Anisha Riggs
Incense is used in many different religious ceremonies and rites. In Buddhism, it is regarded as a divine odour, meant to evoke the presence of Buddhist divinities. Buddhist temples use stick incense, loose incense, or thick coiled incense, hung from the ceiling or on special stands. Tibetan incense, crafted according to traditional Tibetan medicine, is said to have healing properties, while Japanese incense is more subtle and less smoky. In Taoist and Shinto shrines, stick incense is placed horizontally into censers on top of the ash. Incense is also used in Christian worship, where it is interpreted as a symbol of the faithful's prayers rising to heaven. In Judaism, the composition and usage of incense are described in the Talmud and rabbinic literature, and it is used in the Havdalah ceremony ending the Sabbath. Incense has been used in India since 3,600 BC and is offered to Hindu gods in the form of Krishna and Rama.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Incense type | Stick, cone, loose, thick coils, coreless or "solid", bamboo core, Japanese, Tibetan, Indian, Korean |
| Incense holders | Bowl, censer, brazier, box, stands |
| Incense fillers | Ash, sand, uncooked rice |
| Incense use | Purification, meditation, offerings, prayer, worship, special ceremonies, funerals, paying respects to ancestors, warding off bad luck |
| Incense symbolism | Divine odour, presence of Buddhist divinities, assembly of buddhas, bodhisattvas, gods, demons, prayers of the faithful rising to heaven, communion between humans and celestial beings |
| Incense ingredients | Benzoin resin, resin from the Commiphora wightii tree, aloeswood, sandalwood |
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What You'll Learn
Incense is used as a meditation timer
Incense is used in a variety of religious and spiritual contexts, including in temples. In Buddhism, for example, incense is regarded as a "divine odour", evoking the presence of Buddhist divinities. It is also used in Taoist, Shinto, Hindu, and Christian traditions.
Incense has been used in temples for centuries, with stick incense being the most common type used in Buddhist temples. This type of incense is often placed in a bowl filled with old incense ash, and it can be used as a meditation timer due to its consistent burn time. The length of a meditation session can thus be determined by the length of the incense stick, with some manufacturers providing estimated burn times.
In Buddhist and Taoist cultures, incense is burned to commemorate various occasions, such as funerals, special ceremonies, daily prayers, paying respects to ancestors, and warding off bad luck. It is also used as an offering to deities or ancestors, with worshippers waving or raising the incense sticks above their heads while bowing.
The use of incense in temples is not limited to stick incense. In some Asian temples, large coils of burning incense are hung from the ceilings or placed on special stands. There is also loose incense, which is burned by dropping grains of incense onto hot charcoal, and coreless or "solid" incense, which is more appropriate for Buddhism because it burns completely away.
The specific types of incense used in temples vary widely, with Japanese incense known for its subtler fragrance and less smoke, and Tibetan incense for its strong, earthy fragrance and purported healing properties. The concentration of aloeswood in Japanese incense is also a marker of quality, with higher concentrations indicating finer incense.
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Burning incense is a way to commemorate occasions like funerals and ceremonies
Incense is burned in many religious and spiritual traditions, including Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. In Buddhist and Taoist cultures, incense is burned to commemorate various occasions, including funerals, special ceremonies, and daily prayers. The burning of incense is believed to purify the space and create a tranquil and sacred atmosphere suitable for worship or meditation.
In Buddhist temples, incense is often used as a meditation timer, with the length of the stick determining how long the meditation will be. Three sticks burned together represent the Three Jewels or Treasures of Buddhism: the Buddha, his teachings, and the community of Buddhist monks. The smoke from the incense is believed to symbolise the presence of Buddhist divinities, linking Heaven and Earth and allowing entry into the presence of God.
In Taoist and Buddhist temples, the inner spaces are scented with thick coiled incense hung from the ceiling or 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 ancestor.
Incense is also used in Hindu rituals, where it is offered to God in his various forms, such as Krishna and Rama. In Christian worship, incense may be used at the celebration of the Eucharist, at funerals, and in the blessing of new churches, cemeteries, and sacred items. In Judaism, incense was used in the ancient Temple as part of daily offerings and on special occasions, and some Jewish communities still use incense during certain prayers to connect with their spiritual heritage.
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Incense is used in purification rituals
Incense is used in a variety of religious contexts for purification rituals. In Buddhism, incense is regarded as a "divine odour", evoking the presence of Buddhist divinities. Buddhist and Taoist cultures burn incense to commemorate occasions such as funerals, ceremonies, daily prayers, and paying respects to ancestors. In Buddhist temples, the inner spaces are scented with thick coiled incense hung from the ceiling or on special stands. Worshippers light and burn incense sticks, waving or raising them above their heads while bowing to statues or plaques of deities or ancestors.
In Japanese Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, incense sticks are placed horizontally into censers on top of the ash, as the sticks lack a supporting core. The use of incense in Christianity is inspired by passages in the Bible, with its use in prayer and worship carrying Christian symbolism. The smoke of burning incense is interpreted by Western Catholic and Eastern Christian churches as a symbol of the faithful's prayers rising to heaven. Incense is also used in the Havdalah ceremony ending the Sabbath in Judaism, and in Mandaeism, incense is offered on stands called kinta to establish laufa (communion) between humans and celestial beings during rituals.
Tibetan incense, crafted according to traditional Tibetan medicine recipes, is said to have healing properties and is used for purification. Japanese and Korean incense is made in the tradition of old-world Japan, with most having a sandalwood base and the finest varieties having an aloeswood base. The higher the concentration of aloeswood, the finer the incense and the more exotic the scent.
In India, incense has been used since 3,600 BC and is a traditional practice in Hindu pujas, prayers, and worship. Incense is offered to God in his various forms, such as Krishna and Rama, by rotating the sticks thrice in a clockwise direction. This practice is still common in modern-day India and among Hindus worldwide.
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Incense is offered to God in Hindu traditions
Incense has been used in religious ceremonies for millennia, with the first recorded use by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC. In the Hindu tradition, incense or 'agarbatti' in local parlance, is an integral part of worship and ritual. The act of lighting incense is symbolic, representing the element of fire, one of the five essential elements in Hinduism, alongside earth, water, wind, and ether (or space). The smoke from the burning incense represents the ether, carrying prayers and intentions to the heavens.
Incense is commonly used in Hindu temples and homes during 'puja' ceremonies, a form of worship that involves offering light, water, flowers, and incense to deities. The sweet fragrance of the incense is believed to attract and please the deities, who bestow their blessings through the presence of the divine aroma. The use of incense in Hindu rituals is thus not merely about creating a fragrant atmosphere but is steeped in spiritual symbolism. It represents a selfless offering and a means to sanctify the environment, facilitating a connection between the temporal and the divine.
The tradition of burning incense in Hinduism is also associated with the concept of purification, both of the physical space and the individual's psyche. The aroma of incense is believed to possess healing powers, soothing the mind, and facilitating deeper concentration during prayers and meditation. This calming effect underscores the importance of incense in Hindu spiritual practices, where it is used not only in ceremonies but also as a daily air freshener, integrating the sacred into everyday life.
In addition to its spiritual significance, the use of incense in ancient India was also influenced by the cultural depth and sophistication of fragrance blending. The Kamasutra, for example, elaborates on "Gandhayukti", the art of perfume blending, highlighting the integral role of fragrances in ancient Indian society. The use of incense in Hindu traditions is, therefore, a continuation of these ancient practices, weaving together the sacred and the sensory.
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Buddhists regard incense as a divine odour
Buddhists regard incense as a "divine odour" and its use in Buddhist temples is a way to create a sense of peace and sanctity. The tradition of incense burning has been practised in many Asian countries, such as China, Thailand, and Korea. It is an ancient practice found in all schools of Buddhism, with incense mentioned frequently in the Pali Canon, scriptures that date back to the life of the Buddha.
Offering incense at an altar is a universal Buddhist custom. Buddhists regard incense as a "divine odour", and its smell is meant to evoke the presence of Buddhist divinities. Burning incense sticks works as a sensory way to sanctify the space and offer behaviours with mindfulness and awareness. Incense is believed to purify a space used for meditation, creating a tranquil mood.
The use of incense in Buddhist rituals is considered essential for shaping religiosity. In Buddhist and Taoist cultures, incense is burned to commemorate various occasions, including funerals, special ceremonies, daily prayers, paying respects to ancestors, and warding off bad luck.
There are different types of incense used in Buddhist temples. The most common type is stick incense, which is usually made with a bamboo core. However, coreless or solid incense is more appropriate for Buddhism because it burns completely away. Huge coils of burning incense are also sometimes suspended from the ceilings of some Asian temples.
The correct way to light incense is to first light a candle, and then light the incense from the candle. It is considered disrespectful to blow out the flame, and the correct practice is to wave the incense stick to put it out or fan the flames with the hands. The incense sticks are then placed in special bowls filled with old incense ash, or uncooked rice.
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Frequently asked questions
In Buddhist temples, stick incense is most commonly used, but loose incense is also burned by dropping grains of incense onto hot charcoal. There are two kinds of stick incense: coreless or "solid" incense, and incense with a bamboo core. The incense used in Buddhist temples is often crafted according to traditional recipes of Tibetan medicine and is said to have healing properties, especially for relieving stress.
Thick coiled incense is used in Chinese Taoist temples, and is either hung from the ceiling or placed on special stands.
In Japanese Shinto shrines, sticks of incense are placed horizontally into censers on top of the ash, as they lack a supporting core.
