Moodubidire: Popular spiritual content creator Namratha Mohan, widely known as Temple Girl, called upon young people to pursue their passion without abandoning their profession and urged them to respect India’s cultural traditions while focusing their energy on nation-building rather than social media negativity.
Speaking at a special lecture organized by the Rostrum Speakers’ Forumof Alva’s Education Foundation, Namratha interacted extensively with students on content creation, spirituality, career choices, and contemporary social issues.
Responding to a question on whether passion or profession is more important, she said; don’t kill your passion in the name of your profession. Continue pursuing your passion alongside your career. Unless you give it a try, you will never achieve something big.
Sharing her personal journey, she said she faced 18 job rejections before securing employment at JP Morgan on her nineteenth attempt and later worked with Citibank and The Walt Disney Company. Despite having no background in filmmaking, she and her husband eventually left the corporate sector to create temple-based digital content. Their first video received only about 50 views, but consistent effort helped them build an audience of over 2.5 million followers.
Highlighting the challenges of digital media, Namratha described content creation as a “zero-error genre” requiring rigorous research and constant learning. She said every story published by her team is backed by extensive research and that she personally responds to messages from viewers.
Addressing a student’s question on criticism and negativity, she advised students not to be discouraged by public opinion. “People will talk whether you do good, bad or nothing at all. What matters is whether you are happy with what you are doing and whether your conscience is at peace,” she said.
One of the most discussed moments of the session came when she responded to a question on women entering the Sabarimala temple. Clarifying that it was her personal opinion, Namratha said that traditions and rituals followed for centuries should be respected rather than challenged merely for publicity.
‘If there is a ritual or culture that has been practiced for generations, let it continue. Instead of spending our energy on such debates, we should direct our efforts towards areas that contribute to the country’s growth, such as science, innovation and development,” she remarked.
She also cited rituals followed at other temples, including practices observed during the Bhasma Aartiat Mahakaleshwar Temple, Ujjain, saying that devotees should respect local customs while visiting places of worship.
Responding to another question related to menstruation and temple entry, Namratha said spirituality is fundamentally about becoming a good human being and respecting others’ beliefs. She observed that practices associated with temples are rooted in individual faith and long-standing traditions, adding that she neither endorses nor condemns such beliefs but respects the choice of individuals to follow them.
During the interactive session, Namratha also encouraged students to maintain a balance between modern lifestyles and spirituality. “I’m not saying don’t party. Enjoy your life, but also visit temples. Maintain a balance in everything,” she said.
Narrating one of the most moving incidents from her travels, she recounted the story of a hereditary temple servant at Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, Srirangam, who completed his sacred duty despite learning that his young son had suffered a life-threatening accident. She said the child eventually recovered after surgery, describing the incident as an unforgettable example of faith, dedication and duty.
She also urged students to use social media responsibly, continue learning throughout life, and make their lives meaningful by contributing positively to society. Referring to Bhagavad Gita, she encouraged students to perform their duties sincerely without expecting immediate rewards.
Presiding over the program, Alva’s Education Foundation, Trustee Vivek Alva, said educational institutions should create platforms where young minds can interact with personalities from different walks of life and draw inspiration from their journeys.
He noted that students were inspired by Mohan’s journey of transforming her passion into a profession and her ability to build a meaningful career through dedication and conviction.
Referring to the growing influence of digital creators, Alva said content creation is an emerging profession that is still evolving and deserves to be understood with an open mind. He observed that responsible content creators are generating employment opportunities while using digital platforms to promote Indian culture and positive social values.
Praising Mohan’s work in documenting temples and cultural heritage, he said her content was reaching millions of people, including audiences outside India, and helping introduce younger generations to India’s spiritual traditions.
Rostrum Coordinator Dr Deepa Kotari, Program Coordinator Dr Yogish Kairodi were present on the occasion.