Seva (Indian religions)

Kar seva at the Golden Temple

Seva (also transcribed as sewa), in Hinduism and Sikhism, is a selfless service that is performed without any expectation of result or award for performing it. Such services can be performed to benefit other human beings or society. Seva means "service", referring to the selfless efforts for the welfare of all (sarbat da bhala). A more recent interpretation of the word is "dedication to others".^[1] In Hinduism, it is also known as karma yoga, as described in the holy scripture the Bhagavata Gita.^{[citation needed]}

Etymology and religious significance

Seva is short for kar seva, which is derived from the Sanskrit words kar, meaning hands or work, and seva, meaning service.^[2]^[3]

In Punjabi, 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]

Kar seva is often translated as "voluntary labour." A volunteer for kar seva is called a kar sevak. A kar sevak is someone who freely offers their services to a dharmic cause. The term is derived from the Sanskrit words kar (hand or work) and sevaka (servant).^[3] Sikhs use the term kar sevak to represent people who engage in ministrations, altruistic philanthropy, and humanitarian endeavours in service to religion and society.^[5] Sevadar (Punjabi: ਸੇਵਾਦਾਰ; also transcribed as sewadar), literally "seva-supporter", is another Punjabi word for a volunteer who performs seva, deriving from the Sanskrit roots seva and dhṛ.

The idea of selfless service (seva) is an important concept in a number of 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 practice of indirectly serving God and living a religious life that is a benefit to others. People of every religion are included in this service.^[6]

Seva in Hinduism

In Hinduism, seva is the concept of service to God and/or humanity, without the expectation of 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 soul (atma) to obtain moksha (emancipation from the cycle of death and rebirth, colloquially known as reincarnation).^[7]Before the early nineteenth century, the meaning of seva, 'serving' or 'honouring', had been virtually synonymous with that of puja (worship). Thus, seva had typically been performed for a deity and its murti (idol).^[8] The concept of seva and karma yoga is explained in the Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna expounds on the subject. In more modern days, the concept has been taken to volunteering for the greater good, such as in disaster relief and other major incidents.

Seva in Sikhism

Kar seva 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.

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).^[9] Sikhism stresses kirat karō, "honest work", and vaṇḍ chakkō, sharing what you have by giving to the needy for the benefit of the community.^[10] 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.

Other usage

The term is used in military awards such as, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), and institutions like Seva Foundation, Gandhi Seva Sadan, Seva Development, Seva Bharati, Seva Bharati Mahavidyalaya and Seva Mandir.

Sewa Day

Sewa Day was launched in 2010 by a nonprofit of the same name, a charity registered in England & Wales (No. 4446848).^[11]^[12] The first six Sewa Days were held on the first Sunday of October, until 2016 when the date changed.

3 October 2010^[13]
2 October 2011
7 October 2012^[14]^[15]^[16]
6 October 2013^[17]
5 October 2014^[18]
4 October 2015^[19]
16 October 2016

In 2013, over 75,000 volunteers took part in over 25 countries resulting in more than 561,000 volunteering hours. Sewa Day has taken place in the following countries:

Asia: China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Nepal
Europe: Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Finland, Denmark, Spain, Portugal
Middle East: United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman
Africa: Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Ethiopia,
Americas: United States of America^[12]^[20]

References

^ Schlecker Markus, Fleischer Friederike (14 June 2013). Ethnographies of Social Support. p. 180. ISBN 978-1137330963.
^ Singha, H. S. (2000). The Encyclopedia of Sikhism. Hemkunt Press. p. 121. ISBN 8170103010.
^ ^a ^b 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.
^ 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.
^ "Gaurav Ayodhya ka - Ram Janmabhoomi". vhp.org/. VHP - Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
^ Sewa, Selfless Service sikhphilosophy.net.
^ Gibson, Lynne (2002). Hinduism. Heinemann Educational. p. 56. ISBN 9780435336196.
^ Cush, Denise (2012). Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Routledge. p. 783. ISBN 9781135189792.
^ Wood, Angela (1997). Movement and Change. Cheltenham, England: Nelson Thornes. p. 46. ISBN 978-0-17-437067-3.
^ 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.
^ Sewa Day About Us, accessed 24 June 2016
^ ^a ^b Sewa Day Facts, accessed 24 June 2016
^ Seva Day 2010, accessed 24 June 2016
^ Seva Day 2012, accessed 24 June 2016
^ National Hindu Students' Forum (UK), accessed 24 June 2016
^ Communities take part in Sewa Day 2012 - Leicester, SikhNet, accessed 24 June 2016
^ Seva Day 2013, accessed 24 June 2016
^ Seva Day 2014, accessed 24 June 2016
^ Seva Day 2015, accessed 24 June 2016
^ Sewa Day Facebook page, accessed 24 June 2016

[1] Schlecker Markus, Fleischer Friederike (14 June 2013). Ethnographies of Social Support. p. 180. ISBN 978-1137330963.

[Encyclopedia-2] Singha, H. S. (2000). The Encyclopedia of Sikhism. Hemkunt Press. p. 121. ISBN 8170103010.

[Christiane_Brosius,_Melissa_Butcher_1999_134-3] 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.

[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.

[vhp-5] "Gaurav Ayodhya ka - Ram Janmabhoomi". vhp.org/. VHP - Vishwa Hindu Parishad. Retrieved 5 July 2017.

[6] Sewa, Selfless Service sikhphilosophy.net.

[7] Gibson, Lynne (2002). Hinduism. Heinemann Educational. p. 56. ISBN 9780435336196.

[8] Cush, Denise (2012). Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Routledge. p. 783. ISBN 9781135189792.

[9] Wood, Angela (1997). Movement and Change. Cheltenham, England: Nelson Thornes. p. 46. ISBN 978-0-17-437067-3.

[10] 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.

[11] Sewa Day About Us, accessed 24 June 2016

[Sewa_Day_Facts-12] Sewa Day Facts, accessed 24 June 2016

[13] Seva Day 2010, accessed 24 June 2016

[14] Seva Day 2012, accessed 24 June 2016

[15] National Hindu Students' Forum (UK), accessed 24 June 2016

[16] Communities take part in Sewa Day 2012 - Leicester, SikhNet, accessed 24 June 2016

[17] Seva Day 2013, accessed 24 June 2016

[18] Seva Day 2014, accessed 24 June 2016

[19] Seva Day 2015, accessed 24 June 2016

[20] Sewa Day Facebook page, accessed 24 June 2016

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