Darsan: Seeing the Divine Image in India

by Diana L. Eck

The role of the visual is essential to Hindu tradition and culture, but many attempts to understand India's divine images have been laden with misperceptions. "Darsan, " a Sanskrit word that means "seeing," is an aid to our vision, a book of ideas to help us read, think, and look at Hindu images with appreciation and imagination.

Genres: Religion, India, Nonfiction, Hinduism, Art, Spirituality, Philosophy

97 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1985

Reviews

[Mary D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read some of Eck’s Sacred Geography but it is massive but does provide excellent detail. This is a much smaller book covering Hindu worship and great if you don’t have the time for her longer books. For a non Hindu and Non Academic this is perfect.

[Grete · Rating 2 out of 5]

Informative but dull, monotonous book.

[Veronica Löwenbok · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tydlig, lättöverskådlig, intressant och ögonöppnande.

[Lisa Marques Jagemark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pedagogisk och djupgående, akademisk och respektfull. Och jävligt intressant!

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice surprise for me because it focused so much on the use of images in Hinduism and the power of looking, both of looking at something and even of being looked at. I'm pursuing two majors -- art history and comparative religion -- so this book addressed both loves for me. My favorite quote from it: "A picture . . . may be worth a thousand words, but we still need to know *which* thousand words."

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, though focused primarily on a single (important) characteristic of Hinduism in practice is probably the best introduction ever written to what Hinduism, in practice is like for those who are unfamiliar with that religion. Even those with some familiarity will benefit from how Eck treats how seeing in understood in a religious context in Hinduism. While useful as an academic book, this book is well suited to a non-academic audience.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darsan is one of the best books that I have ever read. Eck presents a concise and well written thesis about the practice of Hinduism. Anyone who has even a glimmer of interest in India and/or Hinduism should read this; it is magnificent!

[Devon O'shaughnessy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and informative look at the religions of India. I encourage anyone who is interesting in or confused be the seeming incongruous aspects of this belief system. Also, now I just want to go to India.

[T.Kay Browning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyable. I love these little, one topic insights into a religion, without an attempt to grab the whole breadth and depth of the religion.

[Darshan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was OK. I picked it up to understand the etymology behind my name that I share with the book's title.

It highlights how important visuals are in Hindu culture along with emphasizing how the worship of these images transcend exclusively visual boundaries in the mind of a Hindu worshipper. I felt that there is no singular pattern I could follow along with and the book is filled with Hindu culture specific jargon (which while explained in footnotes) that may be more off-putting for some readers. I would give this a pass. That said, I did learn about the 'Nabakalebara' at the Jagannath temple in Puri where the images of the deities are switched out in an elaborate ceremony every 19 (or so) years and that sounds pretty cool.

[Marsha Altman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a brief but excellent explanation for Westerners about how Hindu worship is done, and what it means to the worshippers. It's a complex topic that I've had trouble understanding in other texts, and while I wouldn't say that I understood everything in this one, the fact that I got most of it really speaks to its quality.

[Paul Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Provides a good overview of what you will see and what is important in Hindu temples. Book is 25 years old and feels a little dated at this point. Also, I was hoping for more explanation of the Hindu gods to understand their interactions with the temples.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear and enjoyable introduction to Hinduism.

[Jingjing Fan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very brief introduction, scarecely dealing with any academic issues in depth.

[Helena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinerande och förståeligt beskriver Diana L. Eck den hinduiska gudaskaran (som en bonus) och vördandet av densamma (som främsta syfte med boken).

[Sunil Kumar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather short.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kort och lättläst bok om det visuellas betydelse inom hinduismen. Jag läste den som kurslitteratur inom religionsvetenskap.

[Han · Rating 4 out of 5]

short and very informative

[Elizabeth Englander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish i had read this first

[Maggie Willer]

Totally forgot I read this for my hinduism class

[Mmetevelis · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my study of Hinduism I never understood the link between Indian metaphysics and daily worship - believing many teachers I had who argued that image worship was a kind of "contemplation for the common man." Eck does much to counter this by presenting darsan as the link between the Indian philosophical appreciation for the oneness of all being and the daily worship of murtis which sees that divine manifested in a discrete microcosmic space. This short book is a darsan in itself - a way of seeing into the rich highly textured religious tapestry of India that enlarges the reader's perspective and appreciation.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Early in the first chapter the author, Diane Eck, uses the kaleidoscope metaphor to describe the incredible diversity of the Hindu experience, and for the rest of the book, she skillfully reveals how the tapestry of Hindu shrines, processions, iconography, symbols, rituals, and more, all kaleidoscopically combine to give the devotee a vibrant and stunning visual revelation of the Divine, an experience which the Hindus call Darshan.

[Faaiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it did fairly well as an introduction to Hinduism. Although, it mainly highlights different acts of worship (puja), it is not a complete introduction to Hinduism and doesn't address a lot of issues. But what is does address, it gives a comprehensive analysis of and that makes it an interesting book. Overall, the writing was good too.

[Anna]

Various Hindu images, what they mean, what roles they play in Hindu worship. Short, interesting, accessible. Occasionally perhaps errs on the side of being too simplistic, or too wow-what-a-neat-foreign-religion-this-is.

[Mireille · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good introduction for those utterly unfamiliar with Indian religious practice and steeped in the Judaeo-Christian tradition. Eck relies heavily on drawing parallels and distinctions between the two traditions. Sometimes this is instructive, other times just irritating.

[Rose]

Sometimes the author seems to push reality ever so slightly to make her point, but overall it's very informative and easy to read. I had to read it for a class, and it goes by quickly, which makes it all the better.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book giving an overview on the religious practice of darsan. I was raised protestant and so the idea of divine images and relics was very foreign to me and this gave to a better understanding and its importance. A must-read for people interested in Indian culture or Indian art.

[Devi Bhakta · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extraordinary presentation of a complex topic in a clear and concise manner. Probably the first book I would recommend as an introduction to Hinduism as it is actually practiced and understood by Hindus.

[Dani]

So far just re-iterating things I've already learned and experienced. Fascinating, so far.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a lot of specific information, but it's a very interesting introduction to Hindu traditions of worship.