Darshan
Darshan is a Sanskrit and Hindu (also used to some extent in Urdu)
term meaning sight (in the sense of an instance of seeing something or
somebody), vision, apparition, or a glimpse. It is most commonly used
for visions of the divine; that is, of a god or a very holy person or
artifact. We could have a "darshan" of the deity in the temple (at the
gross level) or have a "darshan" in that inward eye of a light or
awareness (at a subtle plane). Sudarshan means a glimpse of the "self".
- In India people will travel hundreds of kilometres for the darshan,
the look, of a holy man or woman because this look is believed to
confer blessings. Conversely, looks of anger or envy are widely feared.
- "Darshan" means Seeing, derived from the root drsh= "to see" (compare Greek derkomai).
To see with reverence and devotion. The term is used specifically for
beholding highly revered people with the intention of inwardly
contacting and receiving their grace and blessings. "By doing darshan
properly a devotee develops affection for God, and God develops
affection for that devotee."
- In Indian culture, the touching of the feet (pranām or charaņasparsh)
is a show of respect and it is often an integral part of darshan.
Children do touch the feet of their family elders while people of all
ages will bend to touch the feet of a great guru or the icon of a Hindu demigod (angel) or a form of God (such as Ram or Krishna).
- Vedanta darshan is also the philosophy of life as revealed in the Upanishads
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