Indian Incense

indian incense

Indian Incense

Indian incense has its history way back in the era of rishi’s, when they used to perform yagna and believed that this act makes close to God. Not only that they use to prepare fire places for the holy purpose and for making them relax and dedicate themselves to God by enchanting mantras and inhaling the aroma which was coming from the fire. They believed that fragrance plays an important role in meditation, relaxing, and a cure for lot of disorders. They believe when aromatic ingredients are burnt, a purifying smell surrounds the atmosphere and one can think good at that time, this is the aromatic treasure in Indian tradition.

As we know all diseases or disorders are formed with some imbalance in human body, this imbalance can result from unhealthy behavior that makes the person forget the rules of living in harmony with nature. However, maximum problems arise from not having a proper breathing pattern. It also depends on the natural things, like some aromatic plants, which are very helpful in removing any blockage in the body and make breathing more easy and relaxing. This type of practice that was very popular in ancient time is now getting popular again and people are experiencing the importance of aromatherapy and its technique.

Many residue of this ancient form of aromatherapy are still alive today in India in the form of garlands, cosmetics, perfumes, and incense but the inner understanding of how they were used to treat disease is now in the hands of a rare few. When we speak of incense, especially within the context of India we are apt to think of bamboo sticks upon which has been rolled some sort of paste, which gives off a pleasant odor.

However, the story of this type of incense is less than one hundred and fifty years old. Prior to that time, incense was composed of a great variety of natural ingredients, which were obtained from precious woods, aromatic spices, balsamic resins, gums, pungent herbs, earthy roots, etc. This practice was highly popular with Indian rishis. These people have great know of plants and there aromatic importance. They also experimented with combinations of some herbs, woods, spices etc that were great for purifying the atmosphere and fight bacteria and viruses that also stimulate immune system by inhaling the smoke. These aromatic practices also enhanced the brain center through the olfactory nerves helping the participants relax and experience a sense of reverence and receptivity to the sublime unseen.

These practices are now becoming popular cause of there healing qualities with a very natural way. India, several thousand years ago was a veritable natural paradise filled with a wealth of botanical treasures, many possessing unique aromatic properties. The people of that time lived simple lives with senses fully awake to the environments in which they lived. Today we speak of ecology but in earlier times people had to live in harmony with nature because their everyday life depended upon it. They needed all of their senses to read the signals coming to them from the world in which they lived so they would be able to survive and lead a healthy, happy and wholesome way. India as we know has a way back history for aromatherapy and Incense being the main.

In ancient days people used to burn aromatic plants like cedar wood, sandalwood etc cause of their aromatic healing power, things are similar now also just the method has changed. Now a little mixture of pants can make wonders. That is what incense is all about.

In our tradition, flowers, there fragrance play a very important part, it is said that lovely scents emitting from the heart of a delicate flower carried with it a potent message, which the simplest person could understand. The sages explained that every human life should be like a delicate flower emitting the fragrance of good words, good deeds, and good thoughts. This explains how importance aroma is in our life.

Indian incense has a important hold in south Indian. Mysore, which itself is a very beautiful city, is a huge base for good incense making. From here, one knows that stick incense rose to prominence during 19th and 20th century. Mysore is famous for its “masala” agarbatties, which is nothing but stick incense composed of natural ingredients.

Prior to 1950 India had an abundance of natural forest products in the form of different precious woods, spices, herbs, roots, etc. that served as the basic ingredients for making “masala” agarbatties. Several other special ingredients were readily available up to that time including true musk, ambergris and civet. They were integral parts of natural formulations and the secrets for blending were closely guarded family secrets. The formulations of that era were drawn from ancient aromatic compounds in the form of powders, tablets, and pastes used for religious ceremonies, personal adornment and medicines. (Stick incense is a relatively new creation. Before almost all incense was made up from crushed and/or powdered ingredients)

As incense is highly associated with worshiping of Gods, there are lot o recipes that are believed to be holy and providing peace and a stable mind. These incenses contained eight ingredients that are selected from 18 substances, including saffron, sandalwood, spikenard, costus etc. and this is known from our history. Earlier maximum people were involved in worshiping, meditation, and there life was simple. Nowadays things are different, life is much more tough, stressful and struggling. That is why people go for some natural way of therapy and with its roots in India aromatherapy has made a very important impact in today’ life.