Katrina Rosales
Incense is an aromatic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt. It has been used for centuries in religious worship across the world, including in Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Taoist, Shinto, and Buddhist contexts. The use of incense in worship is thought to have originated in antiquity, with the first recorded use of incense by the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC, and evidence of its use in ancient Egypt around 2400 BC. Incense is often used as a sacrificial offering to deities or spirits, or as an aid in prayer, and is believed to have spiritual and symbolic significance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First use | Indians in the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC |
| First use outside Asia | Egyptians in the Fifth Dynasty, 2345-2494 BC |
| Use in Christianity | Inspired by passages in the Bible; used since antiquity |
| Use in Jewish worship | Used in the Temple by John the Baptist's father, Zechariah |
| Use in Catholic worship | Used to purify the coffin at funerals and to bless statues and images |
| Use in Taoist worship | Used in Chinese Taoist temples, scented with thick coiled incense hung from the ceiling or on stands |
| Use in Buddhist worship | Used in East Asian Buddhist ceremonies and rites |
| Use in Shinto worship | Used in Japanese Shinto shrines for the deity Inari Okami, or the Seven Lucky Gods |
| Use in Hindu worship | Used since 3600 BC; offered to gods such as Krishna and Rama |
| Use in Babylonia | Used while offering prayer or divining oracles |
| Use in ancient China | Used before 2000 BC |
| Purpose | To purify, sanctify, and drive away demons; to manifest the presence of the gods and to gratify them |
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What You'll Learn
Incense as a spiritual offering
Incense has been used in religious contexts for millennia, with the first recorded use of incense by the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC. In the context of worship, incense is often used as a spiritual offering to various deities or spirits, or to serve as an aid in prayer.
In ancient India, incense was offered to gods such as Krishna and Rama, and this practice remains commonplace throughout modern-day India and among Hindus worldwide. The use of incense in Chinese Taoist and Buddhist temples is also well-documented, with worshippers lighting and burning sticks of incense in small or large bundles, which they wave or raise above their heads while bowing to statues or plaques of a deity or ancestor.
Incense is also used in Christian worship, with its use inspired by passages in the Bible. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Lutheran churches, and Anglican churches, incense is used at virtually every service. The smoke of burning incense is interpreted by both the Western Catholic and Eastern Christian churches as a symbol of the prayer of the faithful rising to heaven.
The use of incense as a spiritual offering is also prevalent in Judaic worship, with the practice mentioned in Psalm 141:2: "Let my prayer be incense before you; my uplifted hands, an evening offering".
The act of burning incense is believed to purify the surrounding area, driving away negative energies and creating a positive atmosphere. It is also thought to manifest the presence of gods and to gratify them with its pleasant aroma.
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Incense in Christian worship
The use of incense in Christian worship has a long history, dating back to biblical times. Incense has been used by Christians since antiquity, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Catholic Church, Orthodox Christian churches, Lutheran Churches, Old Catholic/Liberal Catholic Churches, and some Anglican Churches.
The practice of burning incense is believed to have originated in antiquity, with the first recorded use by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilization around 3600 BC. The Egyptians also used incense around 2400 BC, and it was introduced to the Roman Empire through trade routes from Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The use of incense in religious worship is thus millennia older than Christianity.
The use of incense in Christian worship was likely influenced by its presence in Jewish worship, as the first Christians were Jews. In the Old Testament, God instructed Moses to build an altar of incense in the Tabernacle, the traveling temple of God. The Book of Exodus recounts these instructions, stating that an altar of acacia wood for burning incense should be built beside the altar of sacrifice (Exodus 30:1). Aaron was commanded to burn fragrant incense on the altar every morning and evening (Exodus 30:7-8).
Incense was also used in the Temple in Jerusalem during the First and Second Temple periods, as mentioned in the Talmud and the Bible. The use of incense in Jewish worship continued long after the beginning of Christianity, influencing its adoption by the Catholic Church in liturgical celebrations. However, there is no specific timeframe for when incense was introduced into Christian religious services, and it was not present in early Christian practices due to its association with pagan sacrifices and honoring the emperor as a deity.
It was not until the 4th or 5th century that incense started to be used again in ordinary Christian worship. The use of incense increased in the East and West, and its connection with the Book of Revelation became more apparent. The apostle John's vision of worship in heaven, where elders hold "gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones" (Revelation 5:8), reinforced the symbolism of incense as a representation of prayer.
Today, incense is used in Christian worship during the celebration of the Eucharist, solemn celebrations of the Divine Office, funerals, benediction, and the consecration of churches or altars, among other services. It is seen as a symbol of prayer, sanctification, and purification, with the smoke representing the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven. The visual imagery and fragrance of incense create a sense of solemnity and mystery, connecting our senses to our lives as people of faith and reminding us of the transcendence of the Mass, which links heaven and earth.
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Incense in Jewish worship
The use of incense in worship is an ancient practice, with evidence of its use in ancient Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, Greece, and Rome. The burning of incense, or "mugmar", was also a custom among noble Jews after meals.
Incense played a significant role in ancient Jewish worship, with references to its use found in the Hebrew Bible, Talmud, and other Jewish literature. The offering of incense was a part of the sacrificial rituals performed by priests in the Tabernacle and the Temple in Jerusalem. According to the Talmud, the House of Avtinas was responsible for preparing the incense during the Second Temple period. The exact recipe for the incense was a closely guarded secret, known only to a few, to prevent its use in the worship of foreign gods.
The Book of Exodus lists four components of the incense, while the Talmud lists an additional seven ingredients from the oral Torah. The rabbis of the Talmud taught that the incense mixture contained 368 mina, corresponding to the days of the solar year, with half used in the morning and half in the afternoon. On Yom Kippur, the Kohen Gadol would bring two handfuls of incense into the Holy of Holies.
The burning of incense was performed twice daily, in the morning and evening, by the priests. It was offered on a special incense altar located at the end of the Holy compartment of the Tabernacle, next to the curtain dividing it from the Most Holy. The priests would carry the incense in a pan ("maḥtah") in their right hand, along with a spoon-like vessel called a "kaf" containing the incense, and a censer or fire holder with coals in their left hand.
The practice of burning incense in synagogues emerged after the destruction of the Temple, as a way to commemorate the incense used in the former Temple rites. This custom continued until the Middle Ages, and even until the 19th century in some Jewish communities, particularly on festive occasions and to convey respect.
The use of incense in Jewish worship holds symbolic meanings. Some believe it served to purify the air and mask the odours of sacrificed animals, while others suggest it was used to ward off evil spirits and demons or to atone for sins. The act of burning incense also contributed to the festive atmosphere on Sabbaths and holidays, enhancing the prayer experience and honouring the sacred space.
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Incense in Hindu worship
Incense has been used in India since 3600 BCE and is an integral part of Hindu worship. Hindus have been using incense for centuries, dating back to the 5th Egyptian Dynasty (2345-2494 BCE). The use of incense in Hindu worship is believed to have originated from the belief that the natural aromas of the incense have healing powers and can help improve one's mood and focus the mind. The calming effect of the incense aroma is said to create an auspicious setting for rituals by filling the air with a pleasant smell. This ritual also represents the human virtue of sacrificing oneself for society.
Incense is used in daily Hindu prayer rituals and is one of the five offerings made to deities, known as dhūpa. The other offerings are puṣpa (flowers), dīpa (lamps), and nivedya (food). During rituals, an incense stick is lit and rotated thrice in a clockwise direction to create a pleasant aroma in the air. This practice is still common in modern-day India and among Hindus worldwide.
The oldest textual source on incense use is the Vedas, specifically the Atharva-veda and the Rigveda, which describe a uniform method of making incense. The Mahabharata classifies incense into three types: niryasa (resins), sarin (heartwoods from various plants), and kritrima (artificially produced ingredients). The practice of using incense as a healing tool was eventually incorporated into religious practices, including Hinduism and Buddhism.
In Hinduism, the aroma of the incense is believed to have a spiritual significance beyond its practical use as an air freshener. The burning of the incense stick represents the human virtue of self-sacrifice, as the stick burns itself completely to fill the air with a pleasant fragrance.
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Incense in Buddhist worship
The use of incense in Buddhism is an ancient tradition, with incense mentioned frequently in the Pali Canon, scriptures that date back to the life of the Buddha. Incense is burned at Buddhist altars across the world, and its use is considered a universal custom.
Incense is offered as a sign of respect, and it is believed that the aroma evokes the presence of Buddhist divinities. It is also used to symbolically purify the place of worship, such as a meditation hall or temple, and to aid in meditation. In some Asian temples, huge coils of incense are suspended from the ceilings. However, stick and cone incense are more commonly used in the West, with the former being more popular due to its longer burn time. The standard practice is to light a candle first, then light the incense from the candle, before bowing to the Buddha with palms pressed together. In Asia, it is considered disrespectful to blow out the flame, so the incense may be waved to extinguish it, or it may be left to burn completely.
There are two types of stick incense: coreless or "solid" incense, which burns away completely, and incense with a bamboo core, which is more commonly used. Incense can also be burned indirectly by dropping grains onto hot charcoal, or directly, by lighting the end of the stick. Direct-burning incense is more familiar to most people and easier to use, as it can be lit with a flame and then blown out, smouldering until it is submerged in water, sand or dirt to extinguish it. Indirect burning incense, on the other hand, cannot burn on its own and requires a constant heat source.
The different schools of Buddhism have their own rituals and ceremonies involving incense. For example, in Jodo Shinshu, people may offer incense whenever visiting a temple, and also at services. The protocol varies, but incense is usually offered with a bow and a prayer. In some traditions, the incense is placed standing in burners, while in others, it is placed lying down.
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Frequently asked questions
In Taoist and Buddhist temples, the inner spaces are scented with thick coiled incense, hung from the ceiling or placed on special stands. Worshippers light and burn sticks of incense in small or large bundles, waving or raising them above their heads while bowing to statues or plaques of a deity or an ancestor.
Incense is used in Christian churches, including the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East, Oriental Orthodox, Lutheran, and Old Catholic denominations, as well as in some Methodist, Continental Reformed, Presbyterian, and Anglican churches. It is used during the celebration of the Eucharist, at solemn celebrations of the Divine Office, funerals, and benediction, among other services.
The use of incense in Christianity is inspired by passages in the Bible, and it carries symbolic meaning. The smoke of burning incense is interpreted by both the Western Catholic and Eastern Christian churches as a symbol of the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven.
The use of incense in Jewish worship continued long after the beginning of Christianity and influenced its use in the Catholic Church. Incense was forbidden in the Old Testament as it was associated with pagan worship, but it was later used in the Temple by John the Baptist's father, Zechariah, a priest of the Jewish religion.
The use of incense in religious worship started more than 2,000 years before Christianity. The first recorded use of incense was in India as part of the Indus Valley Civilisation around 3600 BC. Incense was also used in ancient China before 2000 BC and in ancient Egypt around 2400 BC.
