Seva is the offering of one’s service to the Guru without thought of recognition or reward. Many find this altruistic, selfless service for Community enhancement an uplifting experience.

Our weekly seva opportunities include:

• Taking care of the Guru (Prakash - waking up the Guru, and Sukhasan - putting the Guru to sleep)
• Changing of the Guru's ramalas (decorative cloths covering Siri Guru Granth Sahib.
• Playing kirtan
• During Gurdwara, taking the Gurmukhi Hukam, reading English translation, offering the Ardas, foot washing
• Decorating the Gurdwara, buying and arranging flowers
• Preparing and serving the Guru's Prashad
• Serving the Daily Langar
• Washing sheets
• Cleaning the inside of the Ashram following morning kirtan
• Many more opportunities to serve in various capacities of outreach in Interfaith, with other Sikh Gurdwaras.

If you are interested in participating in weekly seva, e-mail the Community Coordinator or call the Sevadar.

The Guru Ram Das Ashram Sevadar

The GRDA Sevadar greets and serves all those who visit the Ashram. You will usually find the Sevadar sitting outside at the front desk. The Sevadar is there to answer any questions you may have and to protect the grace and Divine Space of the Gurdwara.

Guru Ram Das Ashram has the blessing of having a Sevadar present 24 hours a day so that everyone can visit the Ashram and bow to the Guru.  The Sevadar is posted at the desk outside the ashram 365 days of the year from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m, during the official "open" hours of the ashram.  A night-time Sevadar is on duty at the ashram from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily.

The Sevadar can be reached at (310) 858-7691.

Marble Washing (Ishnaan Seva)

Inspired by Yogi Bhajan's four and a half years of service at the daily washing of the marble at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, India, dedicated community members, meet every Sunday at 3:45 a.m. to clean the marble floors and walls of the Ashram with milk and water. The carpets and other items are removed from the gurdwara, and everything is brought back inside and the Guru's Manji Sahib, (the place where Siri Guru Granth Sahib sits) is decorated with beautiful new ramalas.

Once the gurdwara is ready, the Siri Guru Granth Sahib is escorted into the gurdwara and the first Hukam (Declarative Words of the Guru) is read for the week at 6 a.m., followed by the singing of Shabad Hazare (see Kirtan Programs for more information).

Everyone is invited to participate in Ishnaan Seva (ishnaan means "bathing" or "cleaning") and enjoy being part of creating a high and sparkling vibration inside the Ashram, which is said to bestow many blessings and spiritual transformation.  For more information, contact the Sevadar.

Baisakhi and Other Gurupurbs

There are many blessed opportunities to share your time and energy in preparation for the Baisakhi events and also at the main event itself. Preparations for the event include helping with set-up and decorations on Saturday to completely transform the Petrie Hall of the Convention Center for the Sunday event, and helping to build and decorate the float for Nagar Kirtan.  Seva opportunities on Sunday include serving langar or prashad, chaouri seva, clean-up, shoe check-in, and leading games and projects in the Children's Activity Hall.

In addition to Baisakhi, Guru Ram Das Ashram celebrates other Gurupurbs (holidays), days of remembrance and other special events.  Seva opportunities include providing or serving langar, decorating the ashram and clean-up.

If you would like to help out at an event, you can offer your services on the spot, or sign up in advance.

Any contribution of time and energy is appreciated.

If you feel especially dedicated, you are invited to join a missal.  Visit the Missal System page for more information.

If you don't have time to serve, another way you can help support the Guru Ram Das community is by your donations.  Visit the Donate page for the many ways your dollars can make a difference.