Dhoopam - The Holy Fragrant

Dhoopam:

Dhoopam is a form of smoke produced from a perfumed incense stick. As per Ayurveda, certain virus and bacteria gets removed from our body due to inhalation of smoke produced from certain herbs burning. It is very good for health.

 

 

Cultural Beliefs:

Deepam is offered to God with a saying.

  

It pleasures our senses with its perfumed smoke which vanishes quickly. Our sensory pleasures are taken in control by recognizing this offering to God. Dhoopam purifies the atmosphere by its fragrance properties of samidha –Wood and samagri –powder of fragrant wood. Its mixed with the herbs and ghee. According to brahmaprakash, the term Dhoop originated from Dhoop tree in eastern India this tree’s chip when burnt gives us good fragrance. Black colored putty, popular Dhoop is a mixture of ghee herbs and wood chips.

In ancient days people use to offer dhoopam by spreading Gugilam or dasangam on the burnt coal.Dasangam is made out from ten herb dust like sandalwood, Eagle wood, Aloe wood, Himalayan cedar, Indian Olibanum, Indian frankincense, white pall, etc..

Guggilam is made from resins of Guggul or Mukul myrrh tree. Burning these for releasing smoke is considered as a sacrificial offering to a god or deity.

 

Interesting Facts:

Dhoopam is one of the steps in shodasopachara Puja (16 steps of worship). Dhoopam is the next step after offering flowers. While offering dhoopam below mantra need to enchant.

  

 In this sixteen fold worship, offering sacred water in conch represents Jalam (water), offering sandalwood paste (Gandham) represents earth, offering flowers ( Pushpam) represents the sky (Akash) are offered first. Then, fragrant fumes (Dhoopam) represent air and the lighted lamp (Deepam) represents light or Thejas are offered next to them, followed by ringing of the bell.

Now a day’s people offering incense sticks (Agarbattis) which are waved around god three times in a clock wise direction and kept vertically in a stand.

Scientific Reasons:

• Dhoopam power removes negative forces and it solves all spiritual problems by ensuring a peaceful and spiritual atmosphere and the humans benefit from its spiritual properties this is mainly used for purification of the environment.
• Dhoopam which is scented cleans the environment and makes us divine. In part of this human treats even he is purified. He treats the basical and physical purification as a spiritual psychologically and transfers himself into a different world of meditation
• . According to Ayurveda inhaling herbal smoke from burning certain resins and herbs will boost the health and gives a certain type of good sensation of mind and soul. It is a holy method of purifying surroundings.