The Journalist and the Buddha

Incense burning is seen in many places as having religious significance as well as a way of purification. This rite has been around for hundreds of years and has continued till today. Incense burning is release of aromatic fumes or odors by burning certain materials. While some burn incense for medicinal purpose, it can also be done for purely aesthetic value.

The reasons for burning incense in recent years have however changed, largely influenced by the wide variety of cultures practicing the art as well as the interaction of cultures. In recent years, the practice has gotten quite popular as a result of such diverse reasons.

Today, many substances are burned as incense and may be derived from any material such as oils, solid materials or any substances that produce aromatic fumes. As these materials may take different states, there has been a need for different incense burners to hold these materials. An incense burner for holding a liquid material would be different with one that holds a solid substance.

Picture: happione

In liquid substances charcoal powder is placed on the incense burner and the essential oil poured onto it, creating a stable base. Chemically synthesized incense may also be used. All these diverse forms of incense thus require their own special incense burners and holders.

Incense classification can take many forms. In most cases, the mode and degree of incense burning is used. The 2 groups commonly used are indirect and direct burning. In indirect burning, charcoal or burning embers provide the heat source. Frankincense is one of the materials that is indirectly burnt as well as myrrh. In Europe, Frankincense is used to signify any aromatic substance that is burnt on an incense burner. During burning, frankincense is placed on coal embers in its unprocessed state on the incense burner and let to burn.

Direct burning involves lighting the combustible substance and placing it on the incense burner. The substance continues smoldering even after the initial flame or light source is removed. This initial ignition is all that is required. The substance can either be in liquid form or in finely grounded particles so that it can be entirely.

Frankincense coils can be burnt directly or by suspending them on an incense burner so that it burns completely in a coil-like fashion. Some incense sticks have a bamboo core for support while for loose powder, wood ash incense burners are used. When burning powder directly, it first has to be enclosed under another material before placing it on the incense stick and lighting it up. Other forms of direct burning use cored sticks, solid sticks and incense blanks. In incense blanks, scented dust is used as the fragrance substance.

Incense burners and holders come in all shapes and sizes. They can be categorized on their representation as well as their use. Incense burners representing mythical creatures like dragons and mermaids are common. Others are representations of mythical gods and ancient fairytale creatures. A search online will show up a good number of these burners together with the pictures.

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