Photography, Contemplation, and the Worship of Sri Ramakrishna

Abstract

Examining the worship of Sri Ramakrishna's photograph provides insight into how a photograph becomes a sacrament—its status transformed from mundane to metaphysical. Sri Ramakrishna's image generates highly contemplative and interior experiences for his devotees. During the aarati worship service, the photograph is phenomenal. It is encountered on levels of bodily sensation that are the very substance of devotional activity—touching, tasting, hearing, smelling, and seeing. In particular, it is the act of devotional singing that finally renders the living presence of the photograph into something that can be experienced. The aarati hymns not only contain expressions of worship and faith. The very act of singing and making sound brings an immediacy to the experience of the living presence of Sri Ramakrishna's photograph.