Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam

Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam (SASS) is an organization of Ayyappan devotees[4] and an affiliate of the Sangh Parivar.[5][6] It is a registered public charitable trust started on 13 November 2008 with headquarters at Pathanamthitta in Kerala.[7] SASS aims to serve Ayyappa devotees in their pilgrimage to Sabarimala and inculcate dharmic values in them and their families and bring them together to further the larger aim of Hindu unity.[citation needed] SASS activities can be listed in 5S: Satsang, Swaadhyay, Seva, Samarasta and Sangharsh.[citation needed]

Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam
Founded13 November 2008
FounderKummanam Rajasekharan[1]
TypeCommunity service
Location
Area served
Annadanam, medical facilities, assistance to Ayyappa devotees
MethodWeekly gatherings, public meetings, awareness campaigns, social service programs etc.
Key people
Erode N Rajan[2][3]
(General Secretary)
Parent organization
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
AffiliationsNone
Employees
0[citation needed]
Volunteers
15000[citation needed]
Websitehttps://sassbharath.org

Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam was established as a charitable trust with the revered Guruswamy MN Nambiar as Chairman together with Hindu activist Kummanam Rajasekharan as its first General Secretary.[1]

Activities

edit

The activities of Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam are

  • Various services like Annadanam (offering free food), medical facilities, other necessary assistance to Sabarimala pilgrims[8][9]
  • To set up base camps and Seva Kendra (Help Centres) for Sabarimala pilgrims[10]
  • Organizing devotees of Ayyappa through weekly gathering, Satsang, Uthram Pooja, etc. throughout the year, to create awareness among people about Ayyappa Dharma and Sanatana Dharma
  • Conducting Swach Sabarimala programme for cleaning and sanitation work in Sannidhanam, Pampa and Erumeli in association with Punyam Poonkavanam Project[11][12][13]
  • Organizing awareness campaigns on plastic free Sabarimala and plastic free Erumely through Ayyappa Yogams[3]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Sabarimala 'annadanam': Devaswom board hands over charge to RSS backed organization". Keralakaumudi Daily. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  2. ^ "Modi has agreed to visit Sabarimala soon: Ayyappa Samajam secy". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 7 December 2014. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Campaign to save Sabarimala from plastic to begin in State". The Hindu. 27 November 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  4. ^ "'Travancore Devaswom Board trying to protect interest of hoteliers'". The Times of India. 25 April 2014. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  5. ^ "Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam to move court". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  6. ^ "Black day in Kerala's history: Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam on women's entry in Sabarimala | India News". www.timesnownews.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  7. ^ "Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam, Karnataka appeal to Chief Minister DVS". Vishwa Samvada Kendra. 15 November 2011. Archived from the original on 18 June 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  8. ^ Srinivas, M. (9 November 2014). "Devotee-friendly steps for Sabarimala pilgrims". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  9. ^ "Ayyappa seva samajam to offer free food facility". News18. 2 January 2012. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
  10. ^ Staff Reporter (19 June 2011). "Ayyappa Seva Samajom to open 50 Seva Kendras". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 12 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  11. ^ "Ayyappa Seva Samajam conducts cleaning operation in Sabarimala". United News of India. 21 January 2016. Archived from the original on 10 July 2019.
  12. ^ Kuttoor, Radhakrishnan (9 June 2016). "Cleaning drive at Sabarimala a big hit". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  13. ^ "Sabarimala staff an elated bunch after PM Modi praises cleanliness drive". OnManorama. Retrieved 2 July 2019.