Incense for Devi?

December 6, 2004

Are there any particular sorts of incense that are said to be

preferred by Devi?

For example, Chandan Dhoop seems to be strongly associated with

Krishna.

Is the choice of incense more a matter of the sadhak's personal

preference, or do certain scents sometimes correspond more closely

to paricular deity forms?

Thanks for any and all input!

DB

, sankara menon <kochu1tz>

wrote:

> the two items referred to are different

> Sandal comes in the earth element Gandham or that which is smelt.

> Incense comes in Dhoopam which is the air element.

December 6, 2004

, "Devi Bhakta"

<devi_bhakta> wrote:

>

> Are there any particular sorts of incense that are said to be

> preferred by Devi? [....]

As you might guess from my previous postings on the topic of incense,

(msg # 12982), I'd really, really, really like to know, too.

You mentioned "Chandan Dhoop". There is also a Laxmi Dhoop, with

Laxmi's picture on the box. I understand it's a soft dhoop, and so

contains ghee (or more likely vegetable ghee.) One might consider it

a compact sort of offering, if one is so inclined. I have no idea if

naming the incense after Laxmi is just marketing, or there is some

other connection between the formulation and Laxmi's name.

I've never bought any Laxmi Dhoop. The description of the scent

("very penetrating; hangs around") makes me think this incense

probably contains a fair amount of synthetic fragrance, and I don't

much care for most synthetics.

As far as other popular scents go, I've been told that Nag Champa is

a lotus scent, with a fair bit of (surely synthetic due to costs and

availability issues) musk. "Queen of the Night" is a (probably

synthetic, due to cost) version of night-blooming jasmine.

Hoping for more definitive info from the group......

December 6, 2004

I frequently sell an assortment of Indian incenses at various Pagan or New Age

conventions and festivals here in Noo Yawk and the North-east USA. My

observation: different Deities, different incenses.

I was taught that <kasturi> or musk (and other animal-derived scents like

ambergris and civet) are particularly pleasing to Kali Ma. Lakshmi likes most

florals, especially lotus and jasmine. Saraswati is fond of sandalwood.

Ganesha (an honorary Shakti) is fond of cocoanut. And Durga likes amber scent

(I've always wondered if there's a pun hidden here... Amba is one of Durga's

names.)

Chandan Dhoop is a brand-name of an incense log. <Chandan> or sandalwood is

pleasing to most of the Deities. Krishna, in my experience, likes any incense

which has <tulsi> or basil as an ingredient.

The difference between <dhoop> and <agarbhatti> is: Dhoop is a resin or powder

shaped into a cone, log, or pellet. Often it is self-lighting (or else it needs

to be burned on charcoal). Agarbhatti is rolled onto a stick. The medium for

holding the scent is sandalwood powder, or cedar powder, clay, or sometimes cow

dung (once dried, cow dung has an unoffensive smell).

In Puja offerings, <dhoop> is used generically to describe incences offered

through burning them and wafting the fragrant smoke. <Gandha> is used to

describe fragrant oils, pastes, or perfumes that are applied by smearing them on

the image, or immersing a wad of cotton or Q-Tip with the gandha and waving it

under the statue's "nose."

I'm fond of an agarbhatti brand known as "Amber-Kasturi 10010," sometimes sold

as "Grandmother's Favorite." A synthesis of amber and musk (and hence devoted

to both Durga and Kali), it's the scent I burn for Shiva's Shakti in any of her

aspects.

Ther's a "Lakshmi Dhoop" available in a yellow box, redolent of poppy-scent (so

much so that people who've been to opium dens say, "I've smelled that before!").

Stupid kids attempt to smoke it to get high -- NOT recommended!

Does anyone know what the ingredients are in the world-famous "Sai Baba Nag

Champa"? I was once told it was especially appropriate for Shiva meditation,

and a blend of flowers that are smelled at dusk along parts of the Ganges.

People either love it, or hate it. Always has a strong response from customers.

Just a note from the Old Dhoop Peddlar, spreading joy wherever he goes...

-- Len/ Kalipadma

Devi Bhakta <devi_bhakta wrote:

Are there any particular sorts of incense that are said to be

preferred by Devi?

For example, Chandan Dhoop seems to be strongly associated with

Krishna.

Is the choice of incense more a matter of the sadhak's personal

preference, or do certain scents sometimes correspond more closely

to paricular deity forms?

Thanks for any and all input!

DB

, sankara menon <kochu1tz>

wrote:

> the two items referred to are different

> Sandal comes in the earth element Gandham or that which is smelt.

> Incense comes in Dhoopam which is the air element.

December 6, 2004

, Len Rosenberg

<kalipadma108> wrote:

>

> The difference between <dhoop> and <agarbhatti> is: Dhoop is a

resin or powder shaped into a cone, log, or pellet. Often it is self-

lighting (or else it needs to be burned on charcoal).

> Agarbhatti is rolled onto a stick. The medium for holding the

scent is sandalwood powder, or cedar powder, clay, or sometimes cow

dung (once dried, cow dung has an unoffensive smell).

!!!

You have piqued my interest! I have never seen (smelled, whatever)

incense made with clay or cow dung. Where did you come across this?

(incense or information). Do you sell these?

The other items I've seen mentioned as wood base ingredients are

jigat, a bark powder that makes a gum when it gets wet, and charcoal.

I've read that the cheap blanks or "punks" made for U.S. "hand-

dipped" incense can be made of anything down to and including

powdered waste wood and carpet glue. Who knows....

December 6, 2004

Namaste,

Champa is Frangipani, and Nag-Champa is a particular Indian species.

December 7, 2004

, "Sarabhanga Giri"

Thank you; I will pass that information on to the person who told me

he thought it was lotus.

<sarabhanga> wrote:

>

> Namaste,

> Champa is Frangipani, and Nag-Champa is a particular Indian species.

December 7, 2004

I've smelled plumeria (the genus of frangipani) in Hawaii; it is

indeed fabulous. The Hawaiians make garlands of plumeria--heavenly!

Here's a little more on champa and incense:

from:

http://60sfurther.com/Incense-Nag-Champa.htm

Champas are set aside from other Indian incenses because they are

based upon a critical natural ingredient indigenous to India

called "halmaddi" This sticky gray semi-liquid substance is what

gives the world-famous Nag Champa its bouquet, which is meant to

smell like the extravagantly fragrant Indian plumeria tree. All

Champas are slightly sweet and produce extremely smooth bouquets when

burned.[....]

I've seen references to halmaddi, the resin of Ailanthus malabarica.

It's described as sticky--it functions as both an aromatic and a

binder in incense--and is floral in scent. It's allegedly somewhat

of a humectant--it attracts water, and so incense made with halmaddi

tends not to dry completely. As a raw ingredient, it's unavailable

in the West, as far as I can determine.

, "Sarabhanga Giri"

<sarabhanga> wrote:

> Champa is Frangipani, and Nag-Champa is a particular Indian species.

All of which doesn't actually answer DB's original question.....

December 7, 2004

Thanks Msbauju and Kalipadma for the Incense Input.

Here is a little more input from a shy sadhak I spoke with this

morning:

Q: So you saw the message board; what do you think? Does the incense

matter?

A: Oh yes, incense helps in concentrating the mind.

Q: Do you always use incense when you do pooja?

A: Oh yes.

Q: So what scent is best for Devi? Any thoughts?

A: What we use is what is called dashanga. It's a mixture of various

scented woods, etc., that gives an extremely pleasent odour. The

word is "dasha anga," or the 10 scented materials. Then there is

ashtagandha too; the eight scented materials. They are put over

coal, and it smokes away.

Q: Yes, but that is more for special poojas, isn't it? When you need

coals? Do you use simple incense cones on a more everyday basis?

A: No no. In the olden days, every evening the whole house would be

fumigated with this -- and also Durva, the grass. Did you know that

the essential oils from Durva grass is extracted and exported to US?

It is used for anti-lice soaps and whatnot.

Q: No. I didn't know that.

A: You know the Mritynjaya Homa, which uses various materials?

Q: Mrityunjaya ... the ceremony for victory over death?

A: Yes. For children, it is Durva Homa, and it is said children who

are sick are cured. It must be the submlimated essential oils

breathed in that causes the cures.

[End of excerpt. As you see I was steered rather expertly off topic,

but I thought it was an interesting snippet anyway. Enjoy -- DB]

, "msbauju" <msbauju>

wrote:

>

> All of which doesn't actually answer DB's original question.....

December 7, 2004

Hi Len/Kalipadma ...

Thanks for an informative post -- it blows my mind how quickly one

can get authoritative information through this group. If I may

bother you further, what do you know about an incense

called "Padmini Spiritual Guide Incense"? It has an very auspicious

Parvathi murthi on the box; but as you say, that's just marketing.

The IncenseMania store calls it: "The most popular of all Padmini

incense fragrances. This has a mild fragrance with a balsamic note.

An art inherited from the ages, when art flourished. And immortal

sculptures and architecture were created. Complementing their beauty

were skillful blends of natural fragrances rolled on sticks -

Spiritual Guide being one of them. Light a stick for a transporting

aromatic experience to calm your mind. Guide your inner self to

celestial heights or to enhance the mood of the moment."

(http://www.incensemania.com/spiritualguide.html)

The IAmShama shop says: "Padmini's Spiritual Guide Incense is rich

incense with a slightly sweet tone that is invigorating and very

effective for creating magical or meditation spaces. This is one of

the most popular mediation incenses we carry, probabl because it can

help create the perfect calming environment. These 20 stick packs

are charcoal-based with no punk smell.As Padmini states; Guide your

mind to celestial heights Transport your spirit to heavenly moods...

Spread the Fragrance of Peace."

(http://www.iamshaman.com/catalog/807.htm)

Sounds pretty good. But is it actually junk? *lol* (MSBauju ... I'm

asking you too, if you know!)

Thanks!

DB

, Len Rosenberg

<kalipadma108> wrote:

>

> I frequently sell an assortment of Indian incenses at various

Pagan or New Age conventions and festivals here in Noo Yawk and the

North-east USA. My observation: different Deities, different

incenses.

December 7, 2004

I find it hard to believe that Nag Champa's "recipe" is as simple as frangipani

all by itself. Nag Champa has such a complex scent, I have to believe there are

other ingredients. I'm certain that the base note is sandal powder. I know

several Westerners who've insisted that the unique bouquet of Nag Champa is due

to dried cow dung being in the ingredients! I can recognize traces of <kapura>

(camphor) in the scent.

The full list of ingredients is probably a trade secret. But I don't buy that

frangipani (even a rare Indian species) is responsible for the fragrance of Nag

Champa.

-- Len/ Kalipadma

Sarabhanga Giri <sarabhanga wrote:

Namaste,

Champa is Frangipani, and Nag-Champa is a particular Indian species.

Mail - 250MB free storage. Do more. Manage less.

December 7, 2004

So halmaddi resin is also an ingredient in Nag Champa (along with frangipani?).

Someone told me that the Sai Baba Nag Champa was supposed to simulate the scent

of flowers along a particular area of the Ganges River, at sunset.

-- Len/ Kalipadma

msbauju <msbauju wrote:

I've smelled plumeria (the genus of frangipani) in Hawaii; it is

indeed fabulous. The Hawaiians make garlands of plumeria--heavenly!

Here's a little more on champa and incense:

from:

http://60sfurther.com/Incense-Nag-Champa.htm

Champas are set aside from other Indian incenses because they are

based upon a critical natural ingredient indigenous to India

called "halmaddi" This sticky gray semi-liquid substance is what

gives the world-famous Nag Champa its bouquet, which is meant to

smell like the extravagantly fragrant Indian plumeria tree. All

Champas are slightly sweet and produce extremely smooth bouquets when

burned.[....]

I've seen references to halmaddi, the resin of Ailanthus malabarica.

It's described as sticky--it functions as both an aromatic and a

binder in incense--and is floral in scent. It's allegedly somewhat

of a humectant--it attracts water, and so incense made with halmaddi

tends not to dry completely. As a raw ingredient, it's unavailable

in the West, as far as I can determine.

Mail - now with 250MB free storage. Learn more.

December 7, 2004

Gee, I often scrounge up data from all sorts of resources... This was probably

from an acquaintance who had been to India (or came from India).

No, I don't offhandhand know of particular types of incense that advertise "made

with only the finest Ganges clay" (frankly, I don't think clay burns under any

circumstances), or boast "contains only bovine excrement as binder." I have

been present at Agni Hotras, where the main fuel is dried cow dung saturated

with ghee -- it is not an unpleasant scent, actually...

-- Len/ Kalipadma

msbauju <msbauju wrote: !!!

You have piqued my interest! I have never seen (smelled, whatever)

incense made with clay or cow dung. Where did you come across this?

(incense or information). Do you sell these?

The other items I've seen mentioned as wood base ingredients are

jigat, a bark powder that makes a gum when it gets wet, and charcoal.

I've read that the cheap blanks or "punks" made for U.S. "hand-

dipped" incense can be made of anything down to and including

powdered waste wood and carpet glue. Who knows....

The all-new My – Get yours free!

December 7, 2004

Two grasses are used in Puja, for asperging water, for weaving into asana mats,

and burning for the scent. I've never seen (or smelled) Durva grass. But I am

very fond of Kusha grass, also called Kush-kush, and in the West known as

Vetivert. Because it is used to begin Pujas, Vetivert is known as the scent for

greeting the Gods, especially Ganesha (who usually is the first God invited,

anyway).

I bought a hand-fan woven from Kusha grass, years ago, from a Balinese import

house in Noo Yawk. Large screens are woven from the dried grass, moistened with

water, hung in front of windows, and swung back and forth to send cooling

Vetivert-scented breezes through Indian (and Balinese) houses in the summertime.

It's also supposed to help lower fevers.

I gave the hand-fan to my mother; since she's passed away, maybe I should ask

Dad if I can have it back (it's hanging on the wall of his apartment).

Kusha-grass agarbatti is one of my best-sellers amongst the incenses I deal

with.

-- Len/ Kalipadma

Devi Bhakta <devi_bhakta wrote:

Thanks Msbauju and Kalipadma for the Incense Input.

Here is a little more input from a shy sadhak I spoke with this

morning:

<snip>

Q: Yes, but that is more for special poojas, isn't it? When you need

coals? Do you use simple incense cones on a more everyday basis?

A: No no. In the olden days, every evening the whole house would be

fumigated with this -- and also Durva, the grass. Did you know that

the essential oils from Durva grass is extracted and exported to US?

It is used for anti-lice soaps and whatnot.

Q: No. I didn't know that.

A: You know the Mritynjaya Homa, which uses various materials?

Q: Mrityunjaya ... the ceremony for victory over death?

A: Yes. For children, it is Durva Homa, and it is said children who

are sick are cured. It must be the submlimated essential oils

breathed in that causes the cures.

Meet the all-new My – Try it today!

December 7, 2004

I am not familiar with the Padmini brand of incenses.