there are many theories behind the etymology of the name "kharaharapriya". one of the most popular belief is that the ragam was initially called samaganam and when ravana was trapped by shiva, under the kailash hill trying to lift it, it is believed that, to appease the lord, ravana sang many hymns in praise of the lord, but his heart cooled only when a hymn was sung in the ragam and hence the name (hara) shiva and ("priya")loved hence "harapriya " -the one dear to shiva, and to fit it in the katapayadi system according to the melakarta chakra system.