ANTH 4751 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Brahmavihara, Vyuha, Bhakti Movement
Document Summary
Darsan, seeing the divine image in india [eck] In hindu tradition, refers to religious seeing or visual perception of the sacred. They go to "see" the image of the deity. Central act of hindu worship is to stand in the presence of the deity and to behold the image with one"s own eyes to see and be seen by the deity. Beholding the image is an act of worship, and through the eyes one gains the blessings of the divine. Pilgrimage is for the darsan of the place of pilgrimage or for the darsan of its famous deities. Sacred sightseers interested in the powerful place where darsan may be had. Beautiful places are called tirthas (sacred fords or crossings), dhams (divine abodes), or pithas (the benches or seats of the divine) Natural extension of the desire for the darsan of the divine image, which is at the heart of all temple worship.