@article {65,
	title = {Internet Threats to Hindu Authority: Puja Ordering Websites and the Kalighat Temple},
	journal = {Asian Journal of Social Science},
	year = {2009},
	abstract = {This article investigates threats to authority within Hinduism as a result of the Internet. It focuses upon websites which allow for pujas (devotional rituals) to be ordered to be carried out at the important Kalighat Temple in Kolkata. The two groups which currently exercise authority at the temple are identified, along with the specific forms of authority which they exercise. The processes which are occurring as a result of the puja ordering websites and the activities of those responsible for them are then demonstrated. The argument put forward is that, in addition to the puja ordering services being a threat to both the authority of the temple administration and the priests working there, they also have the potential to affect the relationship between these two groups. Findings from the Kalighat Temple case study further suggest that the effects at temples of online puja ordering services are dependent upon the current situation at respective temples.},
	keywords = {Authority, Hinduism, internet, Kalighat Temple, Puja ordering websites, Pujas},
	url = {http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/brill/saj/2010/00000038/00000004/art00007},
	author = {Heinz Scheifinger}
}
@mastersthesis {50,
	title = {Conceptualising Hinduism},
	volume = {PhD},
	year = {2009},
	month = {March 2009},
	school = {Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore},
	address = {Singapore},
	abstract = {There is not a homogenous religion that can be referred to as Hinduism. Instead, {\textquoteleft}Hinduism{\textquoteright} encompasses a diverse range of practices, beliefs, and groups that can be subsumed under the term {\textquoteleft}Hindu.{\textquoteright} Despite this, Hinduism is often used in both popular and academic works to refer to a religion that is comparable to, for example, Christianity or Islam. This is clearly highly problematic. In this paper I show that although there is certainly not a homogenous religion that can be referred to as Hinduism, the use of the term is still acceptable. However, use of the term demands that it is adequately conceptualized. With such a conceptualization, the term can be used with confidence. After I have shown that the term {\textquoteleft}Hinduism{\textquoteright} should be retained, I want to briefly consider aspects of Hinduism in the light of key ideas in the work of Baudrillard. The reason for this is that Baudrillard has interesting things to say regarding the nature of images and the image is of extreme importance within Hinduism. Furthermore, it is worthwhile considering Baudrillard{\textquoteright}s ideas in the light of Hindu images because in his work {\textquoteleft}Simulacra and Simulations{\textquoteright} he makes specific reference to religious images. I will argue that his conclusions regarding religious images are not universal and are highly questionable when applied to Hinduism. Finally, despite my reservations concerning the applicability of Baudrillardian ideas to Hinduism, I consider online images of Hindu deities in the light of the theory of simulacra. This is because there does not appear to be a strong link between the medium of the Internet and Baudrillard{\textquoteright}s notion of hyper-real simulacra. However, I can conclude that replicated images of Hindu deities on the WWW are no more hyper-real than their original counterparts.},
	url = {http://www.ari.nus.edu.sg/docs/wps/wps09_110.pdf},
	author = {Heinz Scheifinger}
}
@inbook {1179,
	title = {Hindu Worship Online and Offline},
	booktitle = {Digital Religion: Understanding Religious Practice in New Media Worlds},
	year = {2013},
	publisher = {Routledge},
	organization = {Routledge},
	chapter = {8},
	keywords = {cyberspace, Hindu, New Media and Society, New Technology and Society, Religion and the Internet, religious engagement, Sociology of religion},
	author = {Heinz Scheifinger}
}
