; the Lord who is pleased by the devotional hymns - in that very Lord, who is the spiritual splendour of Lord Vishunu and Lord Shiva, I take my refuge. The Lord who is worshipped by the three worlds; the Lord who is the Supreme Divinity and the source of all Devas; the Lord who has three eyes; the Lord who shines with divine splendour; the Lord who is worshipped during the three auspicious times of the day; the Lord whose remembrance fulfils the desires - in that very Lord, who is the spiritual splendour of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, I take my refuge. The Lord who annihilates the fears and pains of worldly life; the Lord who brings prosperity and auspiciousness;; the Lord who is enchanting to the whole universe ; the Lord who is splendidly decorated with divine ornaments; the Lord who has a white divine elephant as a mount - in that very Lord, who is the spiritual splendour of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, I take my refuge. The Lord who wears a graceful and soft smile; the Lord with a beautiful countenance; the Lord whose graceful body is beautifully decked with the sandal paste;; the Lord who rides on a tiger and also on His horse mount - in that very Lord, who is the spiritual splendour of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, I take my refuge. The Lord who is dear to all devotees; the Lord who fulfils the desires; the Lord who is extolled by the Vedas; the Lord

who bestows sustenance and strength to the ascetics; the Lord who is the delightful essence of the Vedas;; the Lord who enjoys the recital of divine hymns and music - in that very Lord, the spiritual splendour of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva, I take my refuge. (Just I am sending this as a first draft. Some doubts, etc., regarding such references as ' Haridadheeshwaram', etc., have to be cleared. I shall consult a Sanskrit scholar and if necessary due modifications can be made. 'Hariharaathmajam' is referred here as 'the spiritual splendour of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva'. It can be made instead in its direct meaning 'Son of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva', if necessary. )

Another simpler interpretation submitted by P.R.Ramachander:

Harivarasanam Viswamohanam Haridadhiswaram Aaradhyapadhukam Arivimardhanam Nithyanarthanam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Repository of Hari’s boons, Enchanter of universe, Essence of Hari’s grace, He whose holy feet is worshipped, He who kills enemies of good thought, He who daily dances the cosmic dance, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee God. My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa. Saranakirtanam Bakhtamanasam Bharanalolupam Narthanalasam Arunabhasuram Bhoothanayakam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa He who likes song of refuge, He who is in the mind of devotees, He who is the great ruler, He who loves to dance,

He who shines like the rising sun, He who is king of all beings, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee God. My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa. Pranayasathyakam Praananayakam Pranathakalpakam Suprabhanjitham Pranavamanidram Keerthanapriyam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa He whose soul is truth, He who is the darling of all souls, He who created universe, He who shines with a glittering Halo, He who is the temple of “OM”, He who loves songs, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee God. My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa. Thuragavahanam Sundarananam Varagadhayudham Vedavavarnitham Gurukrupakaram Keerthanapriyam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa He who rides a horse, He who has a pretty face, He who has the blessed mace as weapon, He who bestows grace like a teacher, He who loves songs, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee God. My refuge is in you Ayyappa,

My refuge is in you Ayyappa. Tribuvanarchitam Devathathmakam Trinayanam Prabhum Divyadeshikam Tridashapoojitham Chinthithapradam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa He who is worshiped by the three worlds, He who is the soul of all gods, He who is the lord of Shiva, He who is worshipped by devas, He who is who is worshipped three times a day, He whose thought is fulfilling, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee God. My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa. Bhavabhayapaham Bhavukavaham Bhuvanamohanam Bhoothibhooshanam Dhavalavahanam Divyavaranam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa He who destroys fear, He who brings prosperity, He who is enchanter of universe, He who wears holy ash as ornament, He who rides a white elephant, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee God. My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa. Kalamrudusmitham Sundarananam Kalabhakomalam Gathramohanam Kalabhakesari Vajivahanam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye

Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa He who blesses with enchanting smile, He who has is very pretty, He who is adorned by sandal paste, He who has a pretty mien, He who is a like a lion to the elephants, He who rides on a tiger, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee God. My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa. Srithajanapriyam Chinthithapradam Sruthivibhushanam Sadhujeevanam Sruthimanoharam Geethalalasam Hariharathmajam Devamashraye Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa Saranam Ayyappa Swamy Saranam Ayyappa He who is dear to his devotees, He who fulfills wishes, He who is praised by Vedas, He who blesses life of ascetics, He who is the essence of Vedas, He who enjoys divine music, Son of Hari and Hara, I take refuge in thee God. My refuge is in you Ayyappa, My refuge is in you Ayyappa.