Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam

Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam (SASS) is a pan India organization of Ayyappa devotees inspired by the unifying vision of Lord Ayyappa of Sabarimala rising above language, caste and class distinctions. 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. SASS activities can be listed in 5S: Satsang, Swaadhyay, Seva, Samarasta and Sangharsh.

Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam

Founded	13 November 2008
Founder	Kummanam Rajasekharan[1]
Type	Community service
Location	India
Area served	Annadanam, medical facilities, other necessary helps to Ayyappa devotees
Key people	Erode N Rajan[2][3] (General Secretary)
Parent organization	Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Affiliations	None
Volunteers	15000
Website	www.sabarimalaayyappasevasamajam.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

The activities of Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam are

• Various services like Annadanam (offering free food), medical facilities, other necessary helps to Sabarimala pilgrims[4][5]
• To set up base camps and Seva Kendra for Sabarimala pilgrims[6]
• 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[7][8][9]
• Organizing awareness classes on plastic usage free Sabarimala and plastic free Erumely through Ayyappa Yogams[3]

References

1. "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. "Campaign to save Sabarimala from plastic to begin in State". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 27 November 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 18 June 2019.CS1 maint: others (link)
4. 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.
5. "Ayyappa seva samajam to offer free food facility". News18. 2 January 2012. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
6. 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.
7. "Ayyappa Seva Samajam conducts cleaning operation in Sabarimala". United News of India. 21 January 2016. Archived from the original on 10 July 2019.
8. 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.
9. "Sabarimala staff an elated bunch after PM Modi praises cleanliness drive". OnManorama. Retrieved 2 July 2019.