Antonio Mcgowan
Incense has been used in religious ceremonies for thousands of years, dating back to 3600 BC in the Indus Valley Civilisation. In the present day, it is used in Hindu, Taoist, Buddhist, Shinto, and Christian worship. Incense is burned as a symbolic or sacrificial offering to deities or spirits, or as an aid in prayer. Prasad incense, which means divine gift, is made from aromatic herbs, flowers, botanical gums and resins, spices, woods, and essential oils. It is advertised as promoting health, happiness, hope, wisdom, joy, harmony, energy, forgiveness, spirituality, purification, sacredness, love, clarity, awareness, knowledge, serenity, and more.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meaning | "Divine gift" |
| Use | Symbolic or sacrificial offering to deities or spirits, or as an aid in prayer |
| Ingredients | Aromatic herbs, fragrant flowers, botanical gums and resins, rare spices, exotic woods, essential oils |
| Effects | Gentleness, peace, emotional healing, optimism, happiness, energy, faith, trust, success, forgiveness, spirituality, purification, sacredness, joy, abundance, love, divinity, romance, creativity, good fortune, lightness, health, hope, wisdom, rejuvenation, calming, concentration, love, clarity, awareness, knowledge, serenity, purity, vitality, protection, discrimination |
| Religious use | Hinduism, Christianity, Chinese Taoism, Buddhism, Shintoism |
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What You'll Learn
Prasad incense is a 'divine gift'
The word "Prasad" translates to "divine gift" and is the name given to a type of incense. The name conveys the deep devotion of the Indian family that has handmade this incense for generations. The Prasad incense range includes 14 fragrances, each made from Mother Nature's finest aromatic herbs, fragrant flowers, botanical gums and resins, rare spices, exotic woods, and superior essential oils.
The burning of incense has been a part of religious rituals for centuries, with the first recorded use by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC. Incense is burned as a symbolic or sacrificial offering to deities or spirits or to aid in prayer.
In Hinduism, which is the oldest living religion in the world, incense is burned outside the front door of homes and in small shrines or temples. It is also used in the Hindu practice of "Arti", which involves offering light to deities. The burning of incense in this context is symbolic of the rising aspiration of the individual into the higher heavens of the luminous Godhead. It also represents the sacrificial fire of aspiration of the pure heart, emitting a fragrance of devotion.
Incense is also used in Christian worship, inspired by passages in the Bible. It is burned during the celebration of the Eucharist, at funerals, and at the consecration of a church or altar, among other services. The smoke from burning incense is interpreted as a symbol of the prayer of the faithful rising to heaven.
In Chinese Taoist and Buddhist temples, incense is burned to scent the inner spaces. Worshippers light and burn sticks of incense, waving or raising them above their heads while bowing to statues or plaques of deities or ancestors. Incense is also used in Japanese Shinto shrines and in East Asian Buddhist ceremonies and rites.
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Incense is used in worship
Incense has been used in religious ceremonies and worship for thousands of years, dating back to the ancient world. The practice is believed to have originated in the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC and was later adopted by the Egyptians in the Fifth Dynasty (2345-2494 BC). Since then, the use of incense in worship has spread and evolved across various cultures and religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shintoism, and Christianity.
In Hinduism, the burning of incense sticks, known as "dhoopam," is a common practice. It is used to purify the environment with a pleasant odour during worship, especially in small shrines or large temples. Hindus also burn incense outside their front doors, which may be part of the Hindu practice of "Arti," involving offering light to deities. The incense smoke is seen as a symbol of rising aspirations, with Agni, the sacrificial fire, emitting a fragrant devotion to the Supreme Purusha.
In Buddhism and Taoism, thick coiled incense is hung from the ceiling or placed on stands in temples. Worshippers light and burn bundles of incense sticks, waving or raising them above their heads while bowing to statues or plaques of deities or ancestors. The incense sticks are then placed vertically or horizontally into censers, depending on the specific tradition.
Incense is also used in Christian worship, particularly in Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, and Anglican churches. It is burned during the celebration of the Eucharist, solemn vespers, evensong, funerals, benediction, and other services. The smoke rising from the incense is interpreted as a symbol of the prayers of the faithful ascending to heaven.
The act of burning incense is often associated with offerings to deities or spirits and is used to aid in prayer and create a sacred atmosphere. The specific fragrances and scents of the incense sticks vary widely across different cultures and traditions, with each fragrance holding unique symbolic meanings and purposes.
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Incense is burned as a sacrificial offering
The burning of incense has been a part of religious rituals since ancient times. Incense is burned as a symbolic or sacrificial offering to various deities or spirits, or to serve as an aid in prayer.
Incense is used in Christian worship during the celebration of the Eucharist, at solemn celebrations of the Divine Office, Solemn Vespers, Solemn Evensong, funerals, benediction, and the consecration of a church or altar. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Lutheran churches, Anglican churches, and Old Catholic/Liberal Catholic churches, incense is used at almost every service. 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. In the Bible, the prayers of the saints are compared to incense: "Each [elder] had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints" (Revelation 5:8).
Incense is also used in Jewish rituals, with the Book of Exodus describing a recipe for sacred incense to be used in the wilderness Tabernacle. This incense was made of costly materials contributed by the congregation, including sweet spices, stacte, onycha, galbanum, and frankincense.
In Chinese Taoist and Buddhist temples, worshippers light and burn sticks of incense in small or large bundles, which they wave or raise above their heads while bowing to statues or plaques of deities or ancestors. The thick coils of incense are either hung from the ceiling or placed on special stands. Individual sticks of incense are then placed vertically or horizontally into censers located in front of the statues or plaques.
The burning of incense is also significant in Hindu rituals. It is believed to symbolize the rising aspiration of the individual towards the higher heavens, with the slow-burning incense representing the sacrificial fire of aspiration emitting a fragrance of devotion.
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Incense is used in Hindu worship
The burning of incense is a meaningful ritual that holds symbolic significance for Hindus. It is believed to represent the rising aspirations of the individual towards the higher heavens, with the slow burning of the incense symbolising the journey of Agni towards the luminous Godhead. This sacrifice of the pure heart emits a fragrant devotion, leading to a two-fold knowledge of Brahman in the higher and lower consciousness, centred on the divine Siddhi in the heart.
The act of burning incense is also associated with the Aryan Spirit, where everything is symbolic of Krishna and his infinite love. Hindus view this practice as a natural process that extends beyond mere theory, connecting them to a self-revealed Godhead.
Incense burning is also used to purify the environment with a pleasant odour during worship, especially in small shrines or large temples. This practice is known as "Dhoopam" and is an undertaking to control sensory pleasures.
Additionally, some Hindus burn incense sticks or cotton wicks outside their front doors. This practice may be associated with "Arti", which involves offering light to deities.
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Incense is burned to purify the environment
Incense has been burned since ancient times and across many cultures and religions. The practice is thought to have originated with the Indians of the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC, with the Egyptians of the Fifth Dynasty (2345-2494 BC) being the first non-Asian culture to adopt it.
In Hinduism, burning incense is a way to offer light to deities. It is also used to purify the environment with good odour while worshipping, particularly in small shrines or large temples. The practice is also used in Christian worship, with the smoke of burning incense interpreted as a symbol of the prayer of the faithful rising to heaven. Incense is burned in Chinese Taoist and Buddhist temples, 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.
The specific type of incense known as Prasad is a clean-burning incense handmade by an Indian family for generations. The name Prasad means "divine gift" and conveys the family's deep devotion. Each fragrance features aromatic herbs, fragrant flowers, botanical gums and resins, rare spices, exotic woods, and superior essential oils.
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Frequently asked questions
Burning prasad incense is a devotional act that conveys the deep devotion of the Indian family who has made it for generations. The incense is made from Mother Nature's finest aromatic herbs, fragrant flowers, botanical gums and resins, rare spices, exotic woods and superior essential oils.
Incense burning has been used in religious rituals since antiquity, with the first recorded use by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC. Incense holds an invaluable role in East Asian Buddhist ceremonies and Chinese Taoist and Japanese Shinto rites. It is also used in Christian worship and in the Hindu practice of Dhoopam.
There are 14 fragrances of Prasad Incense, including Celestial Champa, which promotes optimism, happiness, energy and perfection, and Celestial Five Flowers, which is made from aromatic herbs, flowers, gums and resins.
Incense can be burned in the form of sticks, coils or grains/powder. In Chinese Taoist and Buddhist temples, thick coiled incense is hung from the ceiling or placed on 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 deities or ancestors.
