

When the song ends, only the Melshanti will be inside the Sreekovil or sacred sanctuary.

When the song is sung halfway, the high Priest or Melshanti extinguishes each of the lamps of the Sanctorum shrine. Although this was done one by one, the priests left the Sanctorum Sanctum without making any noise.

Melshanti and the other priests stand on either side of the Ayyappa idol and recite the Harivarasanam. In 1955, Swami Vimochananad recited this Ashtakam for the first time in front of Ayyappa Swamy at Sabarimala. Harivarasanam is the creation of Kumbakudi Kulathur Iyer. The entire region will be filled with Sarana Manthra and every devotee will feel the presence of Lord Ayyappa in his mind. The emotions of the Ayyappa devotees at Sabarimala have no explanation when they hear Harivarsanam at the Sanctorium. The divine song “Harivarasanam” or Hari Haratmaka Ashtakam is recited just prior to the closing of the temple doors at night.
