Diana Eck, Harvard theologian, explores the significance of visual perception in Hindu worship through the concept of Darsan in her book Darsan: Seeing the Divine Image in India.
Darsan refers to the act of seeing or being seen by a deity through idols or sacred images in Hindu worship. Darsan itself comes from the Sanskrit word meaning “sight”; the experience of Darsan isn’t one-sided or passive but rather a reciprocal exchange between the devotee and the divine, wherein seeing and being seen by the deity forms a fundamentally spiritual interaction.
In her book, Eck focuses on the power of visual perception and symbols throughout this reciprocal exchange—she uses murti (sacred images or idols found in Hindu temples and home) as a case study, as such are believed to not just representations of the gods, but rather actual manifestations of divine presence. By looking upon murti, devotees thus seek to connect with the living, divine essence within the image, not just the art or craftsmanship itself.
Her bottom line is thus that sight is a primary mode of experiencing the divine in Hinduism, setting it apart from other religions and traditions that focus on hearing or speaking (think praying). Darsan, in turn, is the material form of this primary mode of divine interaction.
The mutual exchange of sight via Darsan is considered a blessing (sometimes called prasad) implicitly by symbolizing the devotees connection to the divine world. Darsan is powerful in its capacity to transform the normal (profane, in Durkheim’s words) act of seeing into extraordinary religious experiences that reinforce the sacredness of the physical world and the idea that the divine is not removed from material, physical existence.
So, hope that answers your question! You can check out my full Religion 101 article list (useful for studying, or just learning!) here.
