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Kar seva at the Golden Temple

Sevā (also sewa) is the Hindu and Sikh concept of selfless service. Such services can be performed to benefit other human beings or society and is often performed without any expectation of result or award for performing it. Seva literally means "service". A more recent interpretation of the word is "dedication to others".[1] In Hinduism, the concept of seva is also referred to as karma yoga, as described in the Bhagavad Gita.[2]

Etymology and religious significance[edit]

Seva comes from the Sanskrit root sev-, which means "to serve," and is a central concept in both contemporary Hinduism and Sikhism.

In Hinduism, seva means selfless service and is often associated with karma yoga (disciplined action), and bhakti yoga (disciplined devotion). Seva is also connected to other Sanskrit concepts such as dāna (gift giving), karunā (compassion), and preman (kindness).[3]

In Sikhism, the word seva also means "to worship, to adore, to pay homage through the act of love." In the writings of Sikh gurus, these two meanings of seva (service and worship) have been merged. Seva is expected to be a labour of love performed without desire and intention, and with humility.[4]

The idea of selfless service (seva) is an important concept in several religions because God is perceived as having an interest in the well-being of others as well as oneself; serving other people is considered an essential devotional practise of indirectly serving God and living a religious life that is a benefit to others. People of every religion are included in this service.[5]

Seva in Hinduism[edit]

In Hinduism, seva is the concept of service to God and/or humanity, without the expectation of anything in return. According to Hindu scriptures, seva is seen as the highest form of dharma (righteousness). Seva has been said to provide good karma which facilitates the atma (soul) in attaining moksha (emancipation from the cycle of death and rebirth).[6]

Before the early nineteenth century, the meaning of seva (serving or honouring) had been virtually synonymous with that of puja (worship), which typically included distribution of prasad (sacrificial offerings or consecrated food), such as food, fruits, and sweets to all gathered.[7][8][9] Thus, seva typically involved offering of food to a deity and its murti (deity), followed by the distribution of said food as prasad.[10] The concept of seva and karma yoga is explained in the Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna expounds on the subject. In modern times, the concept has been taken to volunteering for the greater good, such as in disaster relief and other major incidents.[11]

Seva in the Bhagavad Gita[edit]

The word seva and the verb form sevate can be found in the Bhagavad Gita. For example, Bhagavad Gita 4.34 explains how true knowledge is acquired from the one who already has the knowledge by obeisance to them, by questioning them and by serving (seva) them. The meaning of the word in this verse is serving the guru (seva is explained by Shankara in his commentary on this verse as gurusurusa, "service to the guru".[12]

In verse 14.26 the verb sev- is used in the sense of serving God by means of bhakti yoga (bhaktiyogena sevate). By serving (sevate) God one transcends the gunas of prakriti and becomes fit for the realisation of brahman. Both serving God and serving the guru involve some degree of selfless and heartfelt motivation. Selfishness and egocentricity are part of ignorance, avidhya, according to Hindu teachings. Serving them is helpful for transcending selfishness and egocentricity and therefore for the destruction of ignorance.[13]

Seva in Sikhism[edit]

Kar seva, also from the Sanskrit words kar, meaning hands or work, and seva, meaning service,[14][15] is one of the main teachings of Sikhism — including its ordained philosophy, in Sikh scripture, theology, and hermeneutics. A tradition set forth with the clear understanding that there is God within all of us, and thus by serving humanity you are serving God's creation.[16][17] A volunteer for kar seva is called a kar sevak. A kar sevak is someone who freely offers their services to a religious cause.[18] Sikhs use the term kar sevak to represent people who engage in ministrations, altruistic philanthropy, and humanitarian endeavours in service to religion and society. Sevadar (Punjabi: ਸੇਵਾਦਾਰ; also transcribed as sewadar), literally "seva-supporter", is another Punjabi word for a volunteer who performs seva.[19][20]

Seva in Sikhism takes three forms: tan (physical service, i.e. manual labour), man (mental service, such as studying to help others), and dhan (material service, including financial support).[21] Sikhism stresses kirat karō, "honest work", and vaṇḍ chakkō, sharing what you have by giving to the needy for the benefit of the community.[22] It is duty of every Sikh to engage in Seva wherever possible, such as volunteering at a Gurdwara, community center, senior living centers, care centers, sites of major world disasters etc.[23] Seva is also performed further by offering service for a religious cause, often for constructing a gurdwara, a place of worship serving the One Creator which performs community services such as liturgy and providing communal food kitchens open to all communities and religions, regardless of those who attended the service or not, where the volunteers prepare and serve meals.[24][25]

Seva as Service[edit]

During the 20th century, seva was increasingly interpreted as philanthropic work and public service. It was promoted as an element of the standard practice of renunciants, and renunciants have increasingly become engaged in various forms of seva.

Vivekanand played a pivotal role in developing seva as a religious imperative.[26] He identified renunciation and seva as India's national ideals and defined service to humanity as a necessary spiritual discipline. Mahatma Gandhi's favorite poem, by the 15th-century poet Narsinh Mehta from Gujarat, states that "a true Vaishnava is he, who is moved by the suffering of others, who helps people in distress, and feels no pride in having done so."[27]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Schlecker Markus, Fleischer Friederike (14 June 2013). Ethnographies of Social Support. p. 180. ISBN 978-1137330963.
  2. ^ Phillips, Stephen. Yoga, Karma, and Rebirth: A Brief History and Philosophy. Columbia University Press. p. 100. ISBN 9780231144841. Thus outlined, yoga can be done in the world, in all kinds of action done for the sake of sacrifice. Yoga becomes seva, service.
  3. ^ Jacobsen, Knut A. (2018-05-29), "Sevā", Brill’s Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online, Brill, retrieved 2022-04-16
  4. ^ Virdee, Gurmit Singh (2005). "Labour of love: Kar seva at Darbar Sahib's Amrit Sarover". Sikh Formations: Religion, Culture, Theory. 1 (1): 13–28. doi:10.1080/17448720500231409. S2CID 144267107.
  5. ^ Sewa, Selfless Service sikhphilosophy.net.
  6. ^ Gibson, Lynne (2002). Hinduism. Heinemann Educational. p. 56. ISBN 9780435336196.
  7. ^
  8. ^ Jensen, Lene (2020). The Oxford Handbook of Moral Development: An Interdisciplinary Perspective. Oxford University Press. p. 341. ISBN 9780190676056. The communal preparing and sharing of food or prasad (sacred food offered to the deity and then distributed among the followers) is particularly important as an activity binding together a community of followers.
  9. ^ Hawley, John (2006). The Life of Hinduism. University of California Press. p. 13. ISBN 9780520249141.
  10. ^ Cush, Denise (2012). Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Routledge. p. 783. ISBN 9781135189792.
  11. ^ "Tip Sheets: Engaging Faith Communities . Engagement Guidelines: Hindu Leaders" (PDF). FEMA. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  12. ^ Jacobsen, Knut A. (2018-05-29), "Sevā", Brill’s Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online, Brill, retrieved 2022-05-19
  13. ^ Jacobsen, Knut A. (2018-05-29), "Sevā", Brill’s Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online, Brill, retrieved 2022-05-19
  14. ^ Singha, H. S. (2000). The Encyclopedia of Sikhism. Hemkunt Press. p. 121. ISBN 8170103010.
  15. ^ Christiane Brosius, Melissa Butcher (1999). Image journeys: audio-visual media and cultural change in India. Sage Publications. p. 134. ISBN 978-0-7619-9325-4.
  16. ^ Goshen-Gottstein, Alon (2018). Interreligious Reflections, Six Volume Set. Wipf and Stock Publishers. p. 259. ISBN 9781532671524.
  17. ^ Hett, Geoffrey (2021). Diversity, Culture and Counselling. Brush Education. p. 162. ISBN 9781550598759.
  18. ^ Alter, Stephen (2001). Amritsar to Lahore: A Journey Across the India-Pakistan Border. University of Pennsylvania Press,Incorporated. p. 198. ISBN 9780812217438.
  19. ^ "Sewa". Khalsa VA Primary School.
  20. ^ McLeod, W. H. (2009). The A to Z of Sikhism. Scarecrow Press. p. 184. ISBN 9780810863446.
  21. ^ Wood, Angela (1997). Movement and Change. Cheltenham, England: Nelson Thornes. p. 46. ISBN 978-0-17-437067-3.
  22. ^ Cole, W. Owen; Sambhi, Piara Singh (2005). A Popular Dictionary of Sikhism: Sikh Religion and Philosophy. Abingdon-on-Thames, England: Routledge. pp. 31, 59. ISBN 978-1-135-79760-7.
  23. ^ Volz, Christian (2014). Six Ethics A Rights-Based Approach to Establishing an Objective Common Morality. Ebookit.com. p. 278. ISBN 9781456606916.
  24. ^ Kim-Prieto, Chu (2014). Religion and Spirituality Across Cultures. Springer Netherlands. p. 129. ISBN 9789401789509.
  25. ^ Singha, H.S. (2000). The encyclopedia of Sikhism : over 1000 entries. Hemkunt Publishers. p. 121. ISBN 9788170103011.
  26. ^ Heehs, Peter (2008-01). "Book Review: Swami Vivekananda's Legacy of Service: A Study of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission". Indian Historical Review. 35 (1): 294–298. doi:10.1177/037698360803500127. ISSN 0376-9836. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ Jordens, J. (1998-02-23). Gandhi's Religion: A Homespun Shawl. Springer. ISBN 978-0-230-37389-1.
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