'E-darshan' of Kashi Vishwanath temple!

Varanasi, June 12: Offering prayers at the world famous Kashi Vishwanath temple could just be a mouse click away for the 'Shiv Bhakts', if yesterday's decision of the Trust managing affairs at the revered shrine is implemented fully.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust, which manages the affairs at the temple met yesterday and cleared the decks for the development of an interactive bilingual (Hindi and English) website of the temple which holds the promise of ushering 'virtual darshan' of one of the 12 'jyotirlingas' to cyber-savvy Shiv Bhakts across the world.

''The successful e-darshan of Tirupati Balaji temple, Siddhi Vinayak and the Vaishno Devi shrines through interactive websites has prompted the Trust to go for similar virtual darshan of Kashi Vishwanath also,'' Additional Chief Executive Officer of the temple Radheyshyam Pathak said here today.

''Attempts were on to rope in the services of computer experts and web developers from the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) to prepare a blueprint for the ambitious exercise in a fortnight time.

After drawing the blueprint the work will start on the project,'' he added.

Detailing about the entire idea of making the revered shrine go digital, Mr Pathak said ''the interactive website will not only provide e-darshan of the jyotirlinga, but will also provide detailed information about the 11 other jyotirlingas.'' Besides, the State Bank of India's e-banking facility will be used for the website to accept donations, gifts and other offerings from citizens from across the globe who cannot make it physically to the shrine.

Arrangements will also be made to send back the 'prasad,' 'gangajal' and even the 'bail leaves' offered at the Jyotirlinga through the donations by concerned citizens.

''It will be a two way exercise by first accepting gifts and offerings from the Shiv Bhakta's through the Internet and then sending them their due prasad,'' Mr Pathak said.

Even visuals of the early morning Mangala Arti, Bhog Arti and the Shayan Arti, the three prime Artis at the temple, will be a mouse click away.

After visualising the 'jyotirlinga' and the three 'Artis' through the website, the citizens will also have the option of booking in advance their attendence at the Mangala Arti by using the SBI e-banking facility.

Mr Pathak also admitted two years ago a similar decision was taken by the Temple Trust, but owing to administrative glitches it was yet to be implemented.

He, however, said new divisional commissioner Nitin Ramesh Gokarna was serious about launching the entire project as quickly as possible.

UNI