This suite of materials offers an immersive, multi-dimensional experience centered on a Jōdoshinsū Pure Land Buddhist service. Combining 360° videos, expert interviews, and a virtual tour of Senshin Temple in Los Angeles, these resources work together to illuminate ritual elements, sacred spaces, and the cultural meanings that shape the worship of Amida Buddha. Informational overlays, learned commentary, and interactive features help connect visual details with historical context and lived experience, making it easier to understand how artistry, community, and devotion come together in a vibrant ritual tradition.
The recitation of the Golden Chain expresses the values and shared commitments of the Jōdoshinsū Buddhist community.
The Shishinrai gatha (hymn) reflects central themes of Pure Land Buddhist practice.
The Shijūhachigan, or Forty-Eight Vows, remember the core structure of the Amida Buddha’s teaching.
The Nembutsu is a central feature of Pure Land Buddhist practice.
The reading of the Enkokū is a part of the weekly Buddhist service at Senshin Temple.
Each service a section of a sutra, here the Mahayana-Abhisamaya Sutra, is read.
Our 360° videos place viewers within a Jōdoshinshū Buddhist service, offering an immersive perspective on the chants, readings, and rituals that shape communal worship. Together, these resources help students and educators move beyond observation to a deeper understanding of how gratitude, community, and the teachings of Amida Buddha are expressed through the lived practice of Pure Land Buddhism.
Click and drag the screen (or move your phone) to explore the full 360° view. For mobile viewing we recommend using the YouTube app.
These enhanced interviews feature Dr. Semontee Mitra, a scholar of American Hinduism, offering accessible insights into the practices, symbols, and community life surrounding Durga Puja and related traditions. Short clips unpack themes such as the evolution of the Durga murti, the significance of prasad and its preparation, the meaning of the goddess’s vehicles, and how Sarbojanin pujas bring communities together. Designed to complement the 360° videos and virtual tour, these interviews provide thoughtful context that helps students and educators understand how ritual, artistry, and cultural identity come together in the celebration of the goddess.
Discover the central themes, stories and symbols that shape Durga Puja celebrations.
Dr. Mitra explains the differences between resident and visiting deities in the U.S., and how expectations around sacred space has shifted.
See how cooking prasad, the sacred food offerings to Hindu gods and goddesses becomes an act of devotion and community
Explore how the form of the goddess Durga has changed over time.
Hear about Gopeshwar Pal, the artist responsible for changing how Durga’s murti was represented.
Discover the significance of the animals and other vehicles that accompany Durga on her journey each year.
Learn about the ghat, the sacred vessel that symbolizes Durga’s arrival and presence.
See how Brahmin priests (and priestesses) guide rituals and maintain tradition throughout the puja.
Explore how lay participants participate via the priest’s mediation during puja services.
Hear about the importance of Sanskrit and how sacred chants shape the soundscape of Durga Puja.
Discover how Durga embodies shakti, the divine feminine power.
Learn how community-sponsored worship services known as sarbojanin pujas developed and began to foster collective celebration.
Explore the nine forms of Durga honored during the festival of Navaratri.
📍 Los Angeles, CA, USA
Explore a virtual tour of Senshin Temple above. Click and hold to ‘grab’ the screen, dragging in any direction to see the full 360° view. Use the nodes or menu to move through the space, and click the hotspots to learn more about the temple’s features.
For a VR accessible experience, follow this link.
Take a self-guided virtual tour of Senshin Temple, a religious space of the Jōdoshinsū tradition of Pure Land Buddhism in Los Angeles, CA. Informational hotspots highlight key features of the temple’s architecture, the shrines housed within, and the significance of different areas for worship and community life. This tour offers students and educators an accessible way to connect visual details with deeper meanings, bringing the temple’s living context into focus.
Complete a short survey and share your thoughts on our Immersive Religion resources. We’d love to hear from you!
