AKHILA BHARATHA AYYAPPA SEVA SANGHAM

AKHILA BHARATHA AYYAPPA SEVA SANGHAM

 Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sangham was founded by Dr. P.A.Velayudhan Pillai of Thiruananthapuram during the year 1945 to service the Ayyappa devotees who undertake arduous journey to Sabarimala. Later it has been registered as a social service organization under the charitable societies Act”. It has a significant beginning- as in the words of Sri.Nenmara Ramachandra Menon: “Years back a group of devotees on pilgrimage reached Pampa from Erumeli through thick and dense forests of high ups and steep downs. A boy among them was caught by a raving fever and the condition of the boy became very serious, rendering the instantaneous medical aid inevitable. The pilgrims run hither and thither in search of some medical aid. Dr.P.A.Velayudhan Pillai, himself a pilgrim came to know of this and he readily gave the boy a few doses of medicine he had with him reserved for his own use. The doctor was then the Superintendant of the Opthalmic Hospital, Thiruananthapuram. The boy got relief and the devotees continued their pilgrimage. This gave an impetus to the Doctor to ponder over the ways and means to serve the sufferers in future. Thus the seed for the germination of the renowned Ayyappa Seva Sangham was sown in the sacred soil of Pampa, where the Pandalam Raja saw the crying child”

This was an evening in the month of Dhanu, 1120(Kolla Varsham). Along with Dr. Velayudhan Pillai, there were Sri. C.V.Raman Pillai, Sri.R.Krishna Pillai and Sri.Achuthan Nair. Their thoughts at that circumstance turned to the formation of a voluntary service corps to help the sick and needy, young and old, on their way to Sabarimala. It was their feeling that the camphor which they lighted on that evening was to wipe off the sufferings of devotees. Very appropriately an auditorium in the name of Dr. Velayudhan Pillai has been built in Pampa and his photograph adorns the wall.

Sabarimala was dangerous and difficult to reach. Thick forests infested with wild animals, unclean water, steep hills and cold weather made the surroundings inhospitable. Among the devotees, there were children and elders, sick and healthy, poor and rich all treading towards the same goal- to have the Darshan of Ayyappa. Quite often pilgrims fell sick and need medical attention. Ayyappa Seva Sangham has an unbounded growth. The first group meeting was held in the month of Meenam, 1120 at Chitra Theater, Thiruananthapuram and was presided over by Justice K.S. Govinda Pillai, who was the then High Court Judge. At this meeting Dr. P. A. Velayudhan Pillai was elected as the First General Secretary. Sri. P. Subarmaniam producer, director and owner of Merryland Studio, Thruananthapuram was elected as the Treasurer. Sri. Subramonaim formally joined the Sangham as its first member paying one rupee membership fee and a donation of Rs.600. Sri Chithira Thirunal Maharaja of Travancore sanctioned an yearly grant of Rs. 8000 to the Sangham, and it’s being continued. In a short period of time, the membership increased to the thousands. The Sangham has 84 Taluk offices and over 4130 branch offices. Also the Sangham has over 300 Temples and several schools and Libraries.

The most important activities of Ayyappa Seva Sangham is to help the devotees during their pilgrimage to Sabarimala. The Sangham does Yeoman Service to the pilgrims on free of cost. The Sangham provides medicated hot water for drinking, food and shelter for weary, medicines and treatment for the sick. It is also operating a well equipped cardiology dispensary at Pampa in association with Apollo Hospital Chennai and another hospital at Appachimedu in association with Madurai Meenakshi Mission Hospital. In addition to these the Sangham is running a well equipped hospital at Sannidhanam with highly qualified doctors. The Sangham is also helping to re-group the missed devotees during Sabarimala pilgrimage,carry the sick and disabled to hospitals and also helps to take the deceased devotees to their homes using their Ambulances/Vans.

The Sangham conducts special free service camps in important centers where the pilgrims congregate during the mandala season.The Sangham publishes a regular Malayalam Magazine entitled ‘Sri Ayyappan’ from Thiruananthapuram and one Tamil edition entitled ‘Om Sri Ayyappan’ from  Madras to propagate Sanathana Dharma among the public. Currently the Sangham is administered by its President  Sri. Thennala G.Balakrishna Pillai ex M.P and General Secretary Sri. N. Velayudhan  Nair with the directions of a central working committee. 

Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sangham  started its activities 54 years ago by 13 people on the banks of river Pampa with the primary object of serving Ayyappa Devotees undertaking the arduous journey to Sabarimala. In course of time the activities of the Sangham have been extended in scope and variety. It has 741 branches all over India.  It also strives at building up a well- knit Society,  free of trivial discords based on caste, creed or colour.

The Calcutta branch of the Sangham was established on 18th June 1974 with the blessings of eminent religious and spiritual leaders and support from the residents of Calcutta. The founder President of the Sangham was Late T S S Mani Guruswamy. The main acitivies of ABASS Kolkata is to conduct pilgrimage to Sabarimala every year, conduct religious and charitable activities like Samashti Upanayanam (community function where boys are given the holy thread), associate with other religious and charitable activities held by other organizations etc.

ABASS Kolkata conducts the pilgrimage to Sabarimala every year during the Makara Vilakku (Sankaranthi – 14th January) festival and helps the entire period of Mandalam and the tough journey to Sabarimala a very spiritual, enjoyable and successful trip to each participant.  The Guruswamy (the head of the group is called) is Sri. T V Natarajan,  who has dedicated his mind, body and soul to selflessly serve the devotees  of Lord Ayyappa, is very strict in insisting that all members participating in the yatra to Sabarimala observe all the  conditions for the full mandalam period (of 45 days).  He is very tough on adherence, but very soft from his heart.  Children, able bodied men, and elderly people – all enjoy the time during the Mandalam period and the travel to Sabaimala.  Every year, the trip becomes a memorable one and the opportunity one gets to visit many temples on the way to and back from sabarimala is unforgettable.  Once a person goes on the trip to sabarimala with ABASS group, he prays to Lord to allow him to undertake the yatra the next year also.Today, the members of the ABASS group are famous for their vedic rituals, the bhajans (singing of religious songs) and the food served during the Sabarimala Yatra. 

Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sangom (ABASS) has opend as many as 20 camps in different parts of the state in the year, 2011. It offering food, drinking water, and shelter to Sabarimala Pilgrims. The Sanghom had opened camps at the Sannidharam,Pampa,Nilackal and Erumely on November16,2011. Major camps at the Sannidhaanm,Pampa,Nilackal ,Erumely,Pandalam, Valiyanavattom and Upputhara had strted functioning. The Sanghom had also opened camps at Ernakulum rilway station,Kottayam Medical College Hospital,Pathaamthitta, Ranni,Kumily, Vandithavalom, Thrissur,Kodakara and Guruvayur. The 24 hour emergency stretcher service of the Sanghom had started functioning. Trained ABASS volunteers had been deployed at pampa, Sannidhanam, Appachimedu, and Neelimala to operate the free service for transporting sick pilgrims to the nearest health care centre. Specially trained ABASS volunteers had been posted for manning the oxygen parlors set up by the Health Department along the trekking path and at the Sannidhanam. The Sanghom had made arrangements to supply medicated drinking wter to pilgrims.

 Hundreds of devotees were attending the” Annadanam offered by ABASS at its camps daily. ABASS had also opened an automobile workshop in association with TVS motors Limited at Nilackal base camp. Pilgrims would have the facility to repair their vehicles, if needed, free of only repairing charges.

                                                                 Prof. John Kurakar