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{{Short description|Selfless service and volunteering in Indian religions}}
{{Context|date=April 2022}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
[[File:Kar Sewa at Durbar Sahib (5251781780).jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|''Kar seva'' at the [[Golden Temple]]]]
{{Hinduism}}
{{Sikhism sidebar}}
{{Sikh practices}}
'''''Sevā''''' (also transcribed as '''''sewa'''''), in [[Hinduism]] and [[Sikhism]], is the concept of 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". A more recent interpretation of the word is "dedication to others".<ref>{{cite book |last=Schlecker Markus |first= Fleischer Friederike |date= 14 June 2013 |title=Ethnographies of Social Support |page=180 |isbn=978-1137330963 }}</ref> In Hinduism, it is also known as [[karma yoga]], as described in the ''[[Bhagavata Gita]]''.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Phillips|first=Stephen|url=https://www.google.ca/books/edition/Yoga_Karma_and_Rebirth/hlOrAgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA100&printsec=frontcover|title=Yoga, Karma, and Rebirth: A Brief History and Philosophy|date=26 June 2009 |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]]|isbn=9780231144841|pages=100|quote=Thus outlined, yoga can be done in the world, in all kinds of action done for the sake of sacrifice. Yoga becomes seva, service.}}</ref>

==Etymology and religious significance==
''Seva'' comes from the Sanskrit root ''sev-'', "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).<ref>{{Citation |last=Jacobsen |first=Knut A. |title=Sevā |date=2018-05-29 |url=https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/brill-s-encyclopedia-of-hinduism/seva-COM_2050280?lang=fr |encyclopedia=Brill’s Encyclopedia of Hinduism Online |publisher=Brill |language=en |access-date=2022-04-16}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Labour of love: Kar seva at Darbar Sahib's Amrit Sarover |first=Gurmit Singh |last=Virdee |journal=Sikh Formations: Religion, Culture, Theory |year=2005 |volume=1 |number=1 |pages=13–28 |doi=10.1080/17448720500231409|s2cid=144267107 }}</ref>

''Kar seva'', a concept of Sikhism, 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 religious cause.<ref name="alter">{{cite book|title=Amritsar to Lahore: A Journey Across the India-Pakistan Border|first=Stephen|last=Alter|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=snp1LwlbiPsC&pg=PA198|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press,Incorporated|year=2001|isbn=9780812217438|page=198}}</ref> 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''''' ({{lang-pa|ਸੇਵਾਦਾਰ}}; also transcribed as ''sewadar''), literally "''seva''-supporter", is another [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] word for a volunteer who performs ''seva''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sewa|url=https://www.khalsaschool.co.uk/sewedars|publisher=Khalsa VA Primary School}}</ref><ref name="leod">{{cite book|title=The A to Z of Sikhism|first=W. H. |last=McLeod|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=vgixwfeCyDAC&pg=PA184|publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2009|isbn=9780810863446|page=184}}</ref>

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.<ref>[http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/sakhis/26236-sewa-selfless-service.html Sewa, Selfless Service] sikhphilosophy.net.</ref>

==''Seva'' in Hinduism==
{{see also|Bhakti movement#Seva, dāna, and community kitchens}}
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 ''[[Ātman (Hinduism)|atma]]'' (soul) to obtain ''[[moksha]]'' (emancipation from the cycle of death and rebirth).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gibson|first=Lynne|title=Hinduism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kaBqYvH02_QC&pg=PA56|publisher=Heinemann Educational|date=2002|page=56|isbn=9780435336196}}</ref> Before the early nineteenth century, the meaning of ''seva'' (serving or honouring) had been virtually synonymous with that of ''[[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]]'' (worship), which typically also included distribution of ''[[prasad]]'' (sacrificial offerings or consecrated food), such as food, fruits, and sweets to all gathered.<ref>{{multiref|{{cite web|title=Prasada|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/prasada |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica}}|{{cite web|title=Puja|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/puja |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Jensen|first=Lene|url=https://www.google.ca/books/edition/The_Oxford_Handbook_of_Moral_Development/OcXLDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA341&printsec=frontcover|title=The Oxford Handbook of Moral Development: An Interdisciplinary Perspective|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2020|isbn=9780190676056|pages=341|quote=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.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Hawley|first=John|url=https://www.google.ca/books/edition/The_Life_of_Hinduism/9hairjdT-ekC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=The+Life+of+Hinduism&printsec=frontcover|title=The Life of Hinduism|publisher=University of California Press|year=2006|isbn=9780520249141|pages=13}}</ref> Thus, ''seva'' typically involved offering of food to a deity and its ''[[murti]]'' (idol), followed by the distribution of said food as ''prasad''.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Cush|first=Denise|title=Encyclopedia of Hinduism|publisher=Routledge|year=2012|isbn=9781135189792|pages=783}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tip Sheets: Engaging Faith Communities . Engagement Guidelines: Hindu Leaders |url=https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-03/fema_faith-communities_hindu-leaders_1.pdf |website=FEMA |access-date=3 January 2022}}</ref>

==''Seva'' in Sikhism==
{{see also|Langar (Sikhism)|Dasvandh}}
'''''Kar seva,''''' from the [[Sanskrit]] words ''kar'', meaning hands or work, and ''seva'', meaning service,'''''<ref name="Encyclopedia">{{cite book |last=Singha |first=H. S. |title=The Encyclopedia of Sikhism |publisher=Hemkunt Press |year=2000 |isbn=8170103010 |page=121}}</ref><ref name="Christiane Brosius, Melissa Butcher 1999 134">{{cite book |author=Christiane Brosius, Melissa Butcher |title=Image journeys: audio-visual media and cultural change in India |publisher=Sage Publications |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-7619-9325-4 |page=134}}</ref>''''' is one of the main teachings of [[Sikhism]] — including its [[History of Sikhism|ordained philosophy]], in [[Sikh scripture]], [[Guru Granth Sahib|theology]], and [[:Category:Sikh scripture|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.<ref name="got">{{Cite book|last=Goshen-Gottstein|first=Alon|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Interreligious_Reflections_Six_Volume_Se/3VcXEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PT259|title= Interreligious Reflections, Six Volume Set|publisher=Wipf and Stock Publishers|year=2018|isbn= 9781532671524|pages=259}}</ref><ref name="het">{{Cite book|last=Hett|first=Geoffrey|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Diversity_Culture_and_Counselling_3rd_Ed/WH86EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA162|title= Diversity, Culture and Counselling|publisher=Brush Education|year=2021|isbn= 9781550598759|pages=162}}</ref>

''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).<ref>{{cite book |last=Wood |first=Angela |title=Movement and Change |date=1997 |publisher=[[Nelson Thornes]] |location=Cheltenham, England |isbn=978-0-17-437067-3|page=46}}</ref> Sikhism stresses ''[[kirat karō]]'', "honest work", and ''[[vaṇḍ chakkō]]'', sharing what you have by giving to the needy for the benefit of the community.<ref>{{cite book |first1=W. Owen |last1=Cole |first2=Piara Singh |last2=Sambhi |title=A Popular Dictionary of Sikhism: Sikh Religion and Philosophy |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=vcSRAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA9 |date=2005 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |location=Abingdon-on-Thames, England |isbn=978-1-135-79760-7 |pages=31, 59}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Volz|first=Christian|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Six_Ethics/miocwwy6LMUC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PT278|title=Six Ethics A Rights-Based Approach to Establishing an Objective Common Morality|publisher=Ebookit.com|year=2014|isbn=9781456606916|pages=278}}</ref> ''Seva'' is also performed further by offering service for a religious cause, often for constructing a gurdwara, a place of worship serving the [[God in Sikhism|One Creator]] which performs community services such as [[Ardās|liturgy]] and providing communal [[Langar (Sikhism)|food kitchens]] open to all communities and religions, regardless of those who attended the service or not, where the volunteers prepare and serve meals.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kim-Prieto|first=Chu|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Religion_and_Spirituality_Across_Culture/QPU-BAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA129|title= Religion and Spirituality Across Cultures|publisher=Springer Netherlands|year=2014|isbn= 9789401789509|pages=129}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Singha|first=H.S.|url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Encyclopedia_of_Sikhism_over_1000_En/gqIbJz7vMn0C?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA121|title= The encyclopedia of Sikhism : over 1000 entries|publisher=Hemkunt Publishers|year=2000|isbn= 9788170103011|pages=121}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Community Service]] general concepts:
** [[Bhandara (community kitchen)]]
** [[Dakshina]]
** [[Punya (Hinduism)]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Sikhism}}
{{Hindudharma}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seva (Indian religions)}}
[[Category:Sikh practices]]
[[Category:Sikh philosophy]]
[[Category:Sikh terminology]]
[[Category:Sanskrit words and phrases]]
[[Category:Hindu practices]]
[[Category:Vishva Hindu Parishad]]
[[Category:October observances]]
[[Category:International observances]]
[[Category:Volunteering in India]]
[[Category:Alms]]
[[Category:Telugu words and phrases]]
[[Category:Alms in Hinduism]]

Sevā - Revision history

ZEKSheryl225755: small changes

ImportMaster at 16:50, 6 August 2022