# What is attested seva?

> Attested seva is a prayer performed at a place of worship on someone else's behalf by a named, verified person who returns evidence that it happened: GPS-tagged photographs, a short video, prayer audio where recording is permitted, and a handwritten note, usually the same day.

**Also called:** witnessed seva, seva by proxy, proxy prayer with proof.

## In one line

Unlike booking a puja at a partner temple, the place can be any place of worship that can be searched for rather than a catalogue, the person who goes is named and accountable rather than anonymous, and what returns is evidence with a location and a time on it rather than a keepsake video.

## The facts

- **Term:** attested seva
- **Where:** any place of worship in India that can be searched for, not a partner catalogue. Around 1.2 million are searchable this way.
- **Who performs it:** a named, verified Sevak, accountable for that seva.
- **What returns:** GPS-tagged photographs, a short video, prayer audio where recording is permitted, a handwritten note.
- **When:** usually the same day, where the place's own schedule allows it.
- **Faiths:** Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian.
- **Cost:** sevas start at ₹251; a full seva is ₹899.

## How it differs from booking a puja on an online puja app

An online puja app books a puja at one of its partner temples, where a temple pandit performs it and a personalised video is sent afterwards. Attested seva is not limited to a catalogue: the place can be a village shrine no app has ever partnered with. The person who goes is named and accountable for that specific seva rather than anonymous, and what comes back is evidence with a location and a time on it rather than a keepsake video.

## How it differs from a temple's own online booking

A temple's own portal sells the temple's ritual, performed by the temple, usually requiring attendance. Attested seva sends a person to the place on your behalf when you cannot go yourself. Where a temple runs its own booking, Sevahey names that portal and does not resell it.

## Is it the same as proxy puja?

Proxy puja is the older and broader term for any prayer performed on another person's behalf, and it long predates any app. Attested seva is the narrower thing: proxy prayer where the performer is named and verified and the performance is evidenced. Every attested seva is a proxy prayer; most proxy prayer is not attested, because nothing comes back that shows it happened.

## What it does not include

Reselling a temple's own ticket, permit or room booking; performing a Sikh path; prasad delivery, which is not built yet; astrology; and any promise about the outcome of a prayer.

- Full definition: https://sevahey.com/what-is-attested-seva/
- Every limit, stated: https://sevahey.com/what-sevahey-cannot-do/
- How it works: https://sevahey.com/how-it-works/