Blog

Question:  Serving God is Serving Mankind?

My humble obeisances,

How far is the statement, "Madhava seva is manava seva," correct or relevant today?

Surendranathan
 

Answer: Watering the Root Nourishes the Tree

The concept, "Madhava seva is manava seva," which means, "Serving God is serving mankind," is a universally valid principle, which has always been true and will always be true. God is the root of the entire tree of creation, and everything else is the leaves and branches of that tree. Just as when we water the root of a tree all the leaves and branches are nourished, when we give our love to Krishna or God, that love is automatically distributed to all living beings throughout the entire creation. This is the perfection of service.

Some people say it the other way around that serving man is serving God--manava seva is Madhava seva. But then they kill the cows and the unborn children within the womb. This is not service. This is a disturbance. And besides that, why only serve man? There are millions of other species. Why they should be neglected? There is also God. Why He should be neglected? You cannot water a tree by watering its leaves and branches. You can only water a tree by watering its root. Similarly, you cannot water the tree of creation by watering the creation. You must water the root of creation. And that is the Creator, Krishna or God.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari