Darśana

Darśana (also darśan or darshan) is the auspicious sight of a deity or a holy person.

The term also refers to six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy, their literature on spirituality and soteriology.

Etymology and definition

Darśana, also darśan or darshan, Sanskrit: दर्शन from a root dṛś "to see", vision, apparition, or glimpse.

Darshan is "auspicious sight" of a holy person, which bestows merit on the person who is seen. "Sight" here seeing or beholding, and being seen or beheld, at the same time.

It is most commonly used for theophany, "manifestation / visions of the divine" in Hindu worship, e.g. of a deity (especially in image form), or a very holy person or artifact. One can "receive" darshana or a glimpse of the deity in the temple, or from a great saintly person, such as a great guru.

In the sense "to see with reverence and devotion," the term translates to hierophany, and could refer either to a vision of the divine, or to being in the presence of a highly revered person. In this sense it may assume a meaning closer to audience: "by doing darshan properly a devotee develops affection for God, and God develops affection for that devotee."