Knowledge Bank

Harivarasanam

The song Harivarasanam is sung every day at Sabarimala temple at the time of closing since the 1950s. For a long time, it was believed that its author was Kambakudi Kulathur Srinivasa Iyer. Of late, there has been a claim that the song was written by Konnakathu Janaki Amma. Her father was the chief priest of Sabarimala from 1907 to 1920. The popular version of the song was sung by Yesudas for the film Swamy Ayyappan in 1975. The original title of the song is Hariharatmaja Ashtakam.

Was Yama once a mortal being?

Yes. According to the Vedas, Yama was the first person ever to die and became the lord of all the souls to die after him.