Seva means service. The mandir tradition has fostered the spirit of serving God and all life forms. Seva in the mandir encompasses activities such as sweeping, cooking, serving food, washing untensils, gardening, garland-making, and mentally and verbally appreaciating the glory of greatness of God. the content of seva therefore includes both physical and subtle forms, which are essential in the sadhana of novice of eradicating ego and dehbhav (body-consciousness)
Seva performed with the purpose of pleasing God and earning his divine grace becomes a spritual ritual. The pious therefore engage themselves in the practice of seva with inexhaustible faith, patience and perseverance. Such is its power that it erases ego and its hierachy of base instincts. God has declared that an addiction to seva purfies the soul of worldy desire and base instincts.
Seva to God and manking is not akin to labor, but a form of bhakti. It is a golden means to becoming a raceptacle of God's devine grace.
The virtue of seva has been inspired for generations through the exemplary lives of God's avatars, sadhus and devotees.
One who does seva is mahant is defining mantra of true greatness in the Hinduism