ஹரிததீஶ்வரம் ஆராத்யபாதுகம் ।
அரிவிமர்தநம் நித்யநர்தநம்
ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவமாஶ்ரயே ॥ 1 ॥
- ஹரிவராஸநம் (harivarāsanam)whose seat is Hari's own
- விஶ்வமோஹநம் (viśvamohanam)who draws the whole world to him
- ஹரிததீஶ்வரம் (haridadhīśvaram)lord of the quarters of the sky
- ஆராத்யபாதுகம் (ārādhyapādukam)whose sandals are worth worshipping
- அரிவிமர்தநம் (arivimardanam)who grinds down those who stand against him
- நித்யநர்தநம் (nityanartanam)whose dance never stops
- ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
- தேவம் (devam)the god
- ஆஶ்ரயே (āśraye)I take refuge in
anvaya ஹரிவராஸநம் விஶ்வமோஹநம் ஹரிததீஶ்வரம் ஆராத்யபாதுகம் அரிவிமர்தநம் நித்யநர்தநம் ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவம் ஆஶ்ரயே
chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG
ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் 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.
ஹரிவராஸநம் 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.
ஹரிததீஶ்வரம் 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, ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவமாஶ்ரயே. The title is taken from its first word.
பரணலோலுபம் நர்தநாலஸம் ।
அருணபாஸுரம் பூதநாயகம்
ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவமாஶ்ரயே ॥ 2 ॥
- ஶரணகீர்தநம் (śaraṇakīrtanam)who is sung to with the cry of refuge
- பக்தமாநஸம் (bhaktamānasam)who lives in the minds of those who love him
- பரணலோலுபம் (bharaṇalolupam)eager to keep and care for them
- நர்தநாலஸம் (nartanālasam)whose dance is unhurried
- அருணபாஸுரம் (aruṇabhāsuram)shining red as daybreak
- பூதநாயகம் (bhūtanāyakam)leader of the hosts
- ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
- தேவம் (devam)the god
- ஆஶ்ரயே (āśraye)I take refuge in
anvaya ஶரணகீர்தநம் பக்தமாநஸம் பரணலோலுபம் நர்தநாலஸம் அருணபாஸுரம் பூதநாயகம் ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவம் ஆஶ்ரயே
chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG
ஶரணகீர்தநம் 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.
பரணலோலுபம் 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.
நர்தநாலஸம் 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.
ப்ரணதகல்பகம் ஸுப்ரபாஞ்சிதம் ।
ப்ரணவமந்திரம் கீர்தநப்ரியம்
ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவமாஶ்ரயே ॥ 3 ॥
- ப்ரணயஸத்யகம் (praṇayasatyakam)true to those who love him
- ப்ராணநாயகம் (prāṇanāyakam)lord of the breath of life
- ப்ரணதகல்பகம் (praṇatakalpakam)who shapes what those who bow ask for
- ஸுப்ரபாஞ்சிதம் (suprabhāñcitam)about whom a fine light plays
- ப்ரணவமந்திரம் (praṇavamandiram)the house the sound Om lives in
- கீர்தநப்ரியம் (kīrtanapriyam)who loves being sung to
- ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
- தேவம் (devam)the god
- ஆஶ்ரயே (āśraye)I take refuge in
anvaya ப்ரணயஸத்யகம் ப்ராணநாயகம் ப்ரணதகல்பகம் ஸுப்ரபாஞ்சிதம் ப்ரணவமந்திரம் கீர்தநப்ரியம் ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவம் ஆஶ்ரயே
chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG
ப்ரணவமந்திரம் 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.
ப்ரணதகல்பகம் 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.
வரகதாயுதம் வேதவர்ணிதம் ।
குருக்ரு'பாகரம் கீர்தநப்ரியம்
ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவமாஶ்ரயே ॥ 4 ॥
- துரகவாஹநம் (turagavāhanam)carried by a horse
- ஸுந்தராநநம் (sundarānanam)whose face is a fair one
- வரகதாயுதம் (varagadāyudham)whose weapon is the good mace
- வேதவர்ணிதம் (vedavarṇitam)spoken of in the Veda
- குருக்ரு'பாகரம் (gurukṛpākaram)whose kindness comes as a teacher's does
- கீர்தநப்ரியம் (kīrtanapriyam)who loves being sung to
- ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
- தேவம் (devam)the god
- ஆஶ்ரயே (āśraye)I take refuge in
anvaya துரகவாஹநம் ஸுந்தராநநம் வரகதாயுதம் வேதவர்ணிதம் குருக்ரு'பாகரம் கீர்தநப்ரியம் ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவம் ஆஶ்ரயே
chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG
துரகவாஹநம் 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.
குருக்ரு'பாகரம் 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.
த்ரிநயநப்ரபும் திவ்யதேஶிகம் ।
த்ரிதஶபூஜிதம் சிந்திதப்ரதம்
ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவமாஶ்ரயே ॥ 5 ॥
- த்ரிபுவநார்சிதம் (tribhuvanārcitam)worshipped in all three worlds
- தேவதாத்மகம் (devatātmakam)in whom the gods have their being
- த்ரிநயநப்ரபும் (trinayanaprabhum)lord of the three-eyed one
- திவ்யதேஶிகம் (divyadeśikam)a guide of the clearest kind
- த்ரிதஶபூஜிதம் (tridaśapūjitam)worshipped by the thirty gods
- சிந்திதப்ரதம் (cintitapradam)who gives what has only been thought of
- ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
- தேவம் (devam)the god
- ஆஶ்ரயே (āśraye)I take refuge in
anvaya த்ரிபுவநார்சிதம் தேவதாத்மகம் த்ரிநயநப்ரபும் திவ்யதேஶிகம் த்ரிதஶபூஜிதம் சிந்திதப்ரதம் ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவம் ஆஶ்ரயே
chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG
த்ரிதஶ 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.
த்ரிநயநப்ரபும் 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.
சிந்திதப்ரதம் 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.
புவநமோஹநம் பூதிபூஷணம் ।
தவலவாஹநம் திவ்யவாரணம்
ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவமாஶ்ரயே ॥ 6 ॥
- பவபயாபஹம் (bhavabhayāpaham)who takes away the fear of being born again
- பாவுகாவகம் (bhāvukāvakam)who guards those whose hearts are set on him
- புவநமோஹநம் (bhuvanamohanam)towards whom the world turns
- பூதிபூஷணம் (bhūtibhūṣaṇam)whose ornament is ash
- தவலவாஹநம் (dhavalavāhanam)carried by the white one
- திவ்யவாரணம் (divyavāraṇam)the elephant of the gods
- ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
- தேவம் (devam)the god
- ஆஶ்ரயே (āśraye)I take refuge in
anvaya பவபயாபஹம் பாவுகாவகம் புவநமோஹநம் பூதிபூஷணம் தவலவாஹநம் திவ்யவாரணம் ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவம் ஆஶ்ரயே
chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG
பூதிபூஷணம் 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.
திவ்யவாரணம் 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.
தவலவாஹநம் 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.
கலபகோமலம் காத்ரமோஹநம் ।
கலபகேஸரீவாஜிவாஹநம்
ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவமாஶ்ரயே ॥ 7 ॥
- கலம்ரு'துஸ்மிதம் (kalamṛdusmitam)whose smile is soft and sweet
- ஸுந்தராநநம் (sundarānanam)whose face is a fair one
- கலபகோமலம் (kalabhakomalam)as tender as a young elephant
- காத்ரமோஹநம் (gātramohanam)the sight of whose body holds the eye
- கலபகேஸரீவாஜிவாஹநம் (kalabhakesarīvājivāhanam)carried by elephant, lion and horse
- ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
- தேவம் (devam)the god
- ஆஶ்ரயே (āśraye)I take refuge in
anvaya கலம்ரு'துஸ்மிதம் ஸுந்தராநநம் கலபகோமலம் காத்ரமோஹநம் கலபகேஸரீவாஜிவாஹநம் ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவம் ஆஶ்ரயே
chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG
கலப a young elephant — The word appears twice in the verse, once for how tender he is and once for what carries him.
கல 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.
ஶ்ருதிவிபூஷணம் ஸாதுஜீவநம் ।
ஶ்ருதிமநோஹரம் கீதலாலஸம்
ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவமாஶ்ரயே ॥ 8 ॥
- ஶ்ரிதஜநப்ரியம் (śritajanapriyam)dear to those who have come to him
- சிந்திதப்ரதம் (cintitapradam)who gives what has only been thought of
- ஶ்ருதிவிபூஷணம் (śrutivibhūṣaṇam)the ornament of the Veda
- ஸாதுஜீவநம் (sādhujīvanam)the life of the good
- ஶ்ருதிமநோஹரம் (śrutimanoharam)sweet to the ear
- கீதலாலஸம் (gītalālasam)who longs for song
- ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் (hariharātmajam)born of Hari and Hara
- தேவம் (devam)the god
- ஆஶ்ரயே (āśraye)I take refuge in
anvaya ஶ்ரிதஜநப்ரியம் சிந்திதப்ரதம் ஶ்ருதிவிபூஷணம் ஸாதுஜீவநம் ஶ்ருதிமநோஹரம் கீதலாலஸம் ஹரிஹராத்மஜம் தேவம் ஆஶ்ரயே
chandas Unnamed metre: 11 syllables in each of 4 pādas, every pāda in the pattern LLLGLGGLGLG
ஶ்ருதி 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.
கீதலாலஸம் 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.
ஶரணம் அய்யப்பா ஸ்வாமி ஶரணம் அய்யப்பா ॥
- ஶரணம் (śaraṇam)refuge
- அய்யப்பா (ayyappā)Ayyappa
- ஸ்வாமி (svāmi)lord
anvaya ஶரணம் அய்யப்பா ஸ்வாமி ஶரணம் அய்யப்பா ஶரணம் அய்யப்பா ஸ்வாமி ஶரணம் அய்யப்பா
அய்யப்பா 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.