User talk:Sabarimalaayyappasevasamajam

Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam is a service organisation working for the propagation and protection of Ayyappa Dharma. Registered as a Public Charitable Trust, the Samajam’s activities have spread throughout Andhra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala within a short time. Service activities are being done through Committees at the state, district, taluk and village levels. Various Projects aimed at the growth of Ayyappa devotion and awareness of Dharma for developing social change have been envisaged and are being pursued.

Ayyappa Seva Kendras of the Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam are service-or iented guidance cent res, Edathaavalams [mid-travel shelters] and allassistance spots for Sabarimala pilgrims from all over the world. The Samajam arranges facilities of food, accommodation, health care, amenities, and rest and information services to the pilgrims taking different routes to Sabarimala, at important centres on the way. Our Seva Kendras function at all important centres on the routes usually taken by pilgrims from Andhra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

o spread the message that each roof should turn into an Ayyappa-blessed realm and habitat, Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam has put together an extensive house-visit programme.

Led by the local Guruswami, groups of devotees would visit each household and offer Karpoora Arathi, chanting the Sharana mantra. Seeds and plant saplings would be presented to the head of the family. The aim is to propagate the ‘One tree on the first of Vrishchikam’ [‘Vrishchikam onnu; Vriksham onnu’] message of Sadguru Mata Amritanandamayi. The family would be requested to plant the seed/plantlet on the First of Vrishchikam month, and water it at least for 41 days chanting ‘poonkaavanamae sharanam ayyappa’, as advised by Amma.

Planting and nurturing trees/vegetables at home or in the courtyards ought to be deemed as Ayyappa puja. Donating part of the vegetables thus produced at home to the pilgrims is a matter of great punya.

nnadaana-prabhu kaarshika yanjam This is the significant project to grow the paddy, vegetables and other stuff needed for the Anna-daanam of the pilgrims from our various Annadaana kendras, with popular participation.

Karshika yajna: Taking crops for Annadanam at Pathanamthitta

Harvest for Annadana Ayyappa Swami is Anna-daana Prabhu. Devotees firmly believe that giving Annam [food] to the pilgrims and cultivating the ingredients for it is Ayyappa-puja and a great offering to the Lord.

Suitable land can be found in every village/town for the people to grow the ingredients for the Anna-daan, under the leadership of the Guruswamis. The plot may be as small as one cent or as large as several acres. Devotees will join together at the plot every morning, do bhoomi-vandanam, and chant ‘Anna daana prabhuvae sharanam ayyappa’ at least 18 times. They will then offer Aarathi before the picture of the Lord to be brought to the plot and commence work at the plot. At least one hour’s labour may be offered daily.

Vegetables and similar produce from this endeavour may be sent to the Anna-daan kendras through the pilgrims. If sizeable quantum of produce is available, its harvesting may be held as a Graamotsav, and the produce sent on to the Anna-daan kendra in adorned trucks in a festive manner.

A ‘kaarshik samskriti’ is the very live realisation and root base of the Ayyappa Dharma. And ‘Ayyappa culture through agriculture’ is our message!

Sabarimala and the poonkavanam are where Sabarimata did her tapas and thus rendered holy. Sabaripeetham and the Sabari asram ought to ignite those grand memories about that vanavaasi saint in the minds of the coming generations. Her successors still live in Sabarimala and surroundings as Vanavaasis. They now suffer from acute poverty, unemployment and helplessness. It is the prime duty of Ayyappa devotees to offer them security by affording food and clothes, dwelling and employment. We, Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam have drawn up exhaustive plans to re-settle them suitably.

Annadanam for Ayyappa Devotees All cities and villages are reverberating with the manthra 'Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa. The pilgrims are flooding daily to Sabarimala, the abode of universal brotherhood and equality. With their hearts surging with devotion, the pilgrims in groups, wearing blue or black clothes, and carrying on their head the irumudikkettu, the package of offerings and provisions, used to trek long distance in groups to reach the shrine of Lord Ayyappa. The routes covered small towns, villages and long stretches of mountainious terrain, of dense forests inhabited by wild animals. The latest estimate of their number is around 50 millions. The number is steadily increasing every year.

The pilgrims from various parts of the country on their way to Sabarimala are suffering a lot due to the lack of basic amenities and facilities. Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam, a voluntary Charitable Trust devoted for the welfare and well being of Ayyappa devotees is extending all facilities to devotees on their way from different states to Sabarimala.

In bus stands, railway stations, road junctions, public places and temple premises, the Samajam has opened Ayyappa Seva Kendras so and to provide maximum facilities to devotees such as Annadanam(feedings)drinking water, information and medical aid.Hundreds of volunteers are engaged in distributing food, drinking water etc., round the clock to save and serve Ayyappa devotiees.

We are very glad to inform you that a service center is functioning at Perunad, boundary of Sabarimala poonkavanam on the bank of the holy river Pampa, where we are supplying annam (food) as a traditional custom 'Pampa Sadya' to all devotees who are coming to Sabarimala for Ayyappa Darsan. With all devotions and humble submission, we invite you to have this annaprasadam and be blessed.

Themes

1. It is our humane duty to help the devotee pilgrims who travel in exhaustion, hunger and thirst. The pilgrims are Ayyappas –Ayyappan himself. Any assistance that we render to them is Ayyappa puja and offering. Donate rice, vegetables and other needy stuff to Anna-daana kendras.

2. Carry a ‘pidi-ari’ along with your kettu and hand it over at the Seva kendra.

3. Cultivate vegetables in piety, harvest them with Ayyappa-bhakthi in mind and donate the produce reverentially at the Anna-daana kendra.

4. Involve in the vrischikam onnu, vriksham onnu [A Tree on the first of Vrischikam] movement. Plant trees in your courtyards. Go round the tree chanting “Poonkaavanamae sharanam ayyappa” and care for the trees at least for 41 days to have His blessing.

5. Through united effort by devotees, arrange for land to be obtained and cultivate vegetables as a popular venture. Harvest it and hand over the produce to the Anna-daana kendras.

6. Give a helping hand to the Vanavasis in and around Sabarimala poonkaavanam in their hunger and misery.

7. Be Ayyappa, know who you are thereby, convey it to others, join up to create a society without inequality and social evil. Become partners of the Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam. --Sabarimalaayyappasevasamajam (talk) 07:00, 6 December 2012 (UTC)