Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam (SASS) is an organization engaged in dedicated service to Devotees of Lord Ayyappa for the past 11 years from its inception in 2008.
APPEAL
Appeal
Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam (SASS) is an organization engaged in dedicated service to Devotees of Lord Ayyappa for the past 11 years from its inception in 2008.
Our activities are not limited to Mandala-Makaravilakku season only, it is a regular and continuous process engaged in spreading Ayyappa Dharma alias Sanatana Dharma for the spiritual enlightenmentwith Social awarenessof Ayyappa families. And the seasonal devotion- bhakthi at present normally seen/practiced during Mandala-Makara vilakku season only, is gradually upgraded and modified as Permanent, Unshakable Devotion– Nithya,AchanchalaBhakthi- through its regular weekly gatherings called Ayyappa Yogams. Rendering respect to Guruswamies in the locality, giving awareness to people about the importance and necessity of practicing and preserving our age old traditions and rituals, protectingand up keeping of local temple with clean surroundings and divine atmosphere, giving inspiration to worship their DharmaDevatha at the local temples,preserving public ponds and other water sources clean and hygienic, propagating eco friendly organic cultivation, protecting and respecting cow as Gau-matha, doing needed services to the devotees like free education, medical facilities, annadanametc. Educating and gradually purify and uplift them as service oriented, pious individuals… are the various components of Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam’s activities.
It is an organization, started in Kerala in the year 2008, later expanded to the Southern States – Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra and Telangana, now spread over to 13 States with expansion plans in all States of India and even abroad where Devotees of Lord Ayyappa are settled.
The unexpected, unfortunate Supreme Court Judgment of 28th September 2018 on “Restricted entry of ladies in Sabarimala” was a blow on the devotees of Ayyappa and Hindu society as a whole. SASS could prevail upon the concerned organizations and convince them the requirement of protection of the age old rituals, traditions and culture prevailing at Sabarimala Temple and other temples in the country and the immediate necessity of united action by all the various Hindu organizations. SASS took lead role in the formation of Sabarimala Karma Samithi in Kerala and Sabarimala Action Councils in various states and an apex body in the name of All India Sabarimala Action Council and organize various agitational programmes / namajapayathras throughout the country to protect the rituals at Sabarimala.
Our selfless and dedicated and continuous cleaning program called Swach Sabarimala and Swach Erumely, being conducted from 2014 onwards with the involvement ofthousands of Ayyappa Sevaks every year during the finale of Makara vilakku could bring more and more accolades to the organization from various VIPs, Government departments and organizations.And during the current year also this programme was conducted on 19-20 January, 2020with 1850 Ayyappa Sevaks.Supply of medicated drinking water at Sannidhanam, stretcher services, medical facilities, regular support to Vanavasibhandhus – tribalsby giving them foodmaterials and clothesare also conducted regularly by our volunteers.
We are happy to inform you about our various, important projects, in which we give more priority in setting up of permanent shelters with all facilities including free Annadanam, at twelve places, where majority of Ayyappas from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Telangana and Kerala reach during their pilgrimage to Sabarimala viz. Erumely, Naranamthodu, Vizhikkithodu, Pandalam, Chengannur and other main centresenroute Sabarimala like Kasaragode, Wynad, Guruvayur, Kalady, Walayar, Theni and Shenkotta.
We are already engaged in services like providing free annadanam, medical facilities, information centre, supply of medicated drinking water, etc. during the Mandala-Makaravilakku season, since inception, by setting up of temporary sheds in the name of Ayyappa Seva Kenda (ASK). Starting with 4 places in the beginning,viz. Sannidhanam, Koonamkara, Erumely and Triprayar, we have established about 68 ASKs at different places within Kerala from Parassala to Kasaragode and 139 ASKs in the neighbouring states.About 65 – 70 lakh devotees were benefitted with our services last year. Resting place, night shelter, bath room and toilet facilities, arranging repairing facilities of vehicles, providing first-aid and all kinds of services to the devotees for the smooth and peaceful pilgrimage are also provided at the above ASKs. Further, at Kalaketty, in the traditional trekking route from Erumely to Pampa,a free medical camp is also set up by SASS, in which 39 doctors rendered their services during the last seasonwith Medical students and Nurses. Free stretcher facilities are provided from Pampa to Sannidhanam and back also.
We, the workers/ Ayyappa Sevaks of Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam, approach you especially to introduce and explain about our Organisation with ahumble request for yourkind co-operation and inclusion in the noble, divine activities of SASS.
Future Projects Estimate
Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam (SASS), like similar other agencies and NGOs, is an active participant with commitment to serving the pilgrims
SASS has a noble vision of giving all kinds of services to the devotees reaching Sabarimala and all poor public to confirm that all of them get trouble free, peaceful darshan of Lord Ayyappa without any difficulty. Keeping this agenda in mind we have made a target of developing the main AyyappaSevaKendras (ASK), full-fledged with all facilities as detailed below. These projects will be beneficial to devotees and poor public not only during the Manadala-Makaravilakku season, but throughout the year when the Sabarimala temple is kept open for darshan for monthly pooja and special festival occasions.
Ayyappa Seva Kendram
The Ayyappa Seva Kendras at Sabarimala and Surrounding areas are at :
ERUMELY
VIZHIKKITHODU (Near Erumely)
NARANAMTHODU
SANNIDHANAM
PAMBA
NILAKKAL.
KOONAMKARA
MEDICAL CENTRE AT KALAKETTY*
*for the benefit of Ayyappa Devotees in the Season and Tribals for all Days.
- Erumely ASK cum Office Complex. SASS has entered into an Agreement to purchase 6 cents of land with a building at Erumely, adjacent to the famous ErumelyDharmasastha temple. The construction of the three storied building with an area of 2350 sq.ft is almost complete, which consists of 1030 sq.ft in the ground floor, 960 sq.ft in the first floor and 360 sq.ft. top floor. This building will be utilized mainly for Annadanam and it will function as an Office and also as dormitory. The Cost of purchase of the land with building is Rs.150 lacks, in which Rs.35 lacks has been paid as advance. Further for modification of the interior of the building suitable for our above mentioned services an additional expenses of Rs.35 lacks is budgeted. Thus the total Project cost of this ASK will be Rs.195 lacks including registration and tax.
- Vizhikkithodu ASK SASS is in possession of 42 cents of land at Vizhikkithodu, Koovappally Village, KanjirappallyTaluk (enrouteErumely – Ponkunnam road), 6 km away from Erumely. SASS propose to construct a building in this land having an approximate total plinth area of 18257 Sq.ft in G + 2 floors with provision for dining hall, kitchen, resting area, dormitory and rooms. The estimated cost for the proposal comes to Rs. 250 Lakes.
- Naranamthodu ASK SASS has almost finalized to purchase 43 Cents of land at Naranamthodu, near to Nilakkal, which has become the main Parking place for all vehicles of devotees (after the damage of parking area at Pampa during the flood occurred last year, 2018, Nilakkal has been made as the Vehicle Hub). As such there are no facilities available at this place and we plan to construct a double storied building, with an area of 6000 sq.ft suitable for a modern kitchen (Solar Kitchen), dining hall and resting place. The estimated cost for the proposal comes to Rs. 350 Lakes.
- Medical Centre at Kalaketty ASK: This Kalaketty ASK is located 17 kms from Erumely in the traditional trekking route, which is mainly used by devotees during Makaravilakku season only. However there are some people (mainly Aadivasis) living in this area permanently. Here, we possess 6 cents of land with a small building. We plan to construct a 2 storied building with an area of 4160 Sqft suitable for medical facilities and purchase required medical equipments and the same will be beneficial to devotees – during the Makaravilakku season and for the poor people (tribals) living in this area – throughout the year. The estimated cost for the proposal comes to Rs. 67 Lakes.
- Sannidhanam ASK: Presently, we are providing supply of medicated drinking water and stretcher service only as Travancore Dewaswom Board provides Annadanam directly. However, we have filed a case in Kerala High Court seeking permission from Dewaswom Board to provide a convenient place in Sannidhanam to conduct Annadanam for Devotees.
At Pamba, Nilakkal (near to our proposed Naranamthodu ASK), and Erumely – Free Annadanam and other Services are being provided by SASS at the places allotted by Travancore Devaswom Board and at Vizhikkithodu – at our own place. Nearly 45000 to 50000 devotees are being fed daily through these Annadana Kendras only and the approximate expenses incurred for this is Rs.4.00 lakhs per day, which works out to Rs.240 lakhs for the whole season November 15 to January 15, viz. 60 days. The expenses to conduct these services are met from the voluntary contributions made by the members, workers, devotees and other well-wishers and philanthropists, both in cash and kind.
The Total Project Cost for the above 4 ASKs is calculated as:
| 1. ERUMELY ASK : | Rs.195 Lakhs |
| 2. VIZHIKKITHODU ASK : | Rs.250 Lakhs |
| 3. NARANAMTHODU ASK : | Rs.350 Lakhs |
| 4. KALAKETTY ASK : | Rs. 67 Lakhs |
| Total : | Rs.862 Lakhs. |
Ayyappa Seva Kendram at State Borders
The organization plans setting up of 9 permanent AyyappaSevaKendras (ASK) at the 9 main entry points to Kerala State from neighbouring states viz. Shenkotta, Theni, Walayar, Wayanad, Guruvayur, Kalady, Chengannur, Pandalam, and Kasaragode. These ASKs will be provided with all facilities like food, shelter, resting place, Toilets & Bath rooms, medical facilities etc. to do service to Ayyappa devotees coming from all other states. These ASKs are to be located at the vantage points, near to the main road/highways in a land measuring at least 25 cents with a building of minimum 3000 sft, suitable to provide all the above facilities. The approximate project cost for one ASK is calculated as follows:
| Cost of land @Rs.2,00,000/- per cent For 25 cent | Rs. 50,00,000.00 | |
| Cost of building @Rs.1500/- per sq.ft / – 3000 sq.ft | Rs. 45, 00,000.00 | |
| Cost of furniture, fixtures, kitchen equipments etc : with Solar Kitchen. | Rs. 10, 00,000.00 | |
| Total Project Cost for One ASK: | Rs. 1,05, 00,000.00 | |
| Project Cost for the 5 Border ASKs: | 1,05,00,000 x 5 = | Rs. 5,25,00,000.00 |
Approximate Cost for the above 9 AyyappaSevaKendras is estimated as Rs.50 crores.
Total project cost for both the 4 ASKs (Sabarimala surroundings) and 9 other main centres: Rs.60.00 crores (Approximately)
Appeal
In the name of Lord Ayyappa, we humbly request you to meet the project cost of Rs.60.00 crores for the future projects as explained above, we appeal to all the devotees and well wishers to donate whole-heatedly to Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam, an organization engaged in selfless dedicated service to devotees of Ayyappa, propagate Ayyappa Dharma and to preserve and protect Sabarimala and Hindu Dharma.
Our Bank account (Central) details:
NAME: SABARIMALA AYYAPPA SEVA SAMAJAM- (CENTRAL ACCOUNT).
(PAN: AAITS2205B).
BANK: DHANALAKSHMI BANK , PUSHPAGIRI BR. THRISSUR.
A/C NO:000400100150322
IFSC: DLXB 0000004
With pranams, ever in the service of Lord Ayyappa,
Sri.T.B.Shekhar,
National Chairman
Sri.S.Vinod Kumar,
National Treasurer
Sri. Erode Rajan. N,
National General Secretary