ହରିଵରାସନମ୍

• ହରିଵରାସନମ୍ (harivarāsanam)whose seat is Hari's own
• ଵିଶ୍ଵମୋହନମ୍ (viśvamohanam)who draws the whole world to him
• ହରିଦଧୀଶ୍ଵରମ୍ (haridadhīśvaram)lord of the quarters of the sky
• ଆରାଧ୍ଯପାଦୁକମ୍ (ārādhyapādukam)whose sandals are worth worshipping
• ଅରିଵିମର୍ଦନମ୍ (arivimardanam)who grinds down those who stand against him
• ନିତ୍ଯନର୍ତନମ୍ (nityanartanam)whose dance never stops
• ହରିହରାତ୍ମଜମ୍ (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
• ଦେଵମ୍ (devam)the god
• ଆଶ୍ରଯେ (āśraye)I take refuge in

anvaya ହରିଵରାସନମ୍ ଵିଶ୍ଵମୋହନମ୍ ହରିଦଧୀଶ୍ଵରମ୍ ଆରାଧ୍ଯପାଦୁକମ୍ ଅରିଵିମର୍ଦନମ୍ ନିତ୍ଯନର୍ତନମ୍ ହରିହରାତ୍ମଜମ୍ ଦେଵମ୍ ଆଶ୍ରଯେ

chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG

ହରିହରାତ୍ମଜମ୍ 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.

ହରିଵରାସନମ୍ 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.

ହରିଦଧୀଶ୍ଵରମ୍ 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, ହରିହରାତ୍ମଜଂ ଦେଵମାଶ୍ରଯେ. The title is taken from its first word.

• ଶରଣକୀର୍ତନମ୍ (śaraṇakīrtanam)who is sung to with the cry of refuge
• ଭକ୍ତମାନସମ୍ (bhaktamānasam)who lives in the minds of those who love him
• ଭରଣଲୋଲୁପମ୍ (bharaṇalolupam)eager to keep and care for them
• ନର୍ତନାଲସମ୍ (nartanālasam)whose dance is unhurried
• ଅରୁଣଭାସୁରମ୍ (aruṇabhāsuram)shining red as daybreak
• ଭୂତନାଯକମ୍ (bhūtanāyakam)leader of the hosts
• ହରିହରାତ୍ମଜମ୍ (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
• ଦେଵମ୍ (devam)the god
• ଆଶ୍ରଯେ (āśraye)I take refuge in

anvaya ଶରଣକୀର୍ତନମ୍ ଭକ୍ତମାନସମ୍ ଭରଣଲୋଲୁପମ୍ ନର୍ତନାଲସମ୍ ଅରୁଣଭାସୁରମ୍ ଭୂତନାଯକମ୍ ହରିହରାତ୍ମଜମ୍ ଦେଵମ୍ ଆଶ୍ରଯେ

chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG

ଶରଣକୀର୍ତନମ୍ 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.

ଭରଣଲୋଲୁପମ୍ 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.

ନର୍ତନାଲସମ୍ 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.

• ପ୍ରଣଯସତ୍ଯକମ୍ (praṇayasatyakam)true to those who love him
• ପ୍ରାଣନାଯକମ୍ (prāṇanāyakam)lord of the breath of life
• ପ୍ରଣତକଲ୍ପକମ୍ (praṇatakalpakam)who shapes what those who bow ask for
• ସୁପ୍ରଭାଞ୍ଚିତମ୍ (suprabhāñcitam)about whom a fine light plays
• ପ୍ରଣଵମନ୍ଦିରମ୍ (praṇavamandiram)the house the sound Om lives in
• କୀର୍ତନପ୍ରିଯମ୍ (kīrtanapriyam)who loves being sung to
• ହରିହରାତ୍ମଜମ୍ (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
• ଦେଵମ୍ (devam)the god
• ଆଶ୍ରଯେ (āśraye)I take refuge in

anvaya ପ୍ରଣଯସତ୍ଯକମ୍ ପ୍ରାଣନାଯକମ୍ ପ୍ରଣତକଲ୍ପକମ୍ ସୁପ୍ରଭାଞ୍ଚିତମ୍ ପ୍ରଣଵମନ୍ଦିରମ୍ କୀର୍ତନପ୍ରିଯମ୍ ହରିହରାତ୍ମଜମ୍ ଦେଵମ୍ ଆଶ୍ରଯେ

chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG

ପ୍ରଣଵମନ୍ଦିରମ୍ 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.

ପ୍ରଣତକଲ୍ପକମ୍ 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.

• ତୁରଗଵାହନମ୍ (turagavāhanam)carried by a horse
• ସୁନ୍ଦରାନନମ୍ (sundarānanam)whose face is a fair one
• ଵରଗଦାଯୁଧମ୍ (varagadāyudham)whose weapon is the good mace
• ଵେଦଵର୍ଣିତମ୍ (vedavarṇitam)spoken of in the Veda
• ଗୁରୁକୃପାକରମ୍ (gurukṛpākaram)whose kindness comes as a teacher's does
• କୀର୍ତନପ୍ରିଯମ୍ (kīrtanapriyam)who loves being sung to
• ହରିହରାତ୍ମଜମ୍ (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
• ଦେଵମ୍ (devam)the god
• ଆଶ୍ରଯେ (āśraye)I take refuge in

anvaya ତୁରଗଵାହନମ୍ ସୁନ୍ଦରାନନମ୍ ଵରଗଦାଯୁଧମ୍ ଵେଦଵର୍ଣିତମ୍ ଗୁରୁକୃପାକରମ୍ କୀର୍ତନପ୍ରିଯମ୍ ହରିହରାତ୍ମଜମ୍ ଦେଵମ୍ ଆଶ୍ରଯେ

chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG

ତୁରଗଵାହନମ୍ 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.

ଗୁରୁକୃପାକରମ୍ 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.

• ତ୍ରିଭୁଵନାର୍ଚିତମ୍ (tribhuvanārcitam)worshipped in all three worlds
• ଦେଵତାତ୍ମକମ୍ (devatātmakam)in whom the gods have their being
• ତ୍ରିନଯନପ୍ରଭୁମ୍ (trinayanaprabhum)lord of the three-eyed one
• ଦିଵ୍ଯଦେଶିକମ୍ (divyadeśikam)a guide of the clearest kind
• ତ୍ରିଦଶପୂଜିତମ୍ (tridaśapūjitam)worshipped by the thirty gods
• ଚିନ୍ତିତପ୍ରଦମ୍ (cintitapradam)who gives what has only been thought of
• ହରିହରାତ୍ମଜମ୍ (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
• ଦେଵମ୍ (devam)the god
• ଆଶ୍ରଯେ (āśraye)I take refuge in

anvaya ତ୍ରିଭୁଵନାର୍ଚିତମ୍ ଦେଵତାତ୍ମକମ୍ ତ୍ରିନଯନପ୍ରଭୁମ୍ ଦିଵ୍ଯଦେଶିକମ୍ ତ୍ରିଦଶପୂଜିତମ୍ ଚିନ୍ତିତପ୍ରଦମ୍ ହରିହରାତ୍ମଜମ୍ ଦେଵମ୍ ଆଶ୍ରଯେ

chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG

ତ୍ରିଦଶ 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.

ତ୍ରିନଯନପ୍ରଭୁମ୍ 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.

ଚିନ୍ତିତପ୍ରଦମ୍ 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.

• ଭଵଭଯାପହମ୍ (bhavabhayāpaham)who takes away the fear of being born again
• ଭାଵୁକାଵକମ୍ (bhāvukāvakam)who guards those whose hearts are set on him
• ଭୁଵନମୋହନମ୍ (bhuvanamohanam)towards whom the world turns
• ଭୂତିଭୂଷଣମ୍ (bhūtibhūṣaṇam)whose ornament is ash
• ଧଵଲଵାହନମ୍ (dhavalavāhanam)carried by the white one
• ଦିଵ୍ଯଵାରଣମ୍ (divyavāraṇam)the elephant of the gods
• ହରିହରାତ୍ମଜମ୍ (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
• ଦେଵମ୍ (devam)the god
• ଆଶ୍ରଯେ (āśraye)I take refuge in

anvaya ଭଵଭଯାପହମ୍ ଭାଵୁକାଵକମ୍ ଭୁଵନମୋହନମ୍ ଭୂତିଭୂଷଣମ୍ ଧଵଲଵାହନମ୍ ଦିଵ୍ଯଵାରଣମ୍ ହରିହରାତ୍ମଜମ୍ ଦେଵମ୍ ଆଶ୍ରଯେ

chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG

ଭୂତିଭୂଷଣମ୍ 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.

ଦିଵ୍ଯଵାରଣମ୍ 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.

ଧଵଲଵାହନମ୍ 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.

• କଲମୃଦୁସ୍ମିତମ୍ (kalamṛdusmitam)whose smile is soft and sweet
• ସୁନ୍ଦରାନନମ୍ (sundarānanam)whose face is a fair one
• କଲଭକୋମଲମ୍ (kalabhakomalam)as tender as a young elephant
• ଗାତ୍ରମୋହନମ୍ (gātramohanam)the sight of whose body holds the eye
• କଲଭକେସରୀଵାଜିଵାହନମ୍ (kalabhakesarīvājivāhanam)carried by elephant, lion and horse
• ହରିହରାତ୍ମଜମ୍ (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
• ଦେଵମ୍ (devam)the god
• ଆଶ୍ରଯେ (āśraye)I take refuge in

anvaya କଲମୃଦୁସ୍ମିତମ୍ ସୁନ୍ଦରାନନମ୍ କଲଭକୋମଲମ୍ ଗାତ୍ରମୋହନମ୍ କଲଭକେସରୀଵାଜିଵାହନମ୍ ହରିହରାତ୍ମଜମ୍ ଦେଵମ୍ ଆଶ୍ରଯେ

chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG

କଲଭ a young elephant — The word appears twice in the verse, once for how tender he is and once for what carries him.

କଲ 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.

• ଶ୍ରିତଜନପ୍ରିଯମ୍ (śritajanapriyam)dear to those who have come to him
• ଚିନ୍ତିତପ୍ରଦମ୍ (cintitapradam)who gives what has only been thought of
• ଶ୍ରୁତିଵିଭୂଷଣମ୍ (śrutivibhūṣaṇam)the ornament of the Veda
• ସାଧୁଜୀଵନମ୍ (sādhujīvanam)the life of the good
• ଶ୍ରୁତିମନୋହରମ୍ (śrutimanoharam)sweet to the ear
• ଗୀତଲାଲସମ୍ (gītalālasam)who longs for song
• ହରିହରାତ୍ମଜମ୍ (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
• ଦେଵମ୍ (devam)the god
• ଆଶ୍ରଯେ (āśraye)I take refuge in

anvaya ଶ୍ରିତଜନପ୍ରିଯମ୍ ଚିନ୍ତିତପ୍ରଦମ୍ ଶ୍ରୁତିଵିଭୂଷଣମ୍ ସାଧୁଜୀଵନମ୍ ଶ୍ରୁତିମନୋହରମ୍ ଗୀତଲାଲସମ୍ ହରିହରାତ୍ମଜମ୍ ଦେଵମ୍ ଆଶ୍ରଯେ

chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG

ଶ୍ରୁତି 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.

ଗୀତଲାଲସମ୍ 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.

• ଶରଣମ୍ (śaraṇam)refuge
• ଅଯ୍ଯପ୍ପା (ayyappā)Ayyappa
• ସ୍ଵାମି (svāmi)lord

anvaya ଶରଣମ୍ ଅଯ୍ଯପ୍ପା ସ୍ଵାମି ଶରଣମ୍ ଅଯ୍ଯପ୍ପା ଶରଣମ୍ ଅଯ୍ଯପ୍ପା ସ୍ଵାମି ଶରଣମ୍ ଅଯ୍ଯପ୍ପା

ଅଯ୍ଯପ୍ପା 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.