Does watching e-darśana or a live-streamed āratī count as real darśana?

it is a real and valuable form of seeing the Lord, especially for those who cannot travel, though being present in the temple has a fullness of its own.

Darśana means seeing and being seen by God. Devotion has always found ways across distance: devotees have prayed facing a far-off temple, kept a picture of its deity at home, or listened to its āratī. A live stream of the morning or evening āratī is a modern version of the same longing, and for the elderly, the sick or those living abroad it can be deeply moving.

To make it more than watching a video, treat it as worship: bathe or wash your hands and face, light a lamp, put the phone or screen in a respectful place, sit rather than scroll, and fold your hands or do āratī along with the priest.

At the same time, a pilgrimage involves effort, community, the atmosphere of the shrine and receiving prasāda in person. When you can go, go; when you cannot, e-darśana with devotion is far better than none.

Source: common devotional practice; many major temples stream āratī

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