Harivarasanam – Madhyamavathi Raagam

Introduction

Harivarasanam is a famous Malayalam song on the Lord Ayyapan that has fame and name around the world. Harivarasanam lyrics along with the notations are in this blog.

Manipravalam is a term, which means Sanskritised Malayalam. Harivarasanam is a song in Sanskritised Malayalam and it comes under the category of Manipravalam Ashtakam.

This song is a lullaby, and people sing this song in Ayyapan temples when they close the temple for the night. There is a traditional version of the song, that people sing inside the temple during the closing ceremony. There is a famous version of this song, by K.J.Yesudas, which is played for the devotees outside the temple.

Madhyamavathi

Harivarasanam is in the Raagam Madhyamavathi. This Raagam has five musical notes and it is an Audava raagam. It is in pentatonic scale in other words. Madhyamavathi is a Janya Raagam, derived from Kharaharapriya, which is the 22^nd Melakartha Raagam.

The speciality of this raagam is that it can be derived from other Raagams as well. Charukesi, Natabhairavi or Hari Kambhoji, can also be the parent Raagams, if we drop the Ghandaram (Ga) and Dhaivatham (Dha). Hindustani Raagas, Madhumad Sarang, Megh Malar and Megh are the equivalent of the Raagam Madhyamavathi.

Genesis of Harivarasanam

Harivarasanam is of the mystical songs in the history of Carnatic Music. The mysticism around the song is mainly due to Lord Ayyapan’s history. At 16, he ventured into the forest to get milk from a tigress for an ailment at home. Though being the son of a King, he chose to live for the people, and vowed to be a gatekeeper of the people for eternity.

The exact author of the song is not known, because of the tradition followed back then. The traditional way of submitting devotional works to the temples, did not have the practice of the author signing the song with their name. Swami Vimochananda, is the first person to sing this song in the temple at Sabarimala in 1950’s and the tradition continues till date.

Harivarasanam Composer

Harivarasanam’s original composer is a topic of debate. The original claim for the song falls on the shoulders of Kambankudi Kulathu Iyer, as he has a collection of devotional songs credited to his name. The collection’s name is “Harivarasanam Vishvamohanam”.

The other claim that is widely in the air is, Konnakathu Janaki Amma is the composer of the song. This song came into existence because of her father, Ananthakrishna Iyer, who was the Mel Shanthi, or the chief priest of Sabarimala, the abode of Lord Ayyappan. The claims go on to the extent of them having hand-written notes from the author herself.

Harivarasanam – A Gist

Harivarasanam lyrics talk about the beauty, love, charisma, endeavors, and the heart of Lord Ayyapan. It talks about how he is the revered son of Sastha, how majestically he rides the horse, how glowing he is with his divinity, how he wields the mace so gracefully, how all the devas worship him, and much more. Each stanza in the Harivarasanam lyrics ends with the line that whoever is singing the song, takes refuge in him.

Harivarasanam – Lyrics and Notations

Raagam : Madhyamavathi

Tala: Adi

Aro: S R2 M1 P N2 Ṡ

Ava: Ṡ N2 P M1 R2 S

Harivarasanam Lyrics

Stanza-1

Harivarasanam Vishwamohanam

Haridatheeswaram Aradyapadukam

Arivimardhanam Nityanarthanam

Hariharathmajam Devamasraye

Saranam Ayyappa Swami Saranam Ayyappa

Saranam Ayyappa Swami Saranam Ayyappa

Stanza-2

Saranakeerthanam Sakthamanasam

Paranalolupam Narthanalasam

Arunabasuram Boothanayakam

Hariharathmajam Devamasraye

(Saranam ayyapa)

Stanza-3

Duragavahanam Sundarananam

Varagadayutham Vedavarnitham

Gurugrupagaram Keerthanapriyam

Hariharathmajam Devamasraye

(Saranam ayyapa)

Stanza-4

Tribhuvanarchitam Devadatmagam

Thrinayanamprabu Divyadeshikam

Dritasaphujitham Cindithapratham

Hariharathmajam Devamasraye

(Saranam)

Stanza-4

Bhavapayapaham Bhaukavaham

Bhuvanamohanam Bhootiphushanam

Thavalavahanam Divyavaranam

Hariharathmajam Devamasraye

(Saranam ayyapa)

Stanza-5

Kalamruthushmitam Sundarananam

Kalapakomalam Kathramohanam

Kalapakesari Vajivahanam

Hariharathmajam Devamasraye

(Saranam ayyapa)

Stanza-6

Shrudhajanapriyam Cindithapratam

Shrutivibhushanam Satujeevanam

Shruthimanoharam Geethalalasam

Hariharathmajam Devamasraye

(Saranam ayyapa)

Notations

Stanza-1

N S S Sa S R | R M R S Sa ||

Harivarasanam Vishwamohanam

N S R S R S N P | P P R S S Sa ||

Haridatheeswaram Aradyapadukam

R M M Ma M M R S | R M M M M ||

Arivimardhanam Nityanarthanam

R M P P N P M R | M R S S S Sa ||

Hariharathmajam Devamasraye

N S S S R S R Ri Ri | M R M R S R M ||

Saranam Ayyappa Swami Saranam Ayyappa

P M P M R R R Ri | N S R R S S ||

Saranam Ayyappa Swami Saranam Ayyappa

Stanza-2

P P M P P P Ni N P | P P P P P M P M ||

Saranakeerthanam Sakthamanasam

P P R S S S N P | P P P P M P M ||

Paranalolupam Narthanalasam

P P N Ni N Ni S R S | P P P P M P M ||

Arunabasuram Boothanayakam

R M P P N P M R | M R S S S Saa…. ||

Hariharathmajam Devamasraye

N S S S R S R Ri Ri | M R M R S R M ||

Saranam Ayyappa Swami Saranam Ayyappa

P M P M R R R Ri | N S R R S S ||

Saranam Ayyappa Swami Saranam Ayyappa

Note: Repeat the same notes for Stanza 3,4 5 and 6.

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