Darśan: To See and Be Seen

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Darśan

To See & Be Seen

By Ava Barry


Darśan, a term that is seemingly unknown for may Americans who don't practice Hinduism. This term means to see or view a deity, sacred place, or sacred person and be seen back. Darśan is at the center-view of Hindu worship, for in Hinduism one believes that that the eyes are the windows to the divine. Images in Hinduism hold great meaning because the deities reside in the images of themselves. Moreover, images of deity's in your home must be taken care of by performing pūjā. The deities entrust themselves to the human to take care of them, and by doing this the people are given blessings. 

Image of the deity Shiva- creative commons license Shivacropped.jpg


" God is present in image, whether for a moment, for a week, or forever. It is this fact which is at the basis of darśan. People come to see because there is something powerful there to see. "
- Diana L. Eck

While I do not practice Hinduism, I can say that this act of seeing and being seen is universally a beautiful feeling. When you are speaking with someone and feel seen, that is a moment you remember and cherish. I can not imagine how empowering it must feel to be see and be seen by a deity whom you worship. Even if this was the sole fact you know about Hinduism, you will be able to tell how compassionate and full of love this religion is. 

When exploring my past memories to find one that connects with this notion of darśan, the image of the mustard seed popped into my head. I do not consider myself a very religious person, yet I have an unbreakable bound to the image and physical form of mustard seeds. 


I was first introduced to the mustard seed right after I was baptized (this is a little odd, but I was baptized at the age of 11, so I remember it pretty well). After me and my three sisters were all baptized together, we went to our house for a celebration. Here, my Nonna, the most incredible person I will ever have the pleasure of knowing, gave me this odd looking necklace with a dot on the end as a gift. All I could think is that this necklace was kinda weird, but then she started to explain. In Christianity, the mustard seed is a representation of how great things can come from the smallest amount of faith. That necklace is now the most beautiful and valuable thing I own. I will not even bring it to school in fear of misplacing it. You can see an image of it to the left, the mustard seed in in the ball at the bottom.                                                                                                                                                 Throughout the years, this image of a mustard seed has shifted for me. I now have more necklaces with a mustard seed in it, bracelets with mustard seeds, and a tattoo going all the way down my spine with the verse. As I am not actively practicing Christianity, the mustard seed to me means that even with the smallest amount of faith in myself, I can accomplish the unthinkable. In a way, I both see and feel seen by the mustard seed.                                                                                                                                                                                                       This connection to the mustard seed and my Nonna is one that I cherish, for they will always be linked. Last Christmas, I gave my Nonna earrings with the mustard seed in them, for the mustard seed will always be a representation of how much we believe in each other to do great things. The feeling I get while looking upon a mustard seed, I imagine, is similar to the feeling people practicing Hinduism get looking upon an image of a deity. To see and be seen is a beautiful thing. 

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