Mansi Seva

Seva, serving the Lord, is a fundamental dharma (duty) of every soul.
Seva can be Tanuja, Vitaja or Mansi.
Tnauja is the seva rendered physically to the divine.
Vitaja is offered via financial / material support of seva.
Mansi seva is carried out in the mind, using all the power of the mind to create the ultimate bond between the soul and the universal spirit.

The ultimate aim of physical seva is to get to mansi seva – thus internalising the seva and integrating it in our life.

Seva is totally dependant on your bhava.
Ideally, the svaroop you chose to worship will be compatible with your bhava.
Bhava will dictate how you interact with your chosen svaroop and the seva you offer.

As bhava is essentially personal and highly individual, its impossible to dictate exactly how anyone’s seva should progress. For this reason, I will provide just an outline of the seva rather than any details.

Vatsalya –

For those who see Shri Krushna as their baby, their baby is constantly on their mind no matter what they do throughout the day. Like a typical parent, your every action is geared with your baby in mind. You earn to provide good things for your baby. You go shopping to provide nice things for your baby. You clean the house or do gardening for the safety and hygiene of your baby. You cook to provide nourishment for your baby. You play games to entertain your baby. You are constantly looking out for your baby, making sure the baby is safe, healthy, happy and well cared for.

From the moment you wake up till the moment you go to sleep, your baby is the constant focus of your life.

Let your seva – mansi or otherwise, be like a loving parent. Do everything to please your baby. Ask your divine baby / child what he wants to wear, eat, drink, play, do with you today. From the moment you wake up to the moment you sleep, let your child be the focus of your life.

Madhurya –

Lovers are hard to separate. Physically they may be at a distance, but in their hearts and minds, they are constantly conversing. Infact, half the times they don’t know if they have said something to their beloved in their real or virtual conversation, because their conversations are constantly on going.

From the moment they wake up, get dressed, work, eat, drink, sleep, even dream ! lovers are thinking of their beloved. Their every action is geared towards pleasing their lover. They wear clothes, jewels, scents that their lover prefers. They make food, clean the house, arrange things, walk, talk, laugh to please their beloved.

For lovers, snatches of “private time” are precious. Anytime they can talk, touch, cuddle or even just look at each other is precious. Private, secret, personal, every conversation with the beloved is precious.

Let your seva – mansi or otherwise, be like that of a lover. Do everything to please your beloved. Ask your divine lover what he wants to wear, eat, drink, play, do with you today. From the moment you wake up to the moment you sleep, let your lover be the focus of your life.

Sakhya –

As they say, you can’t pick your family, but you can always pick your friends ! Friends, fast-friends, are precious. Friends tell each other everything. Friends always want to be around each other. Friends are inseparable.

From the moment they wake up, friends are eager to play and be around each other. Even when they are physically separate, friends are plotting their next mischief, planning the next explorations, dreaming of new adventures. Oh friends have so much FUN with each other. Best thing about being friends is, you never feel offended by anything your friend says or does.

Let your seva – mansi or otherwise, be like that of a friend. Ask your divine friend what he wants to wear, eat, drink, play, do with you today. Play without inhibition with your friend. Always keep your friend with you, no matter what you do. From the moment you wake up to the moment you sleep, have fun with your friend and let him be the focus of your life.

Dasa / Dasi –

For dasa / dasi, to serve their Lord is the only aim in life. Loyalty, faith, expertness, accuracy, initiative, care are the characteristics of a good servant. A good servant anticipates the needs of the master and is always at the beck and call of the master.

A good servant wakes up before the master and sleeps after master has fallen asleep. From the moment dasa / dasi awakens, their every action is geared towards providing faultless service to their Lord and master. Knowing the master’s wishes, everything is readied by dasa / dasi before the Lord awakens. Cooking, cleaning, gardening, working, shopping – all activities are performed by the dasa / dasi for the pleasure of the Lord. Throughout the day, dasa / dasi does everything to please the master.

Let your seva – mansi or otherwise, be like that of an exemplary servant. Ask your divine master what he wants to wear, eat, drink, play, today. Serve your Lord with total dedication and devotion. Serve your Lord without reserve. Always keep the comfort and pleasure of the Lord at the forefront of your mind. From the moment you wake up to the moment you sleep, serve your Lord and master and let him be the focus of your life.

It is important not make seva, even mansi seva mechanical, following rituals for ritual sake. Seva should be spontaneous, fun and should bring us joy. Seva, even mansi seva should bring us closer to our svaroop, leading us back to our "svabhava" of Sat-Chit-Ananda.

Tanuja Seva
Bhavas in Pushti Marg

Here is a more comprehensive list of "love" and some of the bhavas that go with it.

Bhagwat Shah ©

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