Shani on the Web

Virality and Vitality in Digital Popular Hinduism

Bibliographic Data

ID3411199
AuthorsVaruni Bhatia (0009-0001-9021-1906, Azim Premji University, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume11
Issue9
Pages456
Publication date2020-09-06
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueReligions (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2077-1444 • E-ISSN: 2077-1444
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/rel11090456
OpenAlexW3083056461
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited18

What do god posters circulating online tell us about the practice of popular Hinduism in the age of digital mediatization? The article seeks to address the question by exploring images and god posters dedicated to the planetary deity Shani on Web 2.0. The article tracks Shani's presence on a range of online platforms-from the religion and culture pages of newspapers to YouTube videos and social media platforms. Using Shani's presence on the Web as a case study, the article argues that content drawn from popular Hinduism, dealing with astrology, ritual, religious vows and observances, form a significant and substantial aspect of online Hinduism. The article draws attention to the specific affordances of Web 2.0 to radically rethink what engaging with the sacred object in a virtual realm may entail. In doing so, it indicates what the future of Hindu religiosity may look like

Hinduism · Media studies · Popular culture · Realm · Sociology · The Internet · World Wide Web · Computer Science · History · Media, Religion, Digital Communication · Philosophy · Religious studies · Religious Studies and Spiritual Practices · Religious Tourism and Spaces

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