VOLUME: 08, Special Issue11, (IC-MLSDG 2021) Paper id-IJIERM-VIII-XI, November 2021 39
DIGITAL PLATFORMS: DIMENSIONS AND SPIRITUAL COMMUNICATOR WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO SADHGURU (JAGGI VASUDEV)
Prajakta Ankalikar
Research Scholar, School of Journalism & Mass Communication, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore
Dr. Anuradha Sharma
Assistant Professor, Altius Institute of Universal Studies Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore
Abstract: Two sided or multi-sided communication by the spiritual communicator is beneficial for both of them (to the masses and the communicator). But in the COVID-19 pandemic the scenario got changed and communication takes place by the digital platforms. Digital Platforms provides infrastructure (that fascinates communication from both the sides). It gives frictionless user communication and participation. In this research paper, we will be dealing with one of the most popular communicator, trending in digital platforms that are Jaggi Vasudev (Sadhguru). There are so many dimensions that sadhguru and masses are exchanging. Here we have taken three dimensions: one is how masses share their problem with communicators, and what sadhguru gives them solution. Second is what spirituality means to the masses and last one is how masses takes their discourses with the digital platforms. Here we will be having 200 interviews in which participants will be telling us what spirituality means to them.
Keywords: Communication, Mass Communication, Sadhguru, Spirituality, Communicator 1 INTRODUCTION
Since the dawn of civilization, it is the spiritual leaders that stood as the backbone for preserving peace through spiritual practices. It is them that are laying stable bridges of understanding among peoples of different nations, race, and religions, cultures, traditions environment and other people like businessman, scientists, artists etc. Sadhguru (Jaggi Vasudev) is one of them. He transmits his lights to the people through their message of love and compassion. It is due to the advancement of technology. Technology is ruling in this century and digital platforms are more powerful now days. In this pandemic period, people are taking discourses on digital platforms say as You-Tube, Insta-Live, FB live etc. Also they worked with different languages.
Meditation and Yoga are functions to the human body and brain. Sadhguru works with Inner engineering. The only approach of him understands nature and universe, its theorization, observation and experimentation that are the basic characteristic of universe and mankind. According to Jaggi Vasudev on National Television in one of his interviews said that Unified Community of Scientists is Becoming Good Marketers. He also proceed in the same interview that the questions to answers to answers via meditation given in the Vedas. Traversing seamlessly from the ancient to the ultramodern, sadhguru bridges the gap between the known and unknown, enabling all those who encounter him to explore and human values and goals, religious practices and ideals, spirituality and its sublimity have been presented by him. Spirituality is science and also a belief. However, some scholars have proved it that it is belief. Also it is a science. Sadhguru said that in Indian Spirituality Family is an Essential and Intergral Part.
Also he is doing social welfare for school, colleges undertaken by some massive projects and a huge amount of change is done at the academic and economic front.
In 2017, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian award by the government of India for his services in social services. In this research paper, we will be dealing with Digital platforms and listen to discourses especially of Jaggi Vasudev and what spirituality means to them.
2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE
According to Seligman, 2000, the purpose of life and idea of focusing on positive values depends upon psychology.
VOLUME: 08, Special Issue11, (IC-MLSDG 2021) Paper id-IJIERM-VIII-XI, November 2021 40
According to Emmons and Klenke, 2007, the various aspects of spirituality and purpose behind it are for self-sacrifice.
Ho-Hoi ching & Malcom Koe (2015) studied the effects of mindfulness meditation and cognitive relationship. The authors studied on students of college of first semester.
And they tried mindfulness meditation course. The effects shows that there is an improvement in learning effectiveness & attention both and also positive effects on cognitive performance.
Sadhna Kumari Sharma, O P Sharma (2016) had studied that Spirituality and happiness is co-related with each other. They studied age group of 25 to 30 years and taken cluster sampling in Udaipur city. The results show in a positive way that the people who are doing spiritual practices and spirituality are more happy and satisfied.
They are connected to broader internal level and believe and their self acceptance level is much stronger. Therefore, Spirituality and Happiness is inter-related with each other.
2.1 Objectives of the study
Masses are using Digital Platforms for spirituality and spiritual discourses.
There are many dimensions in Vasudev’s discourses and people are executing that.
2.2 Hypothesis
Jaggi Vasudev (Sadhguru) is one of the most prominent communicator in the world.
His communications attract the masses. Also they are taking discourses of him.
3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The study has the relevance of spirituality undertaken by 200 individuals. It is the medium of spiritual expression that enriched the experience of spirituality. By doing this human life and universe has been highlighted. Sadhguru discussed the economic issues with the political leaders and journalists. We had talked to 200 individuals who are doing meditation and yoga from lockdown period say as in April and they are feeling inner enlighment by this.
Spirituality is about finding the bigger answers in life and now days it is possible through digital platforms to get it possible to concentrate as on daily basis 30 posts and 20 videos commonly affix by the spiritual leaders and Gurus.
We cornerstone our deep discussion with our loved ones on social media but yes now we are feeding up with some spiritual things like SURYA NAMASKAR, MEDITATION, listening to soul-stirring music, chanting Mantras, Reading Geeta and sharing Motivational quotes by Sadhguru.
3.1 Interpretation
Figure 1.1
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Figure 1.l shows that 75 % of the individuals listen, read and watch sadhguru’s discourses and they are having spiritual enlightment. Also there are following points which are taken in interview:
1. Youngsters And Adults are using Digital Platforms for Spiritual Enlightment: In this Lockdown period, we are continuously using Social Media for entertainment, education and for information. But in this pandemic its definition is being changed because adults & youngsters are using constantly for Spiritual Enlightment as stress and depression is seeking in them.
When it comes to Spiritual Practices, it is been observed that Spiritual Enlighment occurs in the as they watch, listen and read to their favorite Gurus. And without any interruption they are meeting up with wonderful people through this Social Media Sites.
Therefore, Social Media is having a positive impact on our lives also and they counterpart spiritual minds are growing too fast as they also share spiritual posts on their individual Social Handle too.
2. The Global Technology and Spiritual Enlighment: The Global technology like Social Media manifests now days is unexpressed utterance of Spiritual Enlightment.
Now days it is having capacity to fasten more productively and the practice strength had gone far off the immediate purposes and the technical devices by which they practice themselves the Spiritual Practices.
The same technical collision can be said in the spiritual enlightment in this Quarantine period. The technology holds the power of honor of making us spiritual.
And making us better person day by day. Now, Instagram and Facebook are the part our culture and lives and n to the full extent its effect can be seen in Youngsters and Adults.
3. Digital Platforms and Spirituality Always Connect: Facebook and Instagram help us to connect with the fundaments of Spirituality. Also it is shared in this quarantine period say as videos, quotes, Mantras, Components of Geeta and the caption enlighten them for the same.
People are sharing the post they applaud they think of world, life, fate. The time youngsters and adults spend on Digital platforms is of learning, reading and in deep conversations with loved ones.
One of the most positive features is watching spiritual videos doing practices and cultivating it with others. And therefore, the minds of the individuals automatically changes with this practices. The changes which have been observed are:
There are Sadhguru’s posts, videos and articles which they watch, listen and read and which give impression of and they share with their Social Media handle also the people connected with them share. And therefore, it goes viral and spreads globally.
Youngsters and Adults are sharing posts and videos as discuss in above point.
The post which have spiritual life, they are sharing having legitimacy( which most of the most have)
Youngsters and Adults take part in conversations with the Spiritual Gurus when they steam live on Facebook and Instgram.
4 SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTMENT
It depends on how you see it said by the youngsters and adults and also has a positive impact when they do spiritual practices and lean into that moment of meditation.
The positive impact that has been observed is Spiritual Development dissolves a individual ego and knuckle down and look for victory purely for personal gain.
Spiritual Practices and Spirituality is trending in Youngsters and Adults and it is and was a source to relieve stress. It is a way of understanding the substantial level that their lives involve and many different way of human set-up.
VOLUME: 08, Special Issue11, (IC-MLSDG 2021) Paper id-IJIERM-VIII-XI, November 2021 42 5 CONCLUSION
The research paper concludes with different shades of Digital Platforms with relation to Spirituality and spiritual enlightment. As the shades of Digital platforms includes positive psychology, morality within oneself and mindfulness with spiritual practices within oneself.
Finally, it led to Digital Platforms like Facebook, Instagram which is trending now a day’s among Youngsters and Adults which was observed in this research paper. Apart from this transformative nature of Media an individual also changes through Spirituality and it gives us literacy, access to information and education.
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