Looking at the murti (statue) of God or the guru with devotion and reverence is known as darshan. "seeing" the deity and being "seen" by the deity is the essence of darshan. Firstly, one should focus on the murti and refrain from looking at anyone or anything. Thereafter one should engage oneself in doing darshan of every part of God's murti, one at a time, from face to feet. After each darshan try to internalize the murti within one's heart.

The ritual is refreshing and enriching experience that calm the senses, pacifices and enthuses the mind, and elevater the soul.

Darshan means "seeing the murti of God or the living guru with devotion and reverence. Since tghe murti of God is the soul of the mandir the ritual of darshan in Hinduism is of paramount importance for the pious. Furthermore, while having darshan of the deity one is also graced by being "seen" by the deity. "Seeing" the deity and being "seen" by the deity is the essence of darshan.

The Hindu shastras prescribe an ideal method of doing darshan. First one should focus one's eyes on murti, refraining from looking at anything or anyone, and absorb the divinity and beauty of his form. Then think of oly God's glory in one's mind and abstain from anymundane thoughts. Thereafter do darshan of every part of God's murti one at a time, from face to feet. Firstly, focus on the deity's eyes, then the eyebrows, nose, lips and the entire face. Thereafter try to internalize the darshan of God's face into one's mind and heart. After doing darshan of the murti part by part do darshan of the entire murti, absorbing the deity's form in one's mind.

God revealed that by merely looking physically at God's murti for 100,000 years one cannot attain sakshatkar (God-realization) unless one contemplates and repeatedly remembers the deity in one's mind.

The pious also pray while doing darshan. The entire ritual is a refreshing and enriching experience that calms the eyes, purifies the mind and elevates the soul.