DARSHAN - A FUTURISTIC TEMPLE CONCEPT
SUMMARY
‘Darshan’ is a futuristic temple concept of idol worship and community rituals in a scenario where faith is subjective.
The project deliverable demonstrates a futuristic temple space, the 'Garbagruha' i.e. the 'sanctum sanctorum' where the deity resides.
The representation of the 'Spirit of God' is in the form of a flame, which takes the form of the deity being evoked. The nature of the Holographic imagery carries within itself the ethereal essence of Godliness as it intends to change the way idol worship is performed.
Being visible from all the angles, and having the nature of participation, it eliminates the need for a 'middle-man' and enhances one's engagement with the practice. It also opens doors to understanding one's own faith being seeing a reflection of it, in the place of worship.
The Proof of Concept involves speech recognition that triggers a video transition that plays in the form of a holographic display.
PROOF OF CONCEPT
PROJECT DISPLAY IMAGES
The aim of the project was to study the nature of faith and its evolution over time with the intervention of science and technology in Temple practices. A primary study was conducted with visits to over 16 temples across the city of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar to understand the practice of ‘Aarti’.
THE STUDY INVOLVED
PRECEDENT STUDY OF TEMPLE ARTIFACTS
RESEARCH FINDINGS
Idol worship had a major transformation in its nature ever since 'Bhagwan ka Photo' i.e.' framed prints' replaced stone or metal idols or 'Murtis'
'Darshan' i.e. getting a glimpse of the deity in a temple setting had restricted timings. Most temples had curtains or gates covering the deity at other times.
'Aarti' was a traditional practice which had certain timings revolving around the 'Darshan' timings.
All temples had a middle-man to the God figure. Most of the temple authorities did not know answers to most practices and rituals themselves. Where as Temples, which involved the participation of the worshipers in the 'Aartis', like the 'bethaks'; had a completely different ambiance, mainly due to how the deity was placed. This participation generated a completely different 'vibration' to the place which could literally be felt. Also, most worshippers seemed to be immersed into the ritual enhancing the experience of the place.
NARRATIVE
"IMMERSE - EVOKE - EMERGE"
A FUTURISTIC CONCEPT EXPLORATION OF A TEMPLE SPACE THAT ALLOWS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE IDEA
PROTOTYPING
INTERACTION
The formless Spirit of God that resides in the temple at all times is symbolically represented by a 'flame'
During an Aarti session, depending on the participation of the worshipers, the vibrations in the ambiance and the name of the deity being evoked in that particular Aarti, the flame manifests itself into the form of the deity being worshiped.
The temple holds a database of all the Aartis being performed in all major temples and so according to that, it allows the flame to take form and shape correlating to the Aarti bhajan and stotras.
CONCEPT VIDEO
POSSIBILITIES
In a future where each person's profile is on the database, the AI would be able to find the context of the individual's faith and create an image in alignment with that context, making it way more personalized. In that way one could choose to see the God, that he/she chooses to see in anyone which includes the self.
It allows one to understand his/her own faith, and perhaps, could help in making it stronger.