What if you're blind?

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 Reading about Darsán and its critical role in Hindu worship, made me think: what if you’re blind? There are other aspects to the rituals, yes, but if physically seeing the deity is such a central point, what replaces that aspect of worship when sight isn’t possible? Part of me hopes that there is something else that the visually impaired can do that fills the time during rituals that would be for Darsán, something that allows them to feel like they’re seeing the image of the deity, but that can be perceived with the other senses. I think that there probably isn’t any other specific activity that fills in for Darsán. In a lot of cases, rituals and types of worship are as much about the things you physically perceive as they are about the way those things make you feel. I would assume that if you’re blind, being in the presence of the image of the deity is enough and you focus more on the emotional aspect of the experience. Rather than physically seeing the image of the deity and participating in that religious experience, I think they find a similar experience in being mindful of being in the presence of that image. It would probably be difficult to create the same kind of religious experience when the original is based on vision and the person is blind, but I would think that most things are just that much more difficult without vision.

Comments

  1. Emerson McEvoyMay 12, 2022 at 9:04 AM

    This is an interesting point to consider! I wonder if, with Darsan, the other senses compensate and are enhanced because of the lack of vision.

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  2. Sarah McGrailMay 12, 2022 at 10:19 AM

    I would imagine that all other senses help fill in the gaps. Another thing is that people have probably described the deity to the blind person so they probably have an image in their head of what the god or goddess looks like.

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  3. Karina NovaisMay 12, 2022 at 4:09 PM

    This is a really interesting point and a concept that had never crossed my mind. In my blog post i discussed this group under hinduism called Arya Samaj which is a group that does not practice idol worship. Apparently they worship the idea of god, one being rather than multiple deities so i feel like maybe the blind might also fall under this?

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  4. Jonathan Brumberg-KrausMay 13, 2022 at 6:04 AM

    Great question! I suppose the deity still sees you. Maybe a blind person can see back through their "third eye" (i.e., a 6th sense).

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  5. Hana MemisevicMay 13, 2022 at 1:50 PM

    I love this blog post so much- this is something I have thought about a lot and is prevalent with a few of the senses- would religious scholars make the argument that you are any less religious or less connected to your religion if you are not fully able bodied?

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