Privacy Policy

Welcome to VedicMala (वैदिकमाला). We built this app to support your daily sadhana — jaap counting, sacred mantras, chalisa, aarti, devotional reading, streaks, and peaceful reminders. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have. By using the app, you agree to the practices described here.

VedicMala works without requiring an account. Most of your sadhana data stays on your device. If you optionally sign in with Google, we also store a cloud backup of selected practice data in Firebase.

• Practice data: jaap counts, daily goals, streaks, session history, favorites, and achievements.
• Profile preferences: display name, avatar choice, theme, sound, vibration, and notification settings.
• Reminders: titles and scheduled times you configure for sadhana alerts.
• Device permissions: notification permission (for reminders and optional push messages), and vibration for mala tap feedback.
• Technical data: basic in-app event logging on your device to improve stability and experience.
• Push messaging token: if you allow notifications, Firebase Cloud Messaging may assign a device token so we can deliver devotional reminders or updates.
• Optional Google account: if you choose "Continue with Google", we receive your Google account email, display name, and profile photo URL from Google for sign-in.
• Optional cloud backup: if signed in, we store practice summaries in Google Firebase Firestore, including streaks, levels, catalog mantra counts, achievements, daily goal, avatar choice, and your FCM token for push delivery.

We use collected information only to operate and improve VedicMala:

• Track your jaap progress, streaks, statistics, and daily goals on your device.
• Back up selected practice data to the cloud when you sign in with Google.
• Deliver local reminders and optional push notifications you have enabled.
• Personalize the app experience (theme, reader font size, mala sounds).
• Show devotional content such as mantras, chalisa, and aarti.
• Understand which features are used so we can improve the app responsibly.

Your practice history, settings, reminders, favorites, and custom mantras are stored locally on your phone using Hive, an on-device database. This local data remains available even if you do not sign in. Custom mantras you create are kept only on your device and are not uploaded to our cloud backup.

Signing in with Google is completely optional. You can skip it during onboarding or never use it and still enjoy full local sadhana features.

• When you sign in, we create or update a profile in Firebase Firestore linked to your Google account.
• Cloud backup may include: email, display name, profile avatar, practice totals, streaks, levels, daily counts, catalog mantra completion counts, achievements, daily jaap goal, and FCM token.
• Custom mantras, custom mantra text, and other user-created mantra entries are not uploaded to Firebase.
• You can delete your cloud account anytime from Profile → Delete Account, which removes your Firestore profile and Firebase Authentication record.
• Deleting your account does not automatically erase local data on your device; uninstalling the app removes local storage.

If you enable notifications, the app schedules local alerts for your sadhana reminders. With your permission, we may also send occasional devotional or product updates through Firebase Cloud Messaging. You can turn notifications off anytime from device settings or from VedicMala Settings.

VedicMala may use trusted third-party services that process limited technical data under their own privacy policies:

• Google Firebase (Authentication, Cloud Firestore, and Cloud Messaging).
• Google Sign-In for optional account linking.
• Apple App Store / Google Play for app distribution, ratings, and updates.
• Device OS services for notifications, haptics, and local storage.

You remain in control of your data:

• Use VedicMala without signing in, or optionally sign in with Google for cloud backup.
• Adjust sound, vibration, theme, and notification preferences in Settings.
• Delete reminders you no longer need from Manage Reminders.
• Delete your Google-linked cloud account from Profile → Delete Account.
• Uninstall the app to remove locally stored practice data from your device.
• Contact us to ask questions about this policy or request support.

VedicMala is a family-friendly devotional app. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. If you believe a child has provided personal information, please contact us and we will take appropriate steps.

We may update this Privacy Policy when we add features or when laws change. The "Last updated" date at the top will reflect the latest version. Continued use of the app after changes means you accept the revised policy.

For privacy questions or support related to VedicMala, reach us at vedicmala@gmail.com. We aim to respond to genuine inquiries within a reasonable time.