ಹರಿದಧೀಶ್ವರಂ ಆರಾಧ್ಯಪಾದುಕಮ್ ।
ಅರಿವಿಮರ್ದನಂ ನಿತ್ಯನರ್ತನಮ್
ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಂ ದೇವಮಾಶ್ರಯೇ ॥ 1 ॥
- ಹರಿವರಾಸನಮ್ (harivarāsanam)whose seat is Hari's own
- ವಿಶ್ವಮೋಹನಮ್ (viśvamohanam)who draws the whole world to him
- ಹರಿದಧೀಶ್ವರಮ್ (haridadhīśvaram)lord of the quarters of the sky
- ಆರಾಧ್ಯಪಾದುಕಮ್ (ārādhyapādukam)whose sandals are worth worshipping
- ಅರಿವಿಮರ್ದನಮ್ (arivimardanam)who grinds down those who stand against him
- ನಿತ್ಯನರ್ತನಮ್ (nityanartanam)whose dance never stops
- ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಮ್ (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
- ದೇವಮ್ (devam)the god
- ಆಶ್ರಯೇ (āśraye)I take refuge in
anvaya ಹರಿವರಾಸನಮ್ ವಿಶ್ವಮೋಹನಮ್ ಹರಿದಧೀಶ್ವರಮ್ ಆರಾಧ್ಯಪಾದುಕಮ್ ಅರಿವಿಮರ್ದನಮ್ ನಿತ್ಯನರ್ತನಮ್ ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಮ್ ದೇವಮ್ ಆಶ್ರಯೇ
chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG
ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಮ್ born of Hari and Hara — Hari is Vishnu and Hara is Shiva. Ayyappa is worshipped as the son of both, which is why one name of his is Hariharasuta.
ಹರಿವರಾಸನಮ್ whose seat is Hari's own — Read as hari-vara-āsana, the excellent seat of Hari. Hari also means a lion, so the line is read by some as the one whose seat is the lion throne.
ಹರಿದಧೀಶ್ವರಮ್ lord of the quarters of the sky — Harit is a direction, one of the quarters. The compound makes him lord over all of them.
note Sung at Sabarimala every night as the sanctum is closed, so the hymn works as a lullaby: eight verses, each ending on the same line, ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಂ ದೇವಮಾಶ್ರಯೇ. The title is taken from its first word.
ಭರಣಲೋಲುಪಂ ನರ್ತನಾಲಸಮ್ ।
ಅರುಣಭಾಸುರಂ ಭೂತನಾಯಕಮ್
ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಂ ದೇವಮಾಶ್ರಯೇ ॥ 2 ॥
- ಶರಣಕೀರ್ತನಮ್ (śaraṇakīrtanam)who is sung to with the cry of refuge
- ಭಕ್ತಮಾನಸಮ್ (bhaktamānasam)who lives in the minds of those who love him
- ಭರಣಲೋಲುಪಮ್ (bharaṇalolupam)eager to keep and care for them
- ನರ್ತನಾಲಸಮ್ (nartanālasam)whose dance is unhurried
- ಅರುಣಭಾಸುರಮ್ (aruṇabhāsuram)shining red as daybreak
- ಭೂತನಾಯಕಮ್ (bhūtanāyakam)leader of the hosts
- ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಮ್ (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
- ದೇವಮ್ (devam)the god
- ಆಶ್ರಯೇ (āśraye)I take refuge in
anvaya ಶರಣಕೀರ್ತನಮ್ ಭಕ್ತಮಾನಸಮ್ ಭರಣಲೋಲುಪಮ್ ನರ್ತನಾಲಸಮ್ ಅರುಣಭಾಸುರಮ್ ಭೂತನಾಯಕಮ್ ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಮ್ ದೇವಮ್ ಆಶ್ರಯೇ
chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG
ಶರಣಕೀರ್ತನಮ್ sung to with the cry of refuge — The cry is Swamiye Sharanam Ayyappa, which pilgrims call out the whole way up the hill. The verse makes that cry his praise song.
ಭರಣಲೋಲುಪಮ್ eager to keep and care for them — Lolupa is greedy or hungry for something. The word is strong on purpose: he wants the keeping of his people.
ನರ್ತನಾಲಸಮ್ whose dance is unhurried — Alasa is slow or languid. At this hour of the night the dance is a slow one, which suits a hymn sung at closing.
note Each of the three lines before the refrain begins on the same sound, śa, bha, a, and the verse is built to be easy on the ear at night.
ಪ್ರಣತಕಲ್ಪಕಂ ಸುಪ್ರಭಾಞ್ಚಿತಮ್ ।
ಪ್ರಣವಮನ್ದಿರಂ ಕೀರ್ತನಪ್ರಿಯಮ್
ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಂ ದೇವಮಾಶ್ರಯೇ ॥ 3 ॥
- ಪ್ರಣಯಸತ್ಯಕಮ್ (praṇayasatyakam)true to those who love him
- ಪ್ರಾಣನಾಯಕಮ್ (prāṇanāyakam)lord of the breath of life
- ಪ್ರಣತಕಲ್ಪಕಮ್ (praṇatakalpakam)who shapes what those who bow ask for
- ಸುಪ್ರಭಾಞ್ಚಿತಮ್ (suprabhāñcitam)about whom a fine light plays
- ಪ್ರಣವಮನ್ದಿರಮ್ (praṇavamandiram)the house the sound Om lives in
- ಕೀರ್ತನಪ್ರಿಯಮ್ (kīrtanapriyam)who loves being sung to
- ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಮ್ (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
- ದೇವಮ್ (devam)the god
- ಆಶ್ರಯೇ (āśraye)I take refuge in
anvaya ಪ್ರಣಯಸತ್ಯಕಮ್ ಪ್ರಾಣನಾಯಕಮ್ ಪ್ರಣತಕಲ್ಪಕಮ್ ಸುಪ್ರಭಾಞ್ಚಿತಮ್ ಪ್ರಣವಮನ್ದಿರಮ್ ಕೀರ್ತನಪ್ರಿಯಮ್ ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಮ್ ದೇವಮ್ ಆಶ್ರಯೇ
chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG
ಪ್ರಣವಮನ್ದಿರಮ್ the house the sound Om lives in — Praṇava is Om. Mandira is a house or a temple, so he is spoken of as the place that sound is kept.
ಪ್ರಣತಕಲ್ಪಕಮ್ who shapes what those who bow ask for — Kalpaka is the one who arranges or makes ready, the same word as in kalpavṛkṣa, the tree that gives whatever is asked.
note Five of the words in this verse open with pra, which is how the verse holds together as a sound before it holds together as a sentence.
ವರಗದಾಯುಧಂ ವೇದವರ್ಣಿತಮ್ ।
ಗುರುಕೃಪಾಕರಂ ಕೀರ್ತನಪ್ರಿಯಮ್
ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಂ ದೇವಮಾಶ್ರಯೇ ॥ 4 ॥
- ತುರಗವಾಹನಮ್ (turagavāhanam)carried by a horse
- ಸುನ್ದರಾನನಮ್ (sundarānanam)whose face is a fair one
- ವರಗದಾಯುಧಮ್ (varagadāyudham)whose weapon is the good mace
- ವೇದವರ್ಣಿತಮ್ (vedavarṇitam)spoken of in the Veda
- ಗುರುಕೃಪಾಕರಮ್ (gurukṛpākaram)whose kindness comes as a teacher's does
- ಕೀರ್ತನಪ್ರಿಯಮ್ (kīrtanapriyam)who loves being sung to
- ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಮ್ (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
- ದೇವಮ್ (devam)the god
- ಆಶ್ರಯೇ (āśraye)I take refuge in
anvaya ತುರಗವಾಹನಮ್ ಸುನ್ದರಾನನಮ್ ವರಗದಾಯುಧಮ್ ವೇದವರ್ಣಿತಮ್ ಗುರುಕೃಪಾಕರಮ್ ಕೀರ್ತನಪ್ರಿಯಮ್ ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಮ್ ದೇವಮ್ ಆಶ್ರಯೇ
chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG
ತುರಗವಾಹನಮ್ carried by a horse — Ayyappa is shown riding a horse in the story of his ride to hunt down Mahishi, and on other days riding a tiger or an elephant.
ಗುರುಕೃಪಾಕರಮ್ whose kindness comes as a teacher's does — Guru here can be read as great, giving great kindness, or as the teacher whose grace it is like. Both readings are current.
note The weapon named is the mace, which belongs to Vishnu. The hymn keeps handing him things from both his fathers.
ತ್ರಿನಯನಪ್ರಭುಂ ದಿವ್ಯದೇಶಿಕಮ್ ।
ತ್ರಿದಶಪೂಜಿತಂ ಚಿನ್ತಿತಪ್ರದಮ್
ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಂ ದೇವಮಾಶ್ರಯೇ ॥ 5 ॥
- ತ್ರಿಭುವನಾರ್ಚಿತಮ್ (tribhuvanārcitam)worshipped in all three worlds
- ದೇವತಾತ್ಮಕಮ್ (devatātmakam)in whom the gods have their being
- ತ್ರಿನಯನಪ್ರಭುಮ್ (trinayanaprabhum)lord of the three-eyed one
- ದಿವ್ಯದೇಶಿಕಮ್ (divyadeśikam)a guide of the clearest kind
- ತ್ರಿದಶಪೂಜಿತಮ್ (tridaśapūjitam)worshipped by the thirty gods
- ಚಿನ್ತಿತಪ್ರದಮ್ (cintitapradam)who gives what has only been thought of
- ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಮ್ (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
- ದೇವಮ್ (devam)the god
- ಆಶ್ರಯೇ (āśraye)I take refuge in
anvaya ತ್ರಿಭುವನಾರ್ಚಿತಮ್ ದೇವತಾತ್ಮಕಮ್ ತ್ರಿನಯನಪ್ರಭುಮ್ ದಿವ್ಯದೇಶಿಕಮ್ ತ್ರಿದಶಪೂಜಿತಮ್ ಚಿನ್ತಿತಪ್ರದಮ್ ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಮ್ ದೇವಮ್ ಆಶ್ರಯೇ
chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG
ತ್ರಿದಶ the thirty — An old way of counting the gods: thirty three, shortened to thirty. Three words in this verse begin with tri, and the count is part of the play.
ತ್ರಿನಯನಪ್ರಭುಮ್ lord of the three-eyed one — The three-eyed one is Shiva, his father. A son called the lord of his own father is the kind of turn these hymns like.
ಚಿನ್ತಿತಪ್ರದಮ್ who gives what has only been thought of — Cintita is what has been turned over in the mind. The asking need not be said aloud.
note The verse counts upward, three worlds, three eyes, thirty gods, and the sound tri carries it.
ಭುವನಮೋಹನಂ ಭೂತಿಭೂಷಣಮ್ ।
ಧವಲವಾಹನಂ ದಿವ್ಯವಾರಣಮ್
ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಂ ದೇವಮಾಶ್ರಯೇ ॥ 6 ॥
- ಭವಭಯಾಪಹಮ್ (bhavabhayāpaham)who takes away the fear of being born again
- ಭಾವುಕಾವಕಮ್ (bhāvukāvakam)who guards those whose hearts are set on him
- ಭುವನಮೋಹನಮ್ (bhuvanamohanam)towards whom the world turns
- ಭೂತಿಭೂಷಣಮ್ (bhūtibhūṣaṇam)whose ornament is ash
- ಧವಲವಾಹನಮ್ (dhavalavāhanam)carried by the white one
- ದಿವ್ಯವಾರಣಮ್ (divyavāraṇam)the elephant of the gods
- ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಮ್ (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
- ದೇವಮ್ (devam)the god
- ಆಶ್ರಯೇ (āśraye)I take refuge in
anvaya ಭವಭಯಾಪಹಮ್ ಭಾವುಕಾವಕಮ್ ಭುವನಮೋಹನಮ್ ಭೂತಿಭೂಷಣಮ್ ಧವಲವಾಹನಮ್ ದಿವ್ಯವಾರಣಮ್ ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಮ್ ದೇವಮ್ ಆಶ್ರಯೇ
chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG
ಭೂತಿಭೂಷಣಮ್ whose ornament is ash — Bhūti is the ash worn by Shiva and by those who follow him. The same word also means well-being, and some read it that way here.
ದಿವ್ಯವಾರಣಮ್ the elephant of the gods — Vāraṇa is an elephant. From the root vṛ, to ward off, it can also be read as the divine warding away of harm, which fits the first line.
ಧವಲವಾಹನಮ್ carried by the white one — Dhavala is white. The white mount is taken as the white elephant, and in some readings as a white horse.
note Four words in a row begin with bha, and the verse is the most songlike in the hymn.
ಕಲಭಕೋಮಲಂ ಗಾತ್ರಮೋಹನಮ್ ।
ಕಲಭಕೇಸರೀವಾಜಿವಾಹನಮ್
ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಂ ದೇವಮಾಶ್ರಯೇ ॥ 7 ॥
- ಕಲಮೃದುಸ್ಮಿತಮ್ (kalamṛdusmitam)whose smile is soft and sweet
- ಸುನ್ದರಾನನಮ್ (sundarānanam)whose face is a fair one
- ಕಲಭಕೋಮಲಮ್ (kalabhakomalam)as tender as a young elephant
- ಗಾತ್ರಮೋಹನಮ್ (gātramohanam)the sight of whose body holds the eye
- ಕಲಭಕೇಸರೀವಾಜಿವಾಹನಮ್ (kalabhakesarīvājivāhanam)carried by elephant, lion and horse
- ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಮ್ (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
- ದೇವಮ್ (devam)the god
- ಆಶ್ರಯೇ (āśraye)I take refuge in
anvaya ಕಲಮೃದುಸ್ಮಿತಮ್ ಸುನ್ದರಾನನಮ್ ಕಲಭಕೋಮಲಮ್ ಗಾತ್ರಮೋಹನಮ್ ಕಲಭಕೇಸರೀವಾಜಿವಾಹನಮ್ ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಮ್ ದೇವಮ್ ಆಶ್ರಯೇ
chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG
ಕಲಭ a young elephant — The word appears twice in the verse, once for how tender he is and once for what carries him.
ಕಲ sweet, soft in sound — Kala is used of a low sweet sound, a birdcall or a murmur. Here it colours the smile.
note The third line names three mounts together, elephant, lion and horse, which is the fullest list in the hymn.
ಶ್ರುತಿವಿಭೂಷಣಂ ಸಾಧುಜೀವನಮ್ ।
ಶ್ರುತಿಮನೋಹರಂ ಗೀತಲಾಲಸಮ್
ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಂ ದೇವಮಾಶ್ರಯೇ ॥ 8 ॥
- ಶ್ರಿತಜನಪ್ರಿಯಮ್ (śritajanapriyam)dear to those who have come to him
- ಚಿನ್ತಿತಪ್ರದಮ್ (cintitapradam)who gives what has only been thought of
- ಶ್ರುತಿವಿಭೂಷಣಮ್ (śrutivibhūṣaṇam)the ornament of the Veda
- ಸಾಧುಜೀವನಮ್ (sādhujīvanam)the life of the good
- ಶ್ರುತಿಮನೋಹರಮ್ (śrutimanoharam)sweet to the ear
- ಗೀತಲಾಲಸಮ್ (gītalālasam)who longs for song
- ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಮ್ (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
- ದೇವಮ್ (devam)the god
- ಆಶ್ರಯೇ (āśraye)I take refuge in
anvaya ಶ್ರಿತಜನಪ್ರಿಯಮ್ ಚಿನ್ತಿತಪ್ರದಮ್ ಶ್ರುತಿವಿಭೂಷಣಮ್ ಸಾಧುಜೀವನಮ್ ಶ್ರುತಿಮನೋಹರಮ್ ಗೀತಲಾಲಸಮ್ ಹರಿಹರಾತ್ಮಜಮ್ ದೇವಮ್ ಆಶ್ರಯೇ
chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG
ಶ್ರುತಿ the Veda, and hearing — Śruti is what is heard, so it means both the Veda and the ear. The verse uses it twice, once in each sense.
ಗೀತಲಾಲಸಮ್ who longs for song — Lālasa is longing. The last verse of a hymn sung at closing time says that the god wants the singing, and then it stops.
note The eighth and last of the verses proper. The chant after it is not part of the composition.
ಶರಣಂ ಅಯ್ಯಪ್ಪಾ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಶರಣಂ ಅಯ್ಯಪ್ಪಾ ॥
- ಶರಣಮ್ (śaraṇam)refuge
- ಅಯ್ಯಪ್ಪಾ (ayyappā)Ayyappa
- ಸ್ವಾಮಿ (svāmi)lord
anvaya ಶರಣಮ್ ಅಯ್ಯಪ್ಪಾ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಶರಣಮ್ ಅಯ್ಯಪ್ಪಾ ಶರಣಮ್ ಅಯ್ಯಪ್ಪಾ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ಶರಣಮ್ ಅಯ್ಯಪ್ಪಾ
ಅಯ್ಯಪ್ಪಾ Ayyappa — The name used in Kerala and Tamil Nadu for the god of Sabarimala. Ayya and appa are both words of respect for a father.
note The pilgrims' cry, repeated after the hymn rather than composed as part of it. There is no word order to rearrange in a chant, so the anvaya simply repeats it as it is called out. At Sabarimala this is what the crowd says while the doors are closed for the night.