darshan
(दर्शन ; darśaṇa)
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| (Language: Sanskrit) |
| Alternate Spellings: |
darsan, darsana, darśaṇa, darshana |
| Short Description: |
In Hinduism, literally, "seeing," "viewing," or "perceiving" |
| Long Description: |
Literally, “seeing” or “perceiving.” In Hinduism darshan refers to the perception of the ultimate Truth perhaps through one’s own experience or perhaps through such secondary means as seeing (thus experiencing the spiritual essence of) a guru, a saint , a holy site, or a sacred effigy. For example, Hindus speak of "having a darshan" when they are in the presence of a holy person and experience a state of interiorizing contemplation brought about by the presence of that person. Another meaning involves the various “points of view” or philosophical systems represented by the six main orthodox or classical schools of Hindu philosophy: (1) Nyāya (logic); (2) Vaisheshika (natural philosophy, or science); (3) Sānkhya (cosmology); (4) Yoga (science of union); (5) Pûrva-Mîmāmsā (meditation); and (6) Uttara-Mîmāmsā (Vedānta, or metaphysics); also the blessing derived from beholding a saint. |
| Example(s): |
From Frithjof Schuon’s essay “Intelligence and Character” in his book To Have a Center:
"To have the presentiment of the essences in things: this is the basis of the Hindu darshan, of the visual assimilation of celestial qualities; the ideal being the coincidence between an object that manifests beauty or spirituality and a subject gifted with nobleness and depth, hence gratitude. And this is also the quasi-alchemical meaning of sacred art in all its forms." |
| Source(s): |
The Essential Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, by Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, edited by Dr. Rama P. Coomaraswamy |
| Notes & References: |
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