Harihara Iyer was born in
Nagercoil to
Katha Kalakshepam Carnatic music evangelist Srimaan Sthanu Bhagavathar (also referred to as Sthanu Shastrigal) and his wife Narayani. His elder brother Mridangam Vidwan
Nagercoil S. Ganesa Iyer was also a musician. Sthanu Sastrigal was then a Sanskrit professor from Annamalai University. Harihara Iyer had played numerous concerts in dual capacity as a vocalist and as a violinist along with Ganesa. He was conferred the title Sangeetha Surendra by
Puri Sankaracharya in 1948 and was honoured by Saraswathi Gana Sabha. He made his debut in 1933 at
Trivandrum on
harmonium. Iyer learned harmonium from his elder brother Nagercoil Padmanabha Iyer and
violin from Kodaganallur Subbiah Bhagavatar and TK Jayarama Iyer . He along with Ganesa and his father sang krithis of
Swathi Tirunal and promoted Tamil krithis by Lakshmana Pillai. Over the years, he trained many students including his nephew violinist Sthanunathan who had accompanied him in various concerts. His son Viswanathan and his grandson Harish perform in concerts internationally. Gen Z. Seetha Narayanan is his disciple in vocalist tree. He was a teacher at
Kalakshetra in both vocal and violin.
Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer had called him a "pre-eminent violinist and vocalist well versed in practice". == Performances ==