Online Temple and Digital Worship: Exploring the changing nature of Worship in Hinduism

In India, the spread of digital technology and its ability to provide a virtual reality through connecting millions of people and interactive websites help religious communities to create cyberspace for religious discourse. In this process, many temples made their website and provided live darshan and interactive pooja. However, the shift towards religious virtual services is not new. That was already taking place a long time ago, but due to the pandemic, it has become popular. The spreading of Covid-19 pandemic across the world, that brought devotional Hinduism turned to the Internet for worship than ever before. Several temples across India started to offer online darshan and ritual performances. Instead of going to Temple, devotee can get darshan by using digital media platfroms such as website, Hindus have embraced virtual reality as a tool for connecting to the “sacred” (See Scheifinger 2012, Helland 2007, Pandharipande 2018). Mahakaleshwer Temple, Ujjain one of such many temples has launched website (https://shrimahakaleshwar.com/) and provides online darshan and live streaming of pooja.