Smells and Bells

What should we see? What should we hold witness to?  "Since, in the Hindu understanding, the deity is present in the image, the visual apprehension of the image is charged with religious meaning. Beholding the image is an act of worship, and through the eyes one gains the blessings of the divine" (Eck, 3) After reading this quote, I started to think about the power of sight and what it means to see. According to Eck blessings are to be received through the eye; making the eye the orifice or connecting point in which the divine 'touches' a person. Te eye itself is an organ which depends on the brain's interpretations of the outside world. No matter the culture, a brain (normally) can see what is there - but can it feel what cannot be seen? Through the eye, the divine may be able to 'physically' touch, not the eye itself, but rather, the mind of the devout. Most know the phrase "eyes are the window to the soul" - so would the opening o...

On Friday I went to a hindu temple about 45 minutes away from the school. On the way there I started to get nervous. I was about to be seen by Sri Lakshmi (the goddess of good fortune). When I got to the temple we had to take off our shoes and wash our hands. I walked into the main chamber and was immediately taken aback by the number of gods and goddesses present. All of them had their own chamber that was decorated to their liking. I immediately recognized Shiva and upon later inspection found Krishna. I personally love Krishna very much and took a moment to pray to him.  The first thing that the priest did for Sri Lakshmi was offer her incense and sing a beautiful Sanskrit song to her. The priest brought around the Kum Kum and all present said their first name and the names of relatives that should also be blessed. Then it was time for Lakshmi's bath. She was bathed in water first, then milk and a third bath of turmeric water. Her third eye was covered in a Kum Kum paste and ...

In Rolf Nelson's lecture today, we discussed synesthetic perceptions, a topic we have touched on many times previously. I think our fascination with this topic is because synesthesia is a concrete example of how our perception can differ from other's and from reality. But who is to say that one reality is correct over another, especially when perception is so flawed and changing?  In Darsan: Seeing the Divine Image in India , perception is used as an intense form of worship. We learn of sight as a connection with others and the divine. The act of looking at a depiction of a deity is a way of linking oneself with that god, and vice versa. Essentially, I see the god, and the god sees me. This exchange is vulnerable and opening, and Hindu culture and religion equates this sight with honesty. The Brahmanas state that "the eye is the truth" (Eck 9), because the god sees the authenticity and reality of a person. Eck presents that "In India, as...