Innovating Spirituality: An Interview with Jagriti Motwani of Bhagva

An interview with Jagriti Motwani, Founder and Promoter of Bhagva, an innovative spiritual tech app

In this interview, we delve into the visionary mind of Jagriti Motwani, the Founder and Promoter of Bhagva. This innovative spiritual tech app aims to bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and modern technology, offering users a unique platform for spiritual growth and exploration.

What inspired you to create Bhagva? Was there a personal or spiritual moment that sparked the idea?

Jagriti Motwani: After years spent crafting brand stories and digital experiences across various industries, I realized, while technology had transformed nearly every aspect of our lives, the spiritual space remained largely untouched.

Although this wasn’t just the market gap. The inspiration to start Bhagva was also profoundly personal. I remember my grandmother always dreamed of visiting all 12 Jyotirlingas.

Due to age and health constraints, she couldn’t fulfill that wish, and she passed away with it still in her heart. That moment stayed with me. It made me question why, in an era where we can seamlessly stream concerts, consult doctors online, and even tour museums virtually, we couldn’t offer similar access to devotion.

That question ultimately became the seed for Bhagva. Bhagva is my way of reimagining how we connect with Sanatan Dharma, using technology to provide access to immersive rituals and creating a platform that ensures no one is left behind on their spiritual journey due to age, geography, or circumstance.

Bhagva is leveraging emerging technologies like VR and AI. How do you see these technologies enhancing the spiritual experience for users?

Jagriti Motwani: Technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are incredibly powerful tools for enhancing the spiritual experience by making it both more immersive and widely accessible.

Our upcoming flagship offering, VR Darshan of 4 dhams and 12 jyotirlingas,  will allow users to virtually visit iconic temples and sacred destinations across India, effectively bringing the essence of these holy sites right into their homes.

This is particularly impactful for individuals who face barriers to physical travel, whether due to age, health, distance, or time.

While VR provides a profound visual and sensory immersion, AI helps us personalize the spiritual journey, curating content and recommendations that align with individual user preferences and needs, fostering a deeper, more personal connection to their faith.

How does Bhagva ensure that its offerings are inclusive, particularly for the elderly, NRIs, and differently-abled users?

Jagriti Motwani: Inclusivity is truly at the core of what we do. A primary barrier for many, including the elderly, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), and differently-abled individuals, is often physical or geographical limitations.

Bhagva’s upcoming feature VR Darshan directly addresses this by providing virtual access to temples and spiritual sites that might otherwise be out of reach. For the global Indian diaspora, we bridge cultural and time-zone differences, offering authentic rituals and services accessible from anywhere in the world.

We also focus on designing a cross-generational user interface that’s intuitive and simple to navigate, ensuring both tech-savvy younger users and elder devotees can easily engage with the platform and its diverse offerings.

In what ways do you believe India is making Sanatan Dharma globally accessible through apps and augmented reality?

Jagriti Motwani: India has always been a land deeply rooted in spirituality, inspiring seekers worldwide with its profound wisdom and traditions. Now, through the power of technology, we’re extending this rich heritage, making Sanatan Dharma universally accessible.

Platforms like ours serve as a global gateway, offering a direct connection to Indian traditions, rituals, and wisdom.

Through our upcoming feature- VR Darshans of 4 dhams and 12 jyotirlingas, we’re bringing the sanctity and experience of our temples to a global audience, whether it’s an NRI seeking to connect with their roots or an international spiritual seeker looking to understand Sanatan Dharma.

This digital approach is truly facilitating a broader reach and deeper engagement, effectively transcending geographical boundaries and cultivating a worldwide appreciation for our profound cultural and spiritual traditions.

Can you discuss how Bhagva is building a daily practice ecosystem for users to integrate spirituality into their everyday lives?

Jagriti Motwani: Bhagva is meticulously designed to function as a comprehensive digital companion for daily spiritual well-being. We offer a blend of curated spiritual content, including aartis, bhajan libraries, and guided practices, all accessible to users at their convenience.

We also provide practical features like Panchang (astrological calendar) and a straightforward booking system for verified pandits for personalized services, making it convenient for individuals to integrate pujas and astrological consultations into their daily routines.

Our overarching aim is to make spiritual practices a continuous, accessible, and enriching part of modern life.

Your MoU with Sanskrit Mahavidyalayas is a significant step in upskilling future Pandits and Purohits. Can you explain how this model works and its expected impact?

Jagriti Motwani: Our MoU with Sanskrit Mahavidyalayas represents a pivotal step in our mission to uplift pandits and purohits, the custodians of our spiritual heritage. Through this collaboration, we’re establishing over 60 Centres of Excellence across the country.

These centers will offer both short-term certification modules under a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program for experienced pandits, and more extensive 60-90 day upskilling courses.

The training extends beyond traditional knowledge, encompassing crucial soft skills, digital literacy, and modern service protocols. By standardizing quality and providing formal certification, we aim to train and place over 7,200 pandits by 2026.

This initiative directly addresses challenges such as income stability and credibility, thereby transforming spiritual service into a respected and sustainable career path.

How do you plan to scale Bhagva in the coming years, especially after receiving the recent funding?

Jagriti Motwani: With the recent $1 million in Pre-Series A funding, we’re strategically positioned to scale across multiple fronts.

Our current focus is to enhance our core offerings, including seamless ePooja services, richer VR darshan experiences, and a wider range of curated spiritual products.

And the long-term vision of Bhagva is to become the go-to devotional platform for one billion Indians across the globe.

Importantly, as we scale, we’re equally committed to empowering pandits and spiritual practitioners, providing them with structured opportunities and global reach.

What message would you like to convey to potential users of Bhagva and those interested in the intersection of spirituality and technology?

Jagriti Motwani: The message is simple and clear: Bhagva is here to bridge tradition with the future. I believe deeply in the human need for spiritual connection, and technology is a powerful enabler for that.

For too long, the spiritual sector, with its invaluable services and talented practitioners, has remained largely unorganized. We’re actively working to bring structure to this devotional gig economy in India, ensuring authenticity and fair opportunities for everyone involved.

Whether you’re looking to reconnect with your roots, find daily peace, or simply explore the rich traditions of Sanatan Dharma, Bhagva offers an authentic and accessible path.

We’re building a platform that truly respects ancient practices while embracing innovation, making devotion a consistent and enriching part of your everyday life, no matter where you are.

Jagriti Motwani’s insights reveal the transformative potential of Bhagva, empowering individuals to enhance their spiritual journeys. As technology continues to evolve, Bhagva stands at the forefront, making spirituality accessible and engaging for all.

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