Philosophy & Concepts

Sevaसेवा

Selfless service offered without desire for reward — devotion expressed as action for others and the divine.

Detailed Explanation

Seva is service performed as an offering, without attachment to personal gain. Rooted in karma yoga, the path of selfless action taught in the Bhagavad Gita, seva may be directed to a deity, a temple, a guru, or to people and community. It is regarded as a means of purifying the ego and cultivating humility and devotion (bhakti).

Related Terms

Karmaकर्म

The law of cause and effect — actions determine future experiences.

Dharmaधर्म

Cosmic order, righteousness, duty, and moral law in Hinduism.

Bhaktiभक्ति

Loving devotion to a personal God — the path of the heart, one of the principal routes to spiritual liberation.