Puja Basics :- Camphor

[Guest guest]

Ever since Karen raised a question on camphor ... it has been in the back of my

mind.

 

Someone, ( was it you Krishnaji ? ) , wanted to know where camphor comes from. I

read that Camphor is obtained by distilling the wood of the camphor tree

(Cinnamomum camphora) and that this tree is widely grown in China,Taiwan and

Japan.

 

I found the derivation of the word 'camphor' interesting. It comes from the

Arabic 'kAfUr' which in turn is from the Sanskrit, 'karpuram' .

 

Camphor has a lot of medicinal properties ...

 

So , here is the basic question on puja :

 

Why do we use camphor in Puja ? What is YOUR understanding of its use ?

 

Put those introspective hats on ....

[Guest guest]

While burning camphor gives off an intense radiance and it also gives

off very dark smoke. In tapas a sadak also tends to glow brightly

while burning away negative tendencies. Both camphor and pujaries

undergoe a process of giving off their inner properties. A

transformation takes place. It might be likened to some sort of yogic

alchemy.

 

, "Latha Nanda" <lathananda>

wrote:

> Ever since Karen raised a question on camphor ... it has been in

the back of my mind.

>

> Someone, ( was it you Krishnaji ? ) , wanted to know where camphor

comes from. I read that Camphor is obtained by distilling the wood of

the camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) and that this tree is widely

grown in China,Taiwan and Japan.

>

> I found the derivation of the word 'camphor' interesting. It comes

from the Arabic 'kAfUr' which in turn is from the

Sanskrit, 'karpuram' .

>

> Camphor has a lot of medicinal properties ...

>

> So , here is the basic question on puja :

>

> Why do we use camphor in Puja ? What is YOUR understanding of its

use ?

>

> Put those introspective hats on ....

[Guest guest]

That is a great interpretation Rudran.

 

Here is mine.

 

There is a term in sanskrit called 'Karpura Buddhi' which translates

as 'Mind like camphor'.

 

Just like camphor evaporates in fire, so will the mind evaporate in

fire of knowledge .

 

Camphor is one of the few solids that doesnt pass through a liquid

state before turning into a gas. It jumps directly to the gaseous

state when heated.

 

And that is what we want our minds to be - in the heat of tapas -

poof - we want our minds to disappear.

 

JAI MAA

Latha

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

, "rudran2" <stechiekov> wrote:

> While burning camphor gives off an intense radiance and it also

gives

> off very dark smoke. In tapas a sadak also tends to glow brightly

> while burning away negative tendencies. Both camphor and pujaries

> undergoe a process of giving off their inner properties. A

> transformation takes place. It might be likened to some sort of

yogic

> alchemy.

>

> , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda>

> wrote:

> > Ever since Karen raised a question on camphor ... it has been in

> the back of my mind.

> >

> > Someone, ( was it you Krishnaji ? ) , wanted to know where

camphor

> comes from. I read that Camphor is obtained by distilling the wood

of

> the camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) and that this tree is widely

> grown in China,Taiwan and Japan.

> >

> > I found the derivation of the word 'camphor' interesting. It

comes

> from the Arabic 'kAfUr' which in turn is from the

> Sanskrit, 'karpuram' .

> >

> > Camphor has a lot of medicinal properties ...

> >

> > So , here is the basic question on puja :

> >

> > Why do we use camphor in Puja ? What is YOUR understanding of its

> use ?

> >

> > Put those introspective hats on ....

[Guest guest]

Someone, ( was it you Krishnaji ? ) , wanted to know where camphor

comes from. I read that Camphor is obtained by distilling the wood of

the camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) and that this tree is widely

grown in China,Taiwan and Japan.

 

Oh yes I am the culprit Mataji. I was wondering how they get them in

Rishikesh and how are the processed (distilled ?) there?

 

Jai Maa!!!

Latha Nanda <lathananda > wrote:

Ever since Karen raised a question on camphor ... it has been in the

back of my mind.Someone, ( was it you Krishnaji ? ) , wanted to know

where camphor comes from. I read that Camphor is obtained by

distilling the wood of the camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) and

that this tree is widely grown in China,Taiwan and Japan. I found the

derivation of the word 'camphor' interesting. It comes from the Arabic

'kAfUr' which in turn is from the Sanskrit, 'karpuram' .Camphor has a

lot of medicinal properties ...So , here is the basic question on

puja :Why do we use camphor in Puja ? What is YOUR understanding of

its use ?Put those introspective hats on ....

 

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