SRILA PRABHUPADA SAYS... In pure devotional service one comes to the realization that God is great and that the individual soul is subordinate to Him. His duty is to render service to the Lord - and if he does not, then he will render service to maya. REF: 12.6-7,PURPORT TO BHAGAVAD-GITA AS IT IS.
Krishna Consciousness is called nitya seva, eternal service. That means that the service you perform for Krishna is everlasting and never dies. Srila Prabhupada called this the "spiritual bank account." Whatever goes into that spiritual bank account is never lost, even at the time of death. In material life, whatever is gained will ultimately be taken away at death, and therefore the Bhavagatam calls this material work the "hard labor for nothing" life.
Nitya Seva means selfless daily service to Lord Sri Krishna in any form. By offering Nitya Seva, one attains bliss and receives immense spiritual benefit daily in this material world. Everything that is offered to Krishna becomes purified and those who offer their skills and resources for Krishna's service will receive the Lord's greatest mercy and blessings. Those who engage in devotional seva to the Lord are extremely fortunate and this same opportunity is being offered to you.
So remember that every little service performed for Krishna and the preaching movement never goes in vain. It is eternal, everlasting, and all-auspicious. This is nitya seva, eternal loving service to God and it never perishes. So please let us all take advantage of the human form of life and perform nitya seva and make our daily life sublime.
According to the Shastras, these are the essential services offered to the Lord:
- Mangala Bhog
- Dhoop Bhog
- Raj Bhog
- Uttapan Bhog
- Sandhya Bhog
- Sayana Bhog
Apart from offering cash donations, devotees can also offer service to the Temple. Regular pujaand offerings of bhoga is done in the temple according to the sastra. Like in India people are encouraged to make offerings of:
- - anna dana ( offering of grains food )
- - puspa dana ( worship of flowers )
- - vastra dana ( clothes for the deities ) and other items of worship for seva and worship.
Gain blessings for your families by sponsoring seva at the temple on:
- - Birthdays of husband, wife, children.
- - Wedding anniversaries.
- - Sraddha ( death anniversary of departed family members)
- - Anna dana (offering grains and other food to the deity and distribution to the devotees and general public )
