Darshan...

What is darshan [aka darsan]? Diana L. Eck writes in Darsan: Seeing the Divine Image in India: The central act of Hindu worship...is to stand in the presence of the deity and to behold the image with ones own eyes, to see and by seen by the deity....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 blessing of the divine.

I was reminded of this practice at an Ani Difranco concert this past weekend. So here's an image for Gail Ann Dorsey.