Incense in India - Knowledge

282: 568:("Perfume blending"), here Varahamihira provides several formulas with grid patterns, on which perfume ingredients were placed where numerous combinations of perfumes can be made. This mathematical exercises in perfumery may have been a source of intellectual delight for the educated connoisseur of perfume. Surviving perfumery texts additionally contained sophisticated verbal puzzles that seem designed to entertain and impress the cultivated makers and users of perfumes. Those who were well versed in the sixty-four or seventy-two arts and techniques (kala) that defined their education and in addition to this erotic context, it would seem riddles were associated with the literary gathering called the 550:("the Complete Man-About-Town") by Padmasri also describes Gandhaykuti in vastly more detailed manner. In erotic texts and in the surviving complex perfumery texts, perfumery and making perfumes is seen as sensuous and erudite pleasure, almost a high-class game with poetic riddles and puns. Perfumes were seen as indispensable to the goal of pleasure (kama), and the informated consumption of them was a vital part of what it meant to be a cultivated person. Padmasri mentions unknown perfumery text by the author named Lokesvara, it is one of several lost perfumery texts. 761:

production is done by hand-rolling at home. There are about 5,000 incense companies in India which take raw un-perfumed sticks hand-rolled by approximately 200,000 women working part-time at home, apply their own brand of perfume, and package the sticks for sale. An experienced home-worker can produce 4,000 raw sticks a day. There are about 25 main companies, who together account for up to 30% of the market, and around 500 of the companies, including a significant number of the main companies, are based in Bangalore. The state of

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growth in the production of agarbathi (incense sticks), Dhoop-Deep has been seen in every part of India. There are plenty of manufacturers in Maharashtra,Gaya and Gujrat and the western India agarbatti market is totally dominated by them. At a national level, the most prominent manufacturers include N. Ranga Rao & Sons with their Cycle Pure Agarbathies, PremaNature with their Natural Vedic Incense Sticks, Patanjali with their Aastha agarbatti, Samun Agarbatti with their gaya darshan and ITC with their Mangaldeep.

30: 572:. McHugh notes that "the audience was expected to engage in a bewildering, yet pleasurable, contest of intellectual, olfactory, erotic riddles." Therefore, art of perfumery was not entirely olfactory but also included the cleaver delights of combinatorics and word games. Solving poetic perfume riddles and complex puns of erotic nature, political science, religion etc to make perfume blends were part of perfume making art for the cultivated person. 749: 160: 810: 2332: 350:("Ocean of perfumes") is a unique perfume formula, in which from a given number of ingredients placed in a grid, numerous combinations can be made, leading in some cases to a vast number of potential perfumes. He provides a complex algorithm for calculating how many perfumes one can make from a given number of ingredients, in one case up to 43,680 perfumes can be made. 179:, which encouraged a uniform method of making incense. Although Vedic texts mention the use of incense for masking odors and creating a pleasurable smell, the modern system of organized incense-making was likely created by the medicinal priests of the time. Thus, modern, organized incense-making is intrinsically linked to the 719:

had banned resin extraction; This forced up the price of halmaddi, so its usage in incense making declined. In 2011, extraction was allowed under leasing agreements, which increased in 2013, though production is still limited for the resin to sometimes be stolen via improper extraction to be sold on the black market.

467:, as well as collyrium to decorate the eyes. Mouth fragrances, etc., oils, as well as the preparation of rubbing unguents. Then the practice of bathing, bathing materials, and the bath accessory materials. Fragrant clothes powders, sticks/wicks, and the preparation of perfumes, etc. The artificial manufacture of 797:

Under the aegis of the "Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan", the government of India approved an incense production and employment program on August 2, 2020. The program is called "Khadi Agarbatti Atma Nirbhar Mission", and was proposed by the Khadi Village Industries Commission (KVIC) of India. Under this

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rituals. During rituals, an incense stick is lighted to remove unpleasant odours in the air. It creates a setting for an auspicious ritual by filling the air with a pleasant smell. As they release smoke, they also act as organic disinfectants that drive away insects. Sticks made up of bamboo are not

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According to historian John McHugh, the earliest surviving texts to treat art of perfumery as main topic of the text in any detail appeared "around the middle of the first millennium CE" and in these texts "perfumery is discussed in context of matters of the body and the bedroom" and that by around

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Various artful perfumes are celebrated as eminent inflamers of lust. The best lovers should be carefully instructed at the start from perfume texts. Having collected the essential part of the perfume texts, which are difficult to understand for those who are not cleaver, which are by Lokesvara etc.

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is more commonly used in ancient and medieval texts which encompasses various types of stick incense recipes. Incense is part of the cottage industry in India and important part of many religions in the region since ancient times. The method of incense making with a bamboo stick as a core originated

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agaru m.n. ' fragrant Aloe -- tree and wood, Aquilaria agallocha ' lex., aguru -- R. Pa. agalu -- , aggalu -- m., akalu -- m. ' a partic. ointment '; Pk. agaru -- , agaluya -- , agaru(a) -- m.n. ' Aloe -- tree and wood '; K. agara -- kāth ' sandal -- wood '; S. agaru m. ' aloe ', P. N. agar m., A.

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being the main manufacturing centres of scented agarbatti and Gaya, Bihar was the manufacturing hub of unscented agarbatti. The Mysore region is recognised as a pioneer in the activity of agarbathi manufacturing and this is one of the main cluster activities that exist in the city. In recent years,

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the art of perfumery emerge for diverse use. According to James Mchugh from "approximately the late centuries of the first millennium CE onwards do we see significant materials on perfumery incorporated into texts on erotics and courtly life." These texts are not just limited to incense making, but

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Incense has its own spiritual significance. The incense stick burns itself completely into ashes and yet fills the air with a pleasant smell. This ritual basically denotes human virtue of sacrificing oneself for society. The sticks are used as air fresheners during normal days as well and integral

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tree; as with other resins, it is a viscous semi-liquid when fresh, it hardens to a brittle solid as it evaporates and ages. Some incense makers mix it with honey in order to keep it pliable. Due to crude extraction methods which resulted in trees dying, by the 1990s the Forest Department in India

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and other trees), and the perfume ingredients – which traditionally would be a masala (powder of ground ingredients), though more commonly is a solvent of perfumes and/ or essential oils. After the base paste has been applied to the bamboo stick it is, while still moist, immediately rolled into a

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texts similarly gives incense ingredients similar to Dharmasastra like sandalwood, aloeswood, musk, camphor, saffron, piper cubeba, resins etc. As Hinduism matured and Buddhism was founded in India, incense became an integral part of Buddhism as well. Around 200 CE, a group of wandering Buddhist

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Many texts solely dedicated to perfumery are lost, they exist in fragments in other texts where the authors give credit to these texts for recipes. Only three texts survive, these include two texts named Gandhasara; Gandhasara by Gangadhara and Gandhasara by unknown author, and third text named

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The Gandharnaava (Ocean of perfumes) is prepared from the following sixteen substances, if every four of them are permuted variously at will and that in one, two or four parts. The substances are Uŝira, Aguru, Vālaka, Madanfal, Karpûra, Dhānya, Nāgapuşpa, Tagara, Saibya, Spŗkkā, Ghana, Karcûra,

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tree are also used in masala incense, usually as a fragrant binding ingredient, and these add their distinctive fragrance to the finished incense. Some resins, such as gum arabic, may be used where it is desirable for the binding agent to have no fragrance of its own. Halmaddi has a particular

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Ta. akil (in cpds. akiṛ-) eagle-wood, Aquilaria agallocha; the drug agar obtained from the tree; akku eagle-wood. Ma. akil aloe wood, A. agallocha. Ka. agil the balsam tree which yields bdellium, Amyris agallocha; the dark species of Agallochum; fragrance. Tu. agilů a kind of tree; kari agilů

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Incense has some psychological benefits. The aroma of the incense is considered to have a healing power that has a soothing effect on the mind. The calming effect relaxes the mind and helps in performing rituals with better concentration. Prayer offered with a calm mind acts like a meditation

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Production may be partly or completely by hand, or partly or completely by machine. There are semi-automatic machine for applying paste, semi-automatic machine for perfume-dipping, semi-automatic machine for packing, or fully automated machines which apply paste and scent, though the bulk of

229:; artificially produced or manufactured like jaggery or molasses from sugarcane for example. Blend of these three types of ingredients formed basis of incense making since ancient period. The practice of incense as a healing tool was assimilated into the religious practices of the time. 798:

scheme, the incense artisans will be provided automatic agarbatti and powder-mixing machines through private business partners. One quarter of the cost of each unit will be borne by KVIC via a subsidy, while the remnant will be paid through loans by the artisans.

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While the earliest texts that mention aromatic preparations in any detail appear to be religious and medical texts; some of which had chapters dedicated to incense; it is only later during the first millennium CE is when evidence of texts devoted entirely to

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Incense for dissipation of bugs and other insects; the mixture of the powders of sandalwood, vidanga seeds, flowers of arjun trees, along with jaggery...and honey dissipates flies, gnats and bugs from the house when fumigated with

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in how it is organized, consisting of a number of aromatic formulae respectively for hair (kesapatavasa), dwelling (grhavasa), mouth (mukhavasa), water (jalavasa), betel-nut (pugaphalam), bathing powder (snaniya).

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An incense stick made from the compound of Marjari, Himavaluka, Pisunaka, Gorocana, Sihlaka, Karpura, pounded in water, in progressive proportion, mixed with ghee and sugar, this is known as Manmathavarti

245:, a text on treatise of statecraft and political science, agarwood, sandalwood and other aromatics were subject to a state tax at one-tenth or one-fifteenth of the sale price of the products. The 629:

The basic ingredients of an incense stick are bamboo sticks, paste (generally made of charcoal dust or sawdust and joss/ jiggit/ gum/ tabu powder – an adhesive made from the bark of Bollywood

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An incense stick which is suitable for kings can be prepared from the mixture of Nakha, Aguru, Sihlaka, Valaka, Kunduru, Saileya, Candana, Syama by taking each in progressive proportion

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Perfume names in medieval period are also information on the aspirations expressed through aromatic culture that presents perfume formulae in a playful and literary manner;

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dating most likely from the early- to mid-second millenium CE" with later additions by several authors up to 13th century. Some of the notable lost perfumery texts include

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This collection of the applications of the fifth is composed. There the preparation of water fragrance, as well as preparation of tooth sticks/brush. The preparation of

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Early evidenced of incense use and incense burners have been found in Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods (3300–1300 BCE). The oldest textual source on incense is the

253:("Perfume blending"), the technique of making perfumes as one of the 64 arts to be learned by men and women. Commonly described incense types in early texts include 2278: 151:, meaning "stick"); an older term, "dhūpavarti", is more commonly used in ancient and medieval texts which encompasses various types of stick incense recipes. 1182:

Historical perspective on the usage of perfumes and scented Articles in ancient Indian literatures Prasad et al 2008, page 33-39, National Library of Medicine

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Vyāghranakha, Nakha, Coraka, Chandana. The total number of perfumes resulting from the sixteen ingredients being mixed in all possible combinations is 43,680.

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describes incense ingredients as sandalwood, aloeswood, camphor, musk, saffron, piper cubeba, resins, jaggery, ghee, honey, fragrant flowers, among others.

1319:'Lokopakara (For the Benefit of People) - An Ancient Text on Indian Agriculture' page 89 Valmiki Sreenivasa Ayangarya (2006), Asian Agri-history foundation 515:

When a person who has censed entire body , is walked it is said by people "Who goes there?" therefore this incense is called "Who Goes There?" (Kogacchati)

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interest to some consumers, possibly through its association with the popular Satya Nag Champa. It is an earth coloured liquid resin drawn from the

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12th century, Gandhasara by Gangadhara 13th century, Gandhasara by unknown author 14th century, Gandhavada by anonymous author 13th century,

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A person should fumigate both clothes & home with the incense of Camphor, Nakha, Giri, Kasturi, Jatamasami, Jatu in equal quantity with

998:. Akil is, we think, native to South India, and it is thus not surprising that the word was borrowed by cultures that imported this plant. 786:

producing countries,. It was the largest exporter of incense until 2015, after several years of reduced import tariffs as a result of the

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B. agaru, Or. agarū, H. agar, agur m.; G. agar, agru n. ' aloe or sandal -- wood '; M. agar m.n. ' aloe ', Si. ayal (agil ← Tam. akil).

107:(food). Worshipping deities with these five accessories is generally considered as a way for achieving the four ends of human life; 67:

in India at the end of the 19th century, largely replacing the rolled, extruded or shaped method which is still used in India for

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principles, in which the ingredients that go into incense-making are categorized into five classes. Ether (fruits), for example

1439: 1381: 1086: 363:("for the benefit of the people") text has a chapter dedicated to incense recipes for various needs, below are few examples; 1204: 1108: 1328:'Śārṅgadhar-saṃhitā: a treatise of Āyurveda by Śārṅgadhara' page 234, K. R. Srikantamurthy (1984), Chaukhambha Orientalia 2170: 1818:

Entrepreneur's Start-Up Handbook: Manufacturing of Profitable Household (FMCG) Products with Process & Formulations

2336: 2147: 2113: 2079: 2045: 2018: 1902: 1853: 1826: 1799: 1765: 1712: 1639: 1605: 1571: 1534: 1500: 1466: 1408: 1349: 1297: 1249: 1034: 791: 281: 1954: 765:, referred to as the Capital of Agarbathi (Incense Sticks), is the leading producer of the agarbathi in India, with 17: 1065:'Excavations at Rakhigarhi (1997-98 to 1999–2000)' page 188, by Dr. Amerendra Nath, Archaeological Survey of India 950: 787: 1939:

Women's Role in Dynamic Forest-based Small Scale Enterprises: Case Studies on Uppage and Lacquerware from India

391:...to this final mixture and prepare oblong tables. This is called 'divine incense' and is amiable to all gods. 1271:

Brihat Samhita by N. Chidambaram Iyer (1884), page 139–150, Chapter 77 - Preparation of Perfumes (Gandhayukti)

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Agallochum. / Cf. Skt. aguru-, agaru-; Pali akalu, akaḷu, agaru, agalu, agaḷu; Turner, CDIAL, no. 49. DED 14.

861: 1972: 1194:'History of Dharmaśāstra' page 38, by Pāṇḍuraṅga Vāmana Kāṇe (1958), Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute 581:

the turn of the "first millennium CE, we have evidence of texts devoted entirely to the art of perfumery".

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fine wood powder, and then left for several days to dry; it may also be dipped into a scented solvent.

459:("daily-routine"), the fifth chapter is summarized by the author of the text in the following passage: 2361: 2351: 543: 1729: 560: 542:("daily-routine") of bathing, cosmetics and use of perfumery and incense for various needs. Other 339: 1163: 346:("Perfume blending"), here Varahamihira provides several perfume formulas, one of them known as 923: 2137: 2035: 1843: 1816: 2260: 2103: 2069: 1892: 1789: 1702: 883:"The Current Scenario of Indian Incense Sticks Market and Their Impact on the Indian Economy" 662: 403: 2202: 8: 946: 834: 1432:

Papers of the 13th World Sanskrit Conference: Edinburg, Scotland (UK), 10 - 14 July 2006

1139: 715: 710: 286: 197: 2143: 2109: 2075: 2041: 2014: 1898: 1849: 1822: 1795: 1761: 1730:"Patchouli in fragrances-incense stick production from patchouli spent charge powder" 1708: 1680: 1635: 1601: 1567: 1530: 1496: 1462: 1435: 1404: 1377: 1345: 1293: 1245: 1143: 1131: 1082: 1030: 882: 372: 230: 209: 315:(fragrant sandal unguent, applied to the body and left on to render its fragrance), 1663:"How to start agarbatti manufacturing business?#agarbattimanufacturer; - Debshakti" 1123: 823: 630: 384: 453:("the Girdle of Hara") text describes preparations of the following aromatics for 1208: 840: 815: 694: 534:("Perfume blending") as one of 64 arts to be learned by a person. Chapter titled 203: 1127: 44:

producing country, and is also a major exporter to other countries. In India,

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covers diverse products related to perfumery and cosmetics of various kinds;

1918: 828: 666: 646: 242: 172: 2013:(3rd ed.). New Delhi: UBS Publishers Distributors ltd. p. 167. 479:("the Complete Man-About-Town") by Padmasri has some similarities to the 184: 1814: 753: 709:. Various resins, such as amber, myrrh, frankincense, and resin of the 658: 650: 539: 455: 428: 368: 222: 1555: 1553: 163:

Prayer offering tray with incense sticks and gandhā (sandalwood paste)

2315:"Government launches a programme for agarbatti manufacturing workers" 1755: 1629: 1595: 1561: 1524: 1490: 1456: 1398: 1339: 1287: 1239: 1024: 770: 762: 706: 698: 654: 526: 246: 218: 180: 143:: from Dravidian probably Tamil அகில் (agil), அகிர்(agir)., Sanskrit 56:: from Dravidian probably Tamil அகில் (agil), அகிர் (agir), Sanskrit 34: 1700: 748: 1550: 678: 638: 432: 380: 92: 84: 159: 75: 1728:

Ramya, H. G.; Palanimuthu, V.; Kumar, R. Dayananda (March 2013).

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used because to burn bamboo is strictly prohibited in Hinduism.

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Incense boxes. Nag Champa is notable incense sticks from India.

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Sociology of Religion in India (2001) - Page 287, M. G. Nayar

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