Guest guest Posted April 17, 2004 Report Share Posted April 17, 2004 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 .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2004 Report Share Posted April 17, 2004 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 .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2004 Report Share Posted April 17, 2004 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 .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 18, 2004 Report Share Posted April 18, 2004 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 .... Photos: om/ph/print_splash">High-quality 4x6 digital prints for 25¢ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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