Darshan and Hindu Veneration of Images
Darshan (also spelled Darsan) is an important aspect of Hindu worship. It refers to viewing an image of a deity. "A Hindu goes to a temple" writes historian Daniel Boorstin, "not to worship" but rather for darshan Darsan is a two-way flow of vision. While the devotee sees his god, so too the god sees the devotee, and the two make contact through their eyes. In the building of a new temple.
The importance given
darshan can be appreciated by the attention that is sometimes lavished on
images that are worshiped. In large temples where there are a large number of
attendants, the image is woken up in the morning and washed, fed and prepared
with flowers and incense before it is placed on its throne in the shrine room.
