The Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala never closes without Harivarasanam being recited. This was composed by Sri Kumbakkudy Kulathur Sreenivasa Iyer and was recited for the first time in 1955 by Swami Vimochanananda at Sabarimala temple.
Since then it has become a tradition to recite Harivarasanam before closing the temple every night. At present, the temple plays the Harivarasanam version rendered by renowned singer K J Yesudas.
As the final verses are being sung, all the junior priests leave the temple one by one and at the end of the chanting only the Melshanthi or the main priest will remain in the Sreekovil . He will extinguish all the holy lamps one by one and close the doors of the Sreekovil for the night.
Harivarasanam is also considered as a lullaby to Lord Ayyappa . The composition consists of 108 words and has 8 stanzas. The present version which is popularly played at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple has music composed by renowned music director G Devarajan which is composed in Madhyamavathi raga of Indian Karnatic music.