How VAMA Is Tapping Into India's $58.6 Bn Spiritual Tech Market

Imagine this. A mother and her child participate in a puja from their Delhi home while a revered priest chants mantras, performs havan and conducts the puja rituals live from a centuries-old temple in southern India — all seamlessly connected via a video call. Elsewhere, devotees opt for virtual darshans across holy sites and seek blessings without leaving the comfort of their homes.

This is more than tech convenience. It is spiritual tech at its best, where traditions and rituals converge with digital innovations, creating new pathways that override physical distances and redefine sacred connections.

Of late, the popularity of online astrology and e-puja services has surged. Globally, the spiritual products and servicesmarket is projected to reach $249 Bn by 2032, up from $180.2 Bn in 2024. In India alone, the religious and spiritual market reached $58.6 Bn in 2024 and is growing at aCAGR of 10%. It is expected to surpass $151.9 Bn by 2034.

The appeal of astrology has added to this business boom. At some point in life, nearly everyone turns to their horoscope in search of spiritual guidance. This widespread curiosity has made the ancient practice the perfect centrepiece for spiritual tech innovation.

Given this landscape, tech-driven startups like VAMA (Virtual Astrology and Mandir App) are redefining spiritual experiences by offering a 360-degree ecosystem. The platform enables e-puja, e-darshan,and expert astrological guidance with just a few clicks or taps.

Behind VAMA are two founders: Aacharya Dev, a third-generation astrologer, and Manu Jain, a seasoned telecom professional with extensive experience in business strategy. They started VAMA with a shared passion to merge ancient wisdom with modern tech.

“The idea came when we wanted to merge my experience in astrology with modern technology, creating a bridge between timeless wisdom and contemporary convenience,” Aacharya Dev told Inc42 during a telephonic interaction, originally recorded in Hindi and later translated to English.

The founders’ combined expertise helped them carve a niche in a largely unorganised spiritual tech market. While Jain brought sharp business acumen to the startup, Aacharya Dev’s astrological legacy laid the foundation.

To date, VAMA has conducted more than 5 lakh e-pujas and e-chadavas and expanded to 20+ Tier I and II cities, carefully balancing tradition with innovation. While the e-rituals remain rooted to the tradition and mirror all offline practices, the digital platform makes them accessible to a global audience, whether one is a businesswoman from Delhi booking a quick puja between two pivotal meetings or an NRI in New York seeking to get her new home blessed by a temple in Udupi, her hometown.

Having raised nearly INR 28 Cr from the likes of Wavemaker Partners, Huddle Ventures, and Lisa Gokongwei, VAMA positions itself as a marketplace for spiritual products and services. Users can explore VAMA Mall for products like Hanuman Gada and access a wide range of spiritual services. With 2 Mn+ app downloads and 2 Lakh paid users, the startup is eyeing a 100% revenue increase in FY26 from INR 24 Cr in the previous fiscal year.

In a candid conversation with Inc42, Aacharya Dev shares his insights regarding the booming spiritual services market and where VAMA fits in. Unlike the majority of tech founders in the ecosystem, Aacharya Dev stands out with his unique background in astrology and ancient vedic principles, yet he’s disrupting one of India’s most exciting emerging sectors – spiritual tech. From the latest trends to the future of digital spirituality, he explores the forces shaping this age-old yet swiftly evolving sector.

Here are the edited excerpts.

Inc42: Tell us more about your learning and professional journey. Why did you choose astrology in the first place?

Acharya Dev: Well, I am a third-generation astrologer. Growing up in Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), I learnt the ropes from my father and grandfather, absorbing Vedic principles like a second language.

In addition, I pursued formal training in this field, earning certification from the Indian Council of Astrological Sciences (ICAS). Later, I received an [honorary] doctorate in astrological science from the American University of Global Peace (AUGP) for my contribution to global harmony promoted through astrological guidance.

With years of hands-on experience, I have analysed more than 50K birth charts, helping people navigate life’s challenges. My journey has been shaped by both ancestral wisdom and formal education, a combination that has defined my career.

Inc42: What inspired you to launch a spiritual tech startup with Manu Jain, your cofounder? Did you always believe that the project had huge potential?

Aacharya Dev: The concept of VAMA came when I collaborated with telecom giants Airtel and Vodafone and observed a fundamental shift. I would say people’s spiritual needs always remain constant. But the way they accessed these services was changing at the time. That was when Jain came in, and we decided to set up VAMA, a platform designed to bring authentic spiritual experiences to people wherever they are, leveraging the power of technology.

The pandemic was a catalyst. Devotees looked for virtual avenues, but options were limited. The market gap revealed an opportunity, though. We could move these sacred practices online without diluting their essence and value.

With decades of experience in astrology and a team of like-minded cofounders, we set out to build VAMA with a clear mission: Easy digital access to temples and expert astrologers, with everything at users’ fingertips.

Of course, every new venture carries a certain degree of uncertainty, but I was confident about its potential from the outset. The early response was incredibly encouraging. Thousands of consultations and pujas were conducted online, reinforcing our belief that there is a growing demand for accessible, credible spiritual services in today’s digital landscape.

Inc42: Spiritual services are profoundly personal and carried out in person. What has been the biggest challenge in shifting these online? How does VAMA stand out?

Aacharya Dev: You are right. Spirituality is deeply personal. Temple visits are done in person, and we are more accustomed to face-to-face consultations with astrologers. However, the pandemic fast-tracked everything into a digital mould. When Covid-19 hit us, physical gatherings were cut off, but people still needed to do a traditional puja and required spiritual guidance. So, the digital shift happened almost overnight.

What began as a workaround quickly became a turning point — a tech revolution in the world of spirituality — with digital platforms offering virtual connections to ensure safety and convenience in uncertain times.

It created both challenges and opportunities. Spiritual services had to swiftly adapt to tech platforms without losing their essence. To bridge this gap, we partnered with renowned temples and verified astrologers, offering live sessions and transparent rituals that users could easily connect with.

What sets us apart is our end-to-end ecosystem, which offers a comprehensive spiritual experience, including live e-pujas, astrology consultations and temple services, all under one umbrella. Our focus on user trust, personalisation and innovation helps us stay ahead of our competitors.

Inc42: How many temples and astrologers are currently on the VAMA platform, and what’s next in terms of expansion? How do you curate astrologers?

Aacharya Dev: We have partnered with more than 250 temples spanning major pilgrimage sites and have 300+ verified astrologers. But that is just the beginning. Within the next two quarters, we aim to double our network, expanding regional coverage and linguistic diversity.

As global interest in Indian spirituality continues to rise, we see a significant opportunity to launch VAMA in key international markets like the US and Southeast Asia. We will tailor our offerings to meet the cultural and spiritual diversities of our users while upholding the traditional values and core principles that define our platform. The goal is to make VAMA the go-to digital destination for spiritual services worldwide.

Again, service authenticity and credibility form the bedrock of everything we do. Every astrologer undergoes a rigorous, multi-step vetting process at VAMA. First, we check their qualifications, certifications and years of experience. Then come one-to-one interviews and trial consultations to assess professional and communication skills.

User ratings and feedback are also monitored to ensure that every consultation is accurate and genuinely helpful, providing users with trustworthy and compassionate guidance.

Inc42: Can modern technology add value to traditional astrology? Do you envision AI-ML integration to power the platform?

Aacharya Dev: At VAMA, we seamlessly blend ancient wisdom with modern convenience. While the core principles of astrology are carefully preserved, we leverage technology to make these insights more accessible and user-friendly. Our biggest challenge is keeping the irreplaceable human connection in the digital space. To meet this requirement, we offer live consultations that retain the depth, nuance and integrity of traditional experiences, reimagined for connected lives and modern frameworks.

We have not yet integrated artificial intelligence and machine learning with our platform, but we are actively researching how emerging technologies can complement our services. Whether it is insightful analytics or personalised recommendation engines, we are exploring AI-ML applications to enhance the user experience.

Inc42: Spiritual tech is still evolving in India. How do you see its growth in the next two to three years?

Aacharya Dev: India’s spiritual tech industry, valued at $58.6 Bn in 2024, represents one of the most promising yet underserved digital transformation opportunities globally. This thriving sector is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10% and is expected to surpass $151.9 Bn by 2034, creating substantial opportunities for players like us.

The spiritual tech market encompasses several complementary verticals including religious tourism with digital platforms facilitating pilgrimages and virtual temple visits; ecommerce through online marketplaces for religious items and merchandise; content and media providing spiritual education, guided meditations, and religious programming; virtual products and services offering online rituals, digital offerings, and AI-assisted spiritual guidance; and wellness applications combining traditional wisdom with modern health approaches.

The market remains predominantly offline, with digital players capturing only a fraction of the potential. This creates a substantial “blue ocean” opportunity for companies that can effectively bridge traditional spiritual practices with modern technology. For startups like VAMA, which is targeting aggressive year-over-year revenue growth and profitability by 2026, the market conditions appear highly favourable.

As urban millennials and GenZ users increasingly seek personalised, convenient spiritual experiences, companies that can deliver authentic yet accessible solutions stand to capture substantial market share. With deep cultural roots and cutting-edge technology integration, VAMA is well-positioned to lead this transformation, offering new ways for people to experience astrology and temple services virtually while preserving the essence of India’s spiritual traditions.

Disclaimer: Astrology consultations on digital platforms should not be considered as the spread of superstition and pseudoscience. These are merely spiritual guidelines and cannot be used for any other purpose.

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