Significance of Incense offering
Incense offering is a significant ritual across various spiritual practices, including Buddhism, Vaishnavism, and Shaivism. It involves burning aromatic substances, such as sandalwood and aloe, during worship to create a sacred atmosphere and enhance spiritual merit. This practice is seen as a means of honoring deities, invoking positive energy, and symbolizing prayers rising to the heavens. Additionally, incense offerings are performed in diverse contexts, from religious ceremonies to personal acts of devotion, highlighting their importance in spiritual traditions.
Synonyms: Sacrificial offering, Spiritual offering, Censer
In Dutch: Reukoffer; In Finnish: Suitsukeuhri; In Spanish: Ofrenda de incienso; In German: Weihrauchopfer; In Malay: Persembahan kemenyan; In Swedish: 搁枚办别濒蝉别辞蹿蹿别谤; In French: Offrande d'encens
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Buddhist concept of 'Incense offering'
In Buddhism, incense offering is a ritual practice involving the burning of various incenses for purification, devotion, and respect, often invoking mantras, particularly important in Tibetan Buddhism and significant for creating merit.
From: Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Purvapranidhana Sutra
(1) Acts of providing incense as a form of respect and devotion in Buddhist practices.[1]
From: Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva (Sutra of the Great Vow)
(1) A practice of burning incense in worship as part of the devotion to Kshitigarbha.[2]
From: Apadana commentary (Atthakatha)
(1) The act of making offerings of various types of incense, such as sandal-wood and fragrant aloe wood, at the chamber of the Glorious One, which is deemed a significant act of merit.[3]
Hindu concept of 'Incense offering'
In Hinduism, incense offerings involve burning fragrant substances during worship to create a sacred atmosphere, enhance spiritual merit, and symbolize prayers rising to the heavens, ultimately honoring and pleasing the divine.
From: Chaitanya Bhagavata
(1) Burning of scented sticks or substances during worship to create a fragrant atmosphere as part of the homage to Jagannatha.[4]
From: Parama Samhita (English translation)
(1) Guidelines for preparing and offering incense made from particular trees and flavored with sandal and agar, contributing to the sacred atmosphere.[5]
From: Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 1: Initiation, Mercury and Laboratory
(1) Fragrant substances burned during worship to create a pleasant aroma around the ritual area.[6]
From: Devi Bhagavata Purana
(1) Ritualistic gifts made during worship of the Earth, often symbolizing purification and reverence.[7]
The concept of Incense offering in local and regional sources
Incense offering involves presenting fragrant substances during religious ceremonies, enhancing worship's atmosphere and fostering a sense of devotion. This sacred practice is integral to many cultural and spiritual traditions.
From: Buddhist records of the Western world (Xuanzang)
(1) The act of presenting incense as a sacred offering during religious ceremonies.[8]
From: Buddhist Ceremonies and Rituals of Sri Lanka
(1) The act of offering scented sticks or powders in worship, enhancing the atmosphere of devotion.[9]