Religion:Sevā

Short description: Selfless service and volunteering in Indian religions

Kar seva at the Golden Temple

(also transcribed as ), in Hinduism and Sikhism, is the concept of selfless service that is performed without any expectation of reward for performing it. Such services can be performed to benefit other human beings or society. means "service". A more recent interpretation of the word is "dedication to others". In Hinduism, it is also known as karma yoga, as described in the Bhagavata Gita.

Etymology and religious significance

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

In Hinduism, means selfless service and is often associated with , disciplined action, and , disciplined devotion. is also connected to other Sanskrit concepts such as (gift giving), (compassion), and (kindness). is also performed as a form of ego-transcending spiritual practise known as , and plays a large role in modern Hinduism. A key concept in Hinduism is liberation () from the cycle of births and deaths (), and is the effort one makes to strive for liberation; this highlights the importance of service to others.

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

(Gurmukhi: ਕਾਰ ਸੇਵਾ), from the Sanskrit words , meaning hands or work, and , meaning service, another concept of Sikhism, is often translated as "voluntary labour". A volunteer for is called a (voluntary labourer)—someone who freely offers their services to a religious cause. Sikhs use the term to represent people who engage in ministrations, altruistic philanthropy, and humanitarian endeavours in service to religion and society. (Punjabi: ਸੇਵਾਦਾਰ; also transcribed as ), literally "-supporter", is another Punjabi word for a volunteer who performs .

The idea of selfless service () is an important concept in several religions because God is perceived as having an interest in the well-being of others; 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.

in Hinduism

In Hinduism, is the concept of service to God and/or humanity, without the expectation of return. According to Hindu scriptures, is seen as the highest form of (righteousness). has been said to provide good which facilitates the (soul) to obtain (emancipation from the cycle of death and rebirth). Before the early nineteenth century, the meaning of  (serving or honouring) had been virtually synonymous with that of (worship), which typically also included distribution of (sacrificial offerings or consecrated food), such as food, fruits, and sweets to all gathered. Thus, typically involved offering of food to a deity and its (idol), followed by the distribution of said food as . The concept of and 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.

in Sikhism

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in Sikhism takes three forms: (Gurmukhi: ਤਨ), meaning physical service, i.e. manual labour, (Gurmukhi: ਮਨ), meaning mental service, such as studying to help others, and (Gurmukhi: ਧਨ), meaning material service, including financial support. Sikhism stresses (Gurmukhi: ਕਿਰਤ ਕਰੋ), "honest work", and (Gurmukhi: ਵੰਡ ਛਕੋ), "split up", sharing what you have by giving to the needy for the benefit of the community. It is a duty of every Sikh to engage in wherever possible, such as volunteering at a Gurdwara, community center, senior living centers, care centers, sites of major world disasters, etc. can also be performed by offering service for a religious cause, such as constructing a gurdwara, a place of worship that performs community services such as providing volunteer-run food kitchens.

Criticism

Kar Sewa appeal for the construction of the clock tower gateway entrance to the Golden Temple, Amritsar, Punjab, c. 1951

Some groups and organizations have been criticized for their lack of care for and apathy towards preserving historical Sikh heritage sites, artwork, and architecture during renovation and construction projects. Large amounts of historical Sikh scriptural manuscripts have been systematically "cremated" (burnt to destruction) over the years at secretive ‘Angitha Sahib’ gurdwaras in Punjab and around India under the guise of . This practice is criticized for systematically destroying historical manuscripts rendering them unable to be researched, archived, repaired, or conserved for future generations.

See also

• Sewapanthi
• Community Service general concepts:
  • Bhandara (community kitchen)
  • Dakshina
  • Punya (Hinduism)