Seva (सेवा)

The term 'Seva' is primarily used in the sense of

• Service, servitude, attendance
• Worship, homage, honouring
• Devotion to, fondness for
• Practice, employment, exercise
• Resorting to, frequenting
• Flattery, coaxing, etc.

The root of the word 'Seva' can be traced to the Dhatus,

• सेव्

• षेव् (सेवने, भ्वादिगण, आत्मने)
• शेवृँ

all of which mean 'to serve'.

The concept of Seva is also closely associated with dharma (सेवाधर्मः or the duty of service), livelihood (सेवावृत्तिः or a livelihood gained by service) and practice (सेवाव्यवहारः or the practice or law of service).

The Indian Epigraphical Glossary notes the presence of the term 'seva' in tamizh epigraphs as 'sevai' and denotes the sense of 'service'. These epigraphs also talk about an 'inām' for services and tax-free land given to servants for enjoyment in lieu of salary.

The root सेव् means

1. to serve, wait or attend upon, honour, worship, obey, etc.
2. to attach or devote oneself to, attend to, cultivate, practise, perform. For eg. Manusmrti. विद्वद्भिः सेवितः सद्भिर्नित्यमद्वेषरागिभिः । हृदयेनाभ्यनुज्ञातो यो धर्मस्तं निबोधत । । २.१ । । Meaning: Learn that Dharma which has been ever followed by and sanctioned by the heart of the learned and the good who are free from love and hate.
3. to resort to, betake oneself to, dwell in, frequent, inhabit - Panchatantra अर्थार्थी जीवलोकोऽयं श्मशानमपि सेवते। त्यक्त्वा जनयितारं स्वं निःस्वं यच्छति दूरतः॥१.९॥ Meaning: This mortal world, desirous of riches, recourses even to a cremation ground and relinquishing one's indigent progenitor-father even, goes far.
4. to watch over, guard, protect

Consequently, a 'sevaka' is described as

1. a servant, dependant. For eg. Hitopadesh 2.20 (Nirnaya Sagara Edition) सेवया धनम् इच्छद्भिः सेवकैः पश्य यत् कृतम् । स्वातन्त्र्यं यच्छरीरस्य मूढैस्तद् अपि हारितम् ॥२०॥ Meaning: See what servants who wish to acquire wealth by means of service have done - those folls have allowed even the independence of their body to be lost !
2. a votary, worshipper

And 'sevana' is

1. the act of serving, service, attendence upon, worship (Gurusevana Raghuvamsha 18.30)
2. following, practising, employing Manusmrti 12.52 - इन्द्रियाणां प्रसङ्गेन धर्मस्यासेवनेन च । पापान्संयान्ति संसारानविद्वांसो नराधमाः । । १२.५२ । । Meaning: Foolish men of the lowest class go through the vilest migratory states, in consequence of being addicted to the senses and by not attending to duties.
3. Using, enjoying
4. devotion to, fondness for
5. frequenting, dweling in

Seva

Indian Epigraphical Glossary

sevā, cf. Tamil sevai, śervai (SITI);

Apte

the obligations of service.

सेवा. Service, servitude, dependence; attendance; सेवां लाघवकारिणीं कृतधियः स्थाने श्ववृत्तिं विदुः Mu. 3.14; हीनसेवा न कर्तव्या H.3.11.

सेवा. Worship, homage, honouring.

सेवा. Addiction or devotion to, fondness for.

सेवा. Use, practice, employment, exercise.

सेवा. Frequenting, resorting to.

सेवा. Flattery, coaxing or flattering words; अलं सेवया मध्यस्थतां गृहीत्वा भण M.3. -Comp. -आकार a. in the form of servitude; सेवाकारा परिणतिरहो स्त्रीषु कष्टो$धिकारः V.3.1. -काकुः change of voice in service; (this is a variant in V.3.1 for सेवाकारा).

सेवा. धर्मः the duty of service; सेवाधर्मः परमगहनो योगिनामप्यगम्यः Pt.1.285.

सेवा. the obligations of service. -विलासिनी a female servant. -वृत्तिः a livelihood gained by service.-व्यवहारः the practice or law of service.