SRIVARI SEVA VOLUNTARY SERVICE – DEVELOPED ON CONCEPT OF THREE D’s, “DUTY – DISCIPLINE – DEVOTION”

by • Special Articles

Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateswara, is visited by millions of ardent devotees every year. With a view to render better services to the pilgrims who come from far-flung parts of the country, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams has launched “SRIVARI SEVA” voluntary service on November 1, 2000. Started with just 200 volunteers in the initial days, so far almost four lakh 30thousand sevakulu have rendered service in Srivari Seva in the last 12 successful years.

Developed on the concept of Three D’s, Duty – Discipline – Devotion Srivari Seva is set to move ahead with the noble taught of offering selfless service to fellow pilgrims.

PARTICIPATION IN DEVOUT SERVICE:

The Seva provides a unique opportunity to the devotees to serve fellow pilgrims and participate in devout service. According to scriptures, the divine grace can be attained not only by worshiping the lord in the sanctum sanctorum but also by serving his devotees. Thus, the Srivari Seva ensures the added benefit of worshipping the lord by the way of selfless service to his devotees.

HOW TO ENROLL OR REGISTER:

The devotees who are willing to render selfless services to fellow pilgrims as Srivari Sevakulu should write a letter at least a month in advance to the following address –

The Public Relations Officer
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams
TTD Administrative building
K.T. Road, Tirupati, AP, 517501
Ph.No.0877 – 2264392

  • They will get the proceedings copy from the office of PRO along with one application form or the SMS in their mobile phone
  • The team leader should get the Xerox copies of the application form and distribute it among his or her members, get it filled and bring it to the Srivari Seva Sadan office while reporting for service along with a passport size photo and ID-proof
  • Or if the team leader gets the SMS, he or she should bring the photo and ID-proof of each member of his or her team to Srivari Seva Sadan while reporting for service and fill up the application forms in Tirumala
  • The photos of Srivari Sevakulu who are reporting for the service is being captures in the bio-metric cameras and the data of each and every individual is being maintained in the office
  • The volunteers are later issued with orange colour scarves which are their identity and they are supposed to handle them with care till their service is completed. After the completion of their service they will hand over the scarves back

GUIDELINES TO SRIVARI SEVAKULU:

  • Each group should consist of not less than 10 members
  • Team leaders should not bring children, aged and ill-healthy persons for Seva
  • Srivari Sevakulu should wear prescribed uniform i.e. white pant and white shirt for men, green sari with same colour blouse for women while reporting for service and strictly stick to their specified guide lines
  • The Srivari Sevakulu should render service where ever they are allotted to do and should not insist on temple duties
  • Srivari Seva is purely a voluntary service. Collecting money from the members or offering money for temple duties is illegal. If anybody found guilty, the entire team will be black listed for a period of two years
  • Separate accommodation with locker, bed sheet and mats facility has been provided for male and female sevakulu and they should stay in their respective accommodation only
  • Female Srivari Sevakulu are provided accommodation in Srivari Seva Sadan in Tirumala while the male Sevakulu are being provided accommodation in Hall nos. 7 and 8 in PAC III
  • The Srivari Sevakulu should take part in the counseling classes that takes place at Asthana Mandapam on every Friday between 10am to 12pm in Tirumala

FACILITIES TO THE SRIVARI SEVAKULU:

ACCOMMODATION: Gender-wise accommodation has been provided to house over 2500 Srivari Sevakulu. While the female sevakulu are being provided accommodation in Srivari Seva Sadan itself which houses nearly 750 volunteers, male volunteers are provided accommodation in hall no.7 and 8 in PAC III which accommodates about 400 volunteers.

During peak season viz. annual brahmotsavams, summer vacation, Vaikuntha Ekadasi etc. since over 2500 Srivari Seva volunteers are being invited to render services; additional accommodation is provided in Halls No.5, 6, 7 and 8 in PAC II also where nearly 500 volunteers can stay. Each volunteer is provided with lockers on free of cost and they need not to pay caution deposit Rs.200/- for lockers since they bring lock and keys on their own.

DARSHAN: The Srivari Seva volunteers have to render the voluntary service to the visiting pilgrims for a period of one week. They will be provided free darshan through Supadham entry on eighth day.

LADDU PRASADAM: The Srivari Sevakulu is being provided with three laddus each person at a subsidized rate of Rs.10 each.

SRIVARI SEVA – A SUPPORTING ARM TO TTD:

The Srivari Seva voluntary service has become one of the important supporting organs to TTD in its pilgrim crowd management as well in administrative mechanism filling the manpower crisis. The services of Srivari Sevakulu has been utilized in over dozen areas in Tirumala including Vigilance, Health, Annaprasadam, Garden, Medical, Laddu Prasadam, Temple, Transport, Kalyanakkatta, Book Stalls etc.

PARAKAMANI SEVA: After getting overwhelming response from the pilgrims for Srivari Seva, TTD has began a new service called Parakamani Seva where in the counting and accounting of the currency offerings made by the multitude of pilgrims in Srivari Hundi is done. This exclusive seva meant for retired or in-service employees of public sector, nationalized banks and Insurance companies, aged between 35-65yrs of age has been started by TTD on August 17, 2012. So far from four Southern India states in 117 batches 5700 sevakulu participated in Parakamani Seva.

LADDU PRASADA SEVA: TTD has started yet another novel service Laddu Prasada Seva on 13th January 2013 where in the laddu tokens for the Dharma Darshan (Free) and Divya Darshan (Footpath) pilgrims are being issued. Usually TTD provides two laddus to each pilgrim who prefers the above said darshan categories on a laddu token at a subsidized rate of Rs.10 per laddu. The Laddu Prasada Sevakulu issues these tokens to these pilgrims in the counters of Vaikuntham Queue Complex I. The guidelines are same as that of Parakamani seva. Of the 74 batches so far over 1282 sevakulu have rendered impeccable services to the visiting pilgrims.

CONCLUSION: Today Srivari Seva has become one of the chief supporting organs of TTD with over 50 thousand Sevaks on rolls hailing from different parts of the country. In the coming years, the Srivari Seva will enhance to further levels as TTD is also contemplating to come up with a massive building complex to accommodate nearly 4000 Srivari Sevakulu at one go at an estimated cost of Rs.70cr in Tirumala . TTD is also planning for separate meeting cum prayer hall in this building to train up the volunteers every day on Yoga, Meditation and orientation class on pilgrim service. e TTD is also willing to spread this service concept in its sub-temples, railway and bus stations in Tirupati also.

ISSUED BY TTDs PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, TIRUPATI