Surveillance Through the Dharmic Gaze: Mahākumbha and Śrāddha as Mechanisms of Faith-Based Panopticon in Hinduism
Surveillance Through the Dharmic Gaze: Mahākumbha and Śrāddha as Mechanisms of Faith-Based Panopticon in Hinduism

Summary/Abstract: For centuries, religious traditions have incorporated the concept of “divine surveillance” into their moral frameworks, using it to shape ethical behavior and promote social and moral well-being. However, this idea of “watching deity” creates a sense of total control over the minds and actions of faithful believers. Under the watchful eyes of divine entities, ancestral spirits, sacred scriptures, and digital religious notifications, individuals often develop a deep sense of accountability along with distress, resulting in psychological stress and a pressure to meet the religious timelines, beliefs, and values. Drawing upon Jeremy Bentham’s concept of “panopticon”, this study showcases the kind of anxiety one can be instilled with while navigating through the phenomenon of “Divine Gaze”. Taking insights from theories revolving around surveillance, psychology, and religion, this paper examines the rituals and practices of Hinduism, like Mahākumbha and Śrāddha that not only cultivate moral accountability but also impose psychological burden and stress on the minds of Hindu believers. The findings of the study reveal how divine and ancestral memory is invoked in the minds of Hindu believers through the intersecting influences of scriptures, media, governance, and psychological conditioning. Further, the research also emphasizes the shift from traditional to digitally mediated surveillance in the context of religion.

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