SEVAA

Sevaa!!

Sevaa refers to selfless work. It is a ‘Mastercard’ that humans have to be able to help or provide aid to fellow beings, animals, flora and fauna without any specific agenda. As a race, it is important to give back to the society that we cohabit with so many less privileged beings with no specific expectations or returns!

In the past, people rendered help to the underprivileged, challenged or needy individuals as a way of life. It was considered as a responsibility for individuals to incorporate in their daily lives. It was also considered as another path to serve the Divine.

‘Atithi devo bhava’ (Guest is revered as God) or ‘Vasudhaiva kutumbakam’ (the world is one family) were etched in the minds of individuals. These teachings helped people understand the need to support each other most often, selflessly. Due to this very attitude, neighbourhoods and localities grew stronger and people experienced healthy and satisfying relationships.

There are individuals even today who contribute to various serious causes but they choose to remain incognito. They choose to help without revealing their identities or from behind the curtain.

However, in this age of technology and the fast changing expectations of social media ,things have changed. The need to be visible is gaining immense importance . Initiatives to participate in tree plantation drives, beach cleaning activities, saving stray animals to find shelter or even providing food to them or even contributing towards old age homes or less privileged children organisations are often splashed in newsreels, magazines and other media. These are most often maintained as a record in the form of photographs or posts / reels on social media and to attract more views or likes.

Selfless help or Sevaa is that pure feeling of abundance that we experience when we are presented with difficult situations that require from us only selfless love, immense gratitude for the Divine and the ability to give back wholeheartedly what we’ve already received. Let me know what Sevaa means to you.

April 1 2024

The Mahabharata is an epic which is a storehouse of valuable information that is relevant even today. Many symbols and metaphors represent different ideas and concepts. For instance, the idea of dhárma is represented by the image of a wheel, which symbolises the cyclical nature of life and the importance of fulfilling one’s duty.

I would like to cite just two instances to explain the relevance and significance to our modern world.

The first one was when Draupadi was married to the Pandavas. She voiced her doubts to Krishna about her relationship with the five brothers . Krishna gave her five rocks and asked her to look at them, when in doubt. The rocks were knowledge, patience, love, justice and dedication. These are the five pillars of dhárma.

The second instance is from the battlefield of Kurukshetra. For many characters in the Mahabharata, fulfilling their duty was the primary motivation that guided their actions, even if it conflicted with their personal desires or interests.

How relevant are these anecdotes to our lives today, you may question? The work that we do requires from us the five pillars of dhárma. In order to be successful and survive in this cutthroat environment we need to acquire knowledge, have patience to work through challenges , love the work we are expected to accomplish, do justice by being in the present and be dedicated . In some cases, it might seem that we are fulfilling our duties against our desires or wishes. That is your dhárma.

The work that we do, whether we love it or not, is our duty. It is our responsibility to give back to society what we have learned, like knowledge, experience or expertise.

However, having a passion towards the work you do would definitely aid in achieving unexpected outcomes. In other words, it is Seva which is synonymous to doing a noble cause. The wheel of life is in motion and in order to get something you also need to give. What Seva did you perform today?

May 1 2024

The existence of the human race is because of Food. Humans consumed raw foodstuffs until they invented fire. However, humans had to hunt for their subsistence and it was sometimes difficult to feed their families. Since food was scarce because it involved intense physical efforts, it became priceless. However, it was sharing of food that also kept settlements happy, connected and thriving . It was then, that at festivals and auspicious activities food became an integral part of festivities. 

This perception of sharing food has carved a strong connection in  many communities. Providing food for the hungry is considered a noble thing, which is considered to be next to serving the Divine.

This concept also gave rise to community kitchens run by religious groups and other communities to provide food as an offering of the omnipresent, the Divine. Many philanthropic societies or individuals contribute to these kitchens by providing monetary assistance or even raw materials. Others contribute by physically providing help in various forms like serving meals, washing dishes or facilitating in ways conducive to the overall functioning of the institution. 

Many langars, prasad or community kitchens are located in religious places of worship and worshippers consider the food as a blessing. There are individuals who maintain water kiosks for the thirsty especially in the summers. Not only that, there are animal lovers who relentlessly provide food and water for stray animals.

What is your seva or contribution to this noble tradition? How do you feel about offering your help in a way that enriches your soul ?