darshana

Darshana, from the Sanskrit darśana meaning "a sight" or "view," is a term used in Indian philosophy and Hindu devotional practice. It denotes both the act of beholding a sacred object or person and the philosophical systems that present particular ways of knowing and interpreting reality.

In philosophy, darshana refers to the classic orthodox schools of Indian thought known as the shad-darshanas: Nyaya (logic and epistemology), Vaisheshika (atomism), Samkhya (metaphysics with dualism), Yoga (discipline and meditation allied with Samkhya), Mimamsa (ritual exegesis and dharma), and Vedanta (study of ultimate reality and knowledge). Vedanta itself contains major sub-schools, including Advaita, Vishishtadvaita, and Dvaita, each offering distinct interpretations of Brahman and liberation.

Some traditions speak of nav-darshana, nine views, which in some accounts includes both the six orthodox systems and three heterodox traditions such as Buddhism, Jainism, and Charvaka (materialist). In practice, Jainism and Buddhism are typically treated as separate philosophical streams with their own methodologies, rather than as mere branches of the Hindu darshanas.

Darshan also refers to the devotional act of sacred viewing in Hindu worship. Devotees seek a sight of a deity, guru, or sacred relic, and the experience is commonly believed to confer blessings or grace. Temples, rituals, and pilgrimage sites are arranged to facilitate meaningful darshan, underscoring the interplay between perception, devotion, and religious experience.

Overall, darshana encompasses both the experiential aspect of beholding the sacred and the intellectual frameworks through which adherents interpret existence, knowledge, and liberation.