Seamus Hammond
Incense is used in many religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, Christianity, and Islam. The burning of incense has been a part of religious rituals since ancient times, with the first recorded use of incense by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilization in 3600 BC. In China, incense is burned during festivals and processions to honour ancestors and household gods, while in Japan, it is incorporated into Shinto rituals. Hindus use incense for ritual and domestic offerings, and Buddhists burn it at festivals, initiations, and daily rites. Incense is also used in Christian worship, with mentions in the Bible, and is burned in Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox services.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Religion | Christianity, Hinduism, Shinto, Buddhism, Islam |
| Purpose | Symbolic offering, sacrificial offering, prayer, worship, air freshener, insect repellent |
| Form | Stick, coiled, powdered, grains |
| History | Used since ancient times, the first recorded use was by the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC |
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What You'll Learn
Incense in Christian worship
Incense has been used in Christian worship since antiquity, with its roots in the traditions of Judaism during the time of the Second Jewish Temple. The burning of incense is mentioned in the Bible, and it is interpreted by both Western Catholic and Eastern Christian churches as a symbol of prayer, representing the faithful's prayers rising to heaven. This symbolism is reflected in Psalm 141 (140), verse 2: "Let my prayer be directed as incense in thy sight: the lifting up of my hands, as the evening sacrifice."
Incense is commonly used in Christian worship during the celebration of the Eucharist, funerals, benediction, and the consecration of churches or altars. It is also employed at solemn celebrations, such as Divine Office, Solemn Vespers, and Solemn Evensong. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Lutheran churches of Evangelical Catholic churchmanship, Anglican churches of Anglo-Catholic churchmanship, and Old Catholic/Liberal Catholic churches, incense is an integral part of almost every service.
The use of incense in Christian worship is not limited to religious ceremonies. Incense burners are often used in the homes of Orthodox Christians, bringing a piece of their church rituals into their daily lives. Additionally, grains of blessed incense are traditionally placed in the Paschal candle, and they were once placed in the sepulchre of consecrated altars, although this practice is no longer widely mentioned or observed.
The method of burning incense in Christian worship involves a thurible, a type of censer, held by a server called a thurifer. The thurifer, sometimes assisted by a "boat bearer," approaches the person conducting the service with the thurible containing burning charcoal. Incense, in the form of grains or powder, is then blessed and placed onto the coals. The thurible is closed, and the priest, deacon, or server swings it towards the object or person being censed, such as the Eucharist, icons, clergy, or congregation.
While the use of incense in Christian worship has a long history and carries symbolic significance, some Christians may have concerns about its association with paganism and idolatrous practices. The decision to use incense or not is a matter of conviction, and Christians are advised to consider their motives and the potential impact on other believers.
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Incense in Hindu offerings
Incense has been used in religious practices since ancient times. The first recorded use of incense was by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC. Hindus have been using incense for centuries, and it remains an integral part of their religious practices and offerings.
In Hinduism, incense, known as "dhūpa", is one of the five accessories of religious worship, along with perfumes ("gandhā"), flowers ("puṣpa"), lamps ("dīpa"), and food ("nivedya"). These offerings are made to various deities, such as Krishna and Rama, and are considered a way to achieve the four ends of human life: dharma, artha, kama, and moksha. The practice of offering incense is mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna accepts the offerings made to him with love.
The burning of incense in Hindu rituals is often accompanied by specific rituals and practices. During daily worship, incense sticks are offered to God by rotating them thrice in a clockwise direction. This practice is performed by temple priests or individuals with home altars. The type of incense used can vary, with traditional options including Benzoin resin and resin obtained from the Commiphora wightii tree.
Incense is also classified into three types in the Mahabharata: niryasa, sarin, and kritrima. Niryasa refers to resins from specific tree species, while sarin is derived from heartwoods, sandalwood, roots, flowers, and herbs. Kritrima is artificially produced using substances like jaggery or molasses from sugarcane. The blend of these three types of ingredients has formed the basis of incense making since ancient times.
In addition to its religious significance, the use of incense in Hindu offerings has also been associated with healing properties. The Dharmashastra and Puranic texts describe similar ingredients for incense, including sandalwood, aloeswood, musk, camphor, saffron, and resins. The practice of using incense for healing purposes was assimilated into the religious practices of ancient India.
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Incense in Buddhist temples
Incense is used in many religions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, and Taoism. It is believed that the first recorded use of incense was by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC.
Burning incense is a standard Buddhist ritual. It is used in Buddhist temples in East Asia, China, and Japan. The inner spaces of the temples 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, which they wave or raise above their heads while bowing to statues or plaques of a deity or an ancestor. The individual sticks of incense are then vertically placed into individual censers located in front of the statues or plaques either singly or in threes, depending on the status of the deity or the feelings of the individual. In Japanese Shinto shrines, the sticks of incense are placed horizontally into censers on top of the ash since the sticks used normally lack a supporting core that does not burn.
The type of incense used in Buddhist temples varies. Some common types include aloeswood sticks (without the core) or coils, natural sandalwood, and Japanese, Tibetan, and Indian incense. The incense is usually burned as part of morning or evening offerings, or during meditation sessions.
The use of incense in Buddhist temples holds symbolic significance. The offering of incense is believed to purify the temple and prepare it for the presence of the Buddhas or bodhisattvas. The association of the smell of incense with the temple atmosphere also helps calm the mind and facilitate meditation.
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Incense in Shinto rituals
Incense has been used in religious rituals since ancient times. The first recorded use of incense was by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilization in 3600 BC. Egyptians during the Fifth Dynasty (2345-2494 BC) were the first in the non-Asian world to discover the use of incense.
Shinto, an action religion with roots in prehistoric Japan, incorporates incense in its rituals. The use of incense in Shinto is not as prevalent or all-encompassing as in other religions. However, it is an integral part of Japanese culture, with the practice of Kōdō, or the "Way of Incense," being one of the three classical arts of refinement.
In Shinto, incense is not necessarily burned as a form of worship. Instead, it falls within the Japanese ethical code and is used for its calming scent and effects. It is believed that the kami, or deities, enjoy the pleasant aroma of incense, and it is also used to drive away demons, who are thought to dislike the good things enjoyed by the kami.
When burning incense in Shinto rituals, sticks of incense are placed horizontally into censers on top of the ash, as the sticks lack a supporting core that does not burn. The formula and scent of the incense sticks used can vary widely.
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Incense in ancient civilisations
Incense has been used for thousands of years, dating back to ancient civilisations. The first recorded use of incense was by the Indians in the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3600 BC. The Egyptians during the Fifth Dynasty (2345-2494 BC) were the first in the non-Asian world to discover the use of incense, which was used by Hindus for centuries by the time of the 5th Dynasty.
The ancient Egyptians used incense in their day-to-day lives, primarily as a way to connect with higher entities, spirits, and gods. They fumigated their temples with the smoke of resins, plants, and essential oils as an offering to their pharaohs, gods, and statues. Incense was also used during the mummification process to cleanse the body and soul, bringing them prosperity and protection in the afterlife.
In ancient China, incense was used as a connection between the physical and spiritual realms. The Chinese burned Agarwood, Sandalwood, Cinnamon, Chamomile, and other herbs for their medicinal properties and the natural benefits of the smoke. Incense was also burned during festivals and processions to honour ancestors and household gods.
In ancient Mesopotamia, Babylonian priests burned fragrant substances during religious rituals. The ancient Greeks burned woods and resins as an offering and for protection against demons. The Romans incorporated incense into their religious practices, using it to honour their gods and purify sacred spaces.
In India, incense was used in Ayurvedic medicine for its therapeutic benefits and became an integral part of yoga and meditation practices. The burning of incense was also mentioned in the ancient Vedic texts, composed between 1500 and 500 BCE, as offerings to deities during religious ceremonies.
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Frequently asked questions
Many religions burn incense, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Taoism.
Incense is burned during Christian worship, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church, Orthodox Christian churches, Lutheran Churches, Old Catholic/Liberal Catholic Churches, and some Anglican Churches. It is used at the celebration of the Eucharist, at funerals, and at other services.
In 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 a deity or an ancestor. Individual sticks of incense are then vertically placed into censers located in front of the statues or plaques.
