Acharya Lokesh Jagirdar Is Preserving Vedic Traditions by Bringing Authentic Rituals Closer to Devotees

For over two centuries now, the family of Acharya Lokesh Jagirdar has been associated with the practices of Vedic astrology and karmakand. As the sixth generation linked with the famous Shree Navgrah Mandir in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh, Acharya Lokesh continues the legacy of the past generations and examines ways in which technology may be used to keep people connected with their spiritual heritage.

He became involved in Vedic astrology and karmakand in 1998, thanks to his father and guru. Through his interactions with the devotees, he was able to realize some of the challenges that many families were facing in their participation in various religious ceremonies. Being away from one’s country, having a busy schedule, and traveling often prevented devotees from participating in various Puja, Yagya, Homam, Rudrabhishekam and Graha Shanti rituals.

Acharya Lokesh Jagirdar began expanding his Vedic astrology consultations and Puja services via the internet in 2008. In those times, there was no established trend of spiritual online services, and the goal of this venture was not to change the existing tradition, but to see whether modern technology can facilitate the delivery of these practices beyond geography limitations.

This concept is implemented via LivePujaYagya.com that was recently relaunched in 2023 as a service supporting the spiritual mission of the guru. This service allows Indian and global devotees to take part in personally conducted Vedic rituals in the form of live web broadcasts. Every Puja or Yagya is conducted with personal Sankalp made by the devotee or the family in question instead of a common ritual.

Acharya Lokesh’s approach to merging technology and tradition thus focuses on access without loss of authenticity. It covers not only virtual Pujas, Yagyas, Homams, Rudrabhishekam, Graha Shanti Pujas, Dosha Nivaran Pujas, Anushthans, and festivals but also Vedic astrology readings and spiritual counseling.

The greater context in which all of these activities take place is especially meaningful for an age that is growing more and more physically dispersed. In the case of NRIs and those who have settled away from their home towns, keeping in touch with their spiritual heritage becomes increasingly difficult. Access to it through digital means can offer them another way to do so.

“The aim should be to conserve and not replace traditions with technology. Technology should not be used to modify Vedic practices in light of the present times, rather we must use technology in such a manner that our devotees will be able to retain their connections with their traditions irrespective of where they are,” says Acharya Lokesh Jagirdar.

This entire journey brings out the wider debate on the relevance of age-old knowledge in a changing world. Unlike the usual trend where technology and tradition are pitted against each other, Acharya Lokesh’s method of adopting the two together is based on a basic objective – preserving the purity of Vedic practice.