Devotion – Darshan to the Divine

The Hindu Shastras explain darshan as a devotional practice. Looking at the murti (statue) of God and Goddess or the guru with devotion and reverence is known as darshan. “Seeing” the deity and been seen by the deity is the essence of darshan. Firstly, one should focus on the murti and refrain from looking at anyone or anything. Thereafter, one should engage oneself in doing darshan of every part of the Divine’s murti, one at a time, from face to feet. After each darshan try to internalize the murti within one’s heart.

The ritual is refreshing and an enriching experience that calms the senses, is fulfilling for the mind and emotions, and elevated the soul.

Darshan means “seeing the murti of the Creator or the living guru with devotion and reverence. Since the murti of the Divine is the soul of the mandir, the ritual of darshan in Hinduism is of parmount importance for the pious.

The Hindu shastras prescribe an ideal method of doing darshan. First one should focus one’s eyes on murti, refreaining from looking at anyone or anything, and absorb the divinity and beauty of the Divine within the form. Then think of only the Divine’s glory in one’s mind and abstain from any mundane thoughts, Therafter, do darshan with every part of the Creator’s murti at a time, from face to feet. Forstly, focus on the deity’s eyes, then the eyebrows, nose, lips, and the entire face. Thereafter, try to internalize the darshan of the Divine’s face. Thereafter, try to internalize the darshan of the Divine’s face into one’s mind.

It is thought in Hinduism that by merely looking physically at an image of the Divine murti for 100,000 years one cannot attain sakshakar (God/Goddess-realization) unless one contemplates and repeatedly remembers the deity in one’s mind.

The pious also pray while doing darshan. The entire ritual is a refreshing and enriching experience that calms the eyes, purifies the mind, and elevates the soul.