Harivarasanam

Harivarasanam in English,Telugu,Hindi,Tamil,Kannada,Malayalam
In Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala,
this ashtakam extolling the virtues of Lord Ayyappan/Ayyanaar is sung
just before the closure of the shrine at night after the final poojas.
As the concluding stanzas are recited, the assistant Santhis (Priests) leave the Sanctum Sanctorum;
only the Mel Santhi (Head Priest) remains inside the Sreekovil.
Extinguishing the lamps one by one, he shuts temple doors for the night.

Harivarasanam celebrates the union of the human soul with the ultimate and expounds the greatness of Ayyappan.
It is believed to have been composed by Kumbakudi Kulathur Iyer and
was first recited at Sabarimala in 1955 by Swami Vimochananad