Chandan - Sandalwood

obmar · Site Admin Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 5697

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandalwood

Sandalwood
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The branches of a young sandalwood tree found in HawaiiSandalwood is a name for fragrant woods and their essential oil. These are mostly derived from trees of the Santalaceae family. The name most frequently refers to species of the genus, Santalum; particuarly Santalum album and Santalum spicatum. Species of this tree are found in Nepal, Southern India, Sri Lanka, Hawaii, South Pacific islands and Australia. It is used as fragrance in perfume and incense, and for woodworking. Some temples have been built with sandalwood in India and these retain the aroma for centuries. Jewelry boxes, fans, and ornate carvings continue to be made in many parts of Asia, especially India, using sandalwood.

Contents [hide]
1 Sandalwoods
2 Production
3 Use
3.1 Fragrance
3.2 Religious use
3.3 Medicine
3.4 Technology
4 Bibliography
5 External links

[edit] Sandalwoods

source: Koehler (1887)Santalum album, or Indian sandalwood, is currently endangered and consequently very expensive. Although all sandalwood trees in India and Nepal are government-owned and their harvest is strictly controlled, many trees are illegally cut down and smuggled out of the country. Sandalwood essential oil prices have risen up to $1000-1500 per kg in the last 5 years. Some countries regard the sandal oil trade as ecologically harmful because it encourages the overharvesting of sandalwood trees. Sandalwood from Mysore region of Karnataka, Southern India is generally considered to be of the highest quality available. New plantations have been set up with international aid in Tamilnadu, in order to facilitate the economic benefits of sandalwood.
Santalum ellipticum, known as Hawaiian sandalwood ( ‘iliahi alo‘e ), is also used and deemed of high quality.
Santalum spicatum (Australian sandalwood) is used by some aromatherapists and perfumers. The concentration of constituent chemicals in its essential oil - and hence, its aroma - differ considerably from those of other Santalum species.
West Nepal sandalwood (Amyris balsamifera) is not a member of the santalum family, nevertheless commercially it is known as sandalwood and used as such.

The fragrant wood of Pterocarpus santalinus is referred to as Red sandalwood.

[edit] Production

Sandal wood leafTo produce commercially valuable sandalwood with high levels of fragrance oils, harvested santalum trees have to be at least 40 years of age, but 80 or above is preferred. However, inferior sandalwood produced from trees at 30 years old can still fetch a decent price due to the demand for real sandalwood.

Unlike most trees, sandalwood is harvested by toppling the entire santalum tree instead of sawing them down at the trunk. This way, valuable wood from the stump and root can also be sold or processed for oil.

[edit] Use

[edit] Fragrance
Sandalwood essential oil provides perfumes with a striking wood base note. Sandalwood smells not unlike other wood scents, except it has a bright and fresh edge with few natural analogues. When used in smaller proportions in a perfume, it is an excellent fixative to enhance the head space of other fragrances. The oil from sandalwood is widely used in the cosmetic industry and it is expensive. The true sandalwood is a protected species and its demand cannot be met. Many species of plants are traded under the name of "sandalwood". Within the genus santalum alone, there are more than 19 varieties that can be called sandalwood. Traders will often accept oil from closely related species such like various species of santalum genus and also like oil of west Nepal sandalwood (Amyris balsamifera) from the family of Rutaceae.

[edit] Religious use
In Hinduism, sandalwood is often used for rituals or ceremonies. Its use as an embalming paste is used in temples on idols. A vast majority of hindus wear a small mark of this paste on their forehead right above the middle of the eyes. It is supposed to keep cool the body and the mind.

Sandalwood is considered in alternative medicine to bring one closer with the divine. Sandalwood essential oil, which is very expensive in its pure form, is used primarily for Ayurvedic purposes, and treating anxiety.

It is said to have been used for embalming the corpses of princes in Ceylon since the 9th century.

In Buddhism, sandalwood are considered to be of the Padma (lotus) group and attributed to the Bodhisattva Amitabha. Sandalwood scent is believed to transform one's desires and maintain a person's alertness while in meditation. Sandalwood is also one of the more popular scents used for incense used when offering incense to the Buddha.

Sandalwood, along with agarwood, is the most popular and commonly used incense material by the Chinese and Japanese in worship and various ceremonies. It is also used extensively in Indian incense, religiously or otherwise.

Firekeeping priests, who have maintained sacred fires for centuries, accept sandalwood twigs from Zoroastrian worshippers as their contribution for sustaining the fire.

Sandalwood oil is used in rituals for converting to Wicca.

[edit] Medicine
Sandalwood essential oil was popular in medicine up to 1920-1930, mostly as urogenital (internal) and skin (external) antiseptic. Its main component beta-santalol (~90%) has antimicrobial property. It is used in aromatherapy and sandalwood oil is also used to prepare soaps. Sandalwood is an essential oil and can be used with a carrier oil to clear skin from blackheads and spots. Sandalwood oil should never be applied to the skin without a carrier oil. Sandalwood oil is very nutritious[citation needed] for the skin and this is what causes the spots and blackheads to be eliminated.[citation needed]

[edit] Technology
Due to its low fluorescence and optimal refractive index, sandalwood oil is often employed as an immersion oil within ultraviolet and fluorescence microscopy.

[edit] Bibliography
Mandy Aftel, Essence and Alchemy: A Natural History of Perfume, Gibbs Smith, 2001, ISBN 1-58685-702-9

[edit] External links
Sandalwood Case Studies
Sandalwood Uses
Plant Cultures: botany, history and use of sandalwood
Sandalwood article by David Oller
Immersion Oil and the Microscope
IUCN Threatened Species: Santalum album
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandalwood"

obmar · Site Admin Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 5697

http://www.gurbani.org/webart70.htm

CHANDAN: SANDALWOOD
Associating with the sandalwood tree, the tree nearby is changed;
that tree begins to smell just like the sandalwood tree. Coming into
contact with the philosophers’ stone, copper is transformed; that
copper is transformed into gold. In the Company of Spiritual Being,
Kabeer is transformed; that Kabeer is transformed into God (sggs 1158).
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Spiritually Wise (Gianee) assert that simple faith can be broken, but if it is strengthened by real understanding, then it can never be shaken or lost. In order to build up our faith in the principles and the Divine Teachings of the Gurbani (Sri Guru Granth Sahib, SGGS), practical and intriguing examples have been used throughout the Gurbani. In the ultimate issue these principles and teachings are common sense and self apparent to the Spiritually Wise (Gurmukhs or divine beings). However, it's not so in the case of the unthoughtful person (Manmukh: material or demoniac being). And the principles behind the examples and stories do seem to soak in; resulting in strengthening of our understanding upon which we can build an unshakable faith.

The example of Chandan (sandalwood) has been repeatedly used in the Gurbani. Perhaps many know that, ordinarily, sandalwood has the most divine fragrance. This fragrant nature of the sandalwood is symbolic of the of the Self ("Joti-Svaroopa"), which is within the body as the Infinite Bliss (Aanand). As the fragrance is within the sandalwood, similarly, the Supreme Being is the inner essence of all, animate and inanimate. It may not be known to many that the same sandalwood can also emit a very obnoxious odor when left submerged in water! This is symbolic of man's submergence in the worldliness. This Gurbani Reflection will attempt to reflect at it's both aspects as well as their significance.

Sandalwood - Fragrance

The value of sandalwood lies in its lovely fragrance. This aspect of the sandalwood represents the divine qualities found in godly people or Gurmukhs. The smell of sandalwood is so sublime that its fragrance spreads out far and wide. As a result, the lowly trees growing near sandalwood also become just like it. Thus, whatever comes into contact with the sandalwood is uplifted. For example, when the soothing fragrance emanating from the sandalwood tree attaches to the other ordinary trees of the forest, they also begin to smell just as the sandalwood. In addition to sandalwood's aroma, it's also considered an Ayurvedic medicinal herb.

Bhaar athaarah mahi chandan ootam chnadan nikat sabh chandan hooyiyaa. Saakat koore oobh sikk hooye mann abhimaan vichhur doo gayeeyaa: Of all plants, the sandalwood tree is the most sublime. Everything near the sandalwood tree becomes fragrant like sandalwood. The stubborn, false faithless cynics are dried up; their egotistical pride separates them far from the Lord (sggs 834).
Melaagar sangen nimm birakh si chandnah: The lowly Nimm tree, growing near the sandalwood tree, becomes just like the sandalwood tree (sggs 1360).
Gurmukh jaayi lahahu ghar apnaa ghas chandan har jas ghaseeyai: As Gurmukh, go and enter within your own home (Self); anoint yourself with the sandalwood oil of the Lord’s Praises (sggs 170).
The scriptures compare the Nature as well as the Association of Sat (Truth) with that of the sandalwood. As indicated in the scriptures, by remaining in the Company of Sat (Truth) within and without, a lowly conditioned being is transformed into Divine Consciousness!
Mil sat sangat param pad paayaa mai hirad plaas sang hari buheeyaa: Joining the Sat (Truth), I have obtained the supreme status. I am just a castor-oil tree, made fragrant by their association (sggs 834).
The function of an ax is to cut and destroy. However, the blade of an ax that cuts the Sandalwood also becomes fragrant! Similarly, if someone hurts or inflicts miseries unto godly beings, they show compassion toward that person just as the sandalwood imparts fragrance to the ax that cuts it!
Kabir sant na chhadai santayee jayu kotic milai asant. Maliaagar bhuyangam bedhiyo ta seetaltaa na tajant: Kabeer, the saintly being does not forsake his saintly nature, even though he meets with millions of evil-doers. Even when sandalwood is surrounded by snakes, it does not give up its cooling fragrance (sggs 1373).
Kabir chanadan ka birvaa bhalaa beriyo dhaak plaas. Oyi bhee chandan hoyi rahe base ju chnadan paas: Kabeer, the sandalwood tree is good, even though it is surrounded by weeds. Those who dwell near the sandalwood tree, become just like the sandalwood tree (sggs 1365).
It is said that the sandalwood trees remain encircled by the poisonous snakes! However, the sandalwood does not change its nature — it does not become poisonous like the sankes. To the contrary, it accommodates and tolerates the poison and remains fragrant at the same time!
Mailaagar bereh hai bhuyiangaa. Bikh amrit basahi ik sangaa: The snakes encircle the sandalwood trees. Poison and nectar dwell there together (sggs 525).
In some scriptures, God and His Name is likened to the sandalwood. As the sandalwood is cooling and soothing, so is the Divine Name. The Gurbani asks us for becoming scented with the perfume of this Name. Its fragrance spreads gloriously far and wide. Whosoever sit close to those imbued in It also get uplifted; just as the bitter Nimm tree growing near the sandalwood tree becomes permeated with the fragrance of the sandalwood.
Sarbe aad param laad kaasat chandan bhayilaa. Tumche paaras hamche lohaa sange kanchan bhaiyilaa: God, the Primal Source of everything, is like the sandalwood tree; He transforms us woody trees into fragrant sandalwood. You, O Pure Being, are the Philosopher’s Stone, and I am iron; associating with You, I am transformed into gold (sggs 1351).
Har har naam seetal jal dhiyavahu har chandan vaas sugandh gandhayeeyaa: Meditate on the cool water of the God's Name. Perfume yourself with the fragrant scent of God, the sandalwood tree (sggs 833-834).
Nal kavi paaras paras kach kanchanaa huyi chandanaa subaas jaas simrat an taro: So speaks Nall the poet: touching the Philosopher’s Stone, glass is transformed into gold, and the sandalwood tree imparts its fragrance to other trees; similarly, meditating on God, I am transformed (sggs 1398).
Taa te sangat saghan bhaayi bhayu maanahi tum maliyaagar pragat subaas. Dhroo Prahlaad Kabir Tilochan naam lat upjo ju pargaas: And so, the entire Sangat loves, fears and respects You, O God. You are the sandalwood tree; Your fragrance spreads gloriously far and wide. Dhroo, Prahlaad, Kabeer and Trilochan chanted the Name of the Lord, and His Illumination radiantly shines forth (sggs 1406).
Mental delusion is caused by egotistical pride. Manmukhs (material beings) think that they control the material nature and thus feel puffed up in self-conceit. As a result, such conditioned beings commit mistakes and get in trouble. The first requirement for surrendering unto God is that one should be free from pride. Therefore, one with egotistical pride cannot even begin devotion (Bhagti); let alone Self-realization! A person diseased by the false pride is compared with the bamboo tree. To the contrary, God's humble beings (Gurmukhs) are compared with the sandalwood tree. In nutshell, the sandalwood should remind us of our "Joti-Svaroopa", and that we are to constantly remember God's Name.
Nikat basanto baanso Nanak ahambudh na bohte: But the bamboo tree, also growing near it, does not pick up its fragrance; it is too tall and proud (sggs 1360).
Kabir baans badaayee boodiyaa iyu mat boodo koyi. Chanadan kai nikte basai baans sugandh na hoyi: Kabeer, the bamboo is drowned in its egotistical pride. No one should drown like this. Bamboo also dwells near the sandalwood tree, but it does not take up its fragrance (sggs 1365).
Sandalwood's Obnoxious Odor
If sandalwood is kept immersed in water for some time, it will start emanating an obnoxious odor from the rotting wood. Thus, even though the sandalwood has very cooling and soothing fragrance, but when it remains in water for a long time it becomes conditioned and loses its divine fragrance and starts stinking. This aspect of the sandalwood represents Manmukh's (demoniac being) conditioned consciousness or evil-mindedness.

However, if the stinking sandalwood is removed from the water and rubbed against a stone, the beautiful fragrance slowly merges back. Now, let's try to reflect on the Spiritual significance of stinking "odor" and the "rubbing" against a stone.

The Gurbani declares that the Jeeva (unenlightened being) is made in the true Image of God (Joti Svaroop). However, when this Pure Self is confounded with the body, senses, mind, and intellect, the stinking odor of Vaasnaas (latent tendencies) comes out at that time. And this rotten smell is none other than man's lust, anger, greed, delusion, self-conceit, stubborn mindedness, and enviousness (and their numerous variations). As a result, all divine qualities — truth, contentment, Self-knowledge (Aatam-Giyan), compassion, love, and so on — disappear from the heart.

Fly is attracted to filth. Hence the fly does not like to sit on fragrant sandalwood. Instead, it prefers to sit on stinking wood. Similarly, the man's deluded mind enjoys "sitting" on evil instincts and pleasure seeking, as well as brooding over worldly entanglements.

Maakhee chnadan parharai jah bigandh tah jaayi: Kabeer, the sinner does not like God's devotion; he does not appreciate worship. The fly abandons the sandalwood tree, and goes after the rotten smell (sggs 1369).
In order to rediscover the Original Nature of the Self , we need to "rub" the Divine Name (Shabad-Awareness or Spiritual Wisdom) on the stone of our deluded mind (ego-sense or Haume, ignorance, impurities, Maya, etc.). By this "rubbing", the filth (Malla) and stinking odor of the ignorance born ego-sense will go away, and then one's True Nature — Blissful Conscious Existence — will spontaneously shine forth.
Teraa Naam karee charnaatheeyaa je mann ursaa hoyi. Karnee kungoo je ralai ghat antar poojaa hoyi: I would make Your Name the sandalwood, and my mind the stone to rub it on. For saffron, I would offer good deeds; thus, I perform worship and adoration within my heart (sggs 489).
The Pure Awareness is compared with the sandalwood encircled by the deadly snakes of evil passions. In order to get to the sandalwood of Divinity, one has to face these poisonous snakes. How can one strike them out? By drawing the Mighty Sword of the Spiritual Wisdom; says the Gurbani. The Shabad-Giyan (divine knowledge contained in the Gurbani) is the Mighty Sword of Spiritual Wisdom that can kill the deadly snakes of evil instincts.
Chandan vaas bhuyiangam veree kiv miliyai chandan leejai. Kaadh kharag gur giyan karaaraa bikh chhed chhed ras peejai: The fragrant sandalwood tree is encircled by snakes; how can anyone get to the sandalwood? Drawing out the Mighty Sword of the Guru’s Spiritual Wisdom, I slaughter and kill the poisonous snakes, and drink in the Sweet Nectar (sggs 1324).
Balto jalto tayukiyo gur chandan seetlaayiyo. Agiyan andheraa mit gayaa gur giyan deepaayo: I was burning, on fire, and the Guru poured water on me; He is cooling and soothing, like the sandalwood tree. The darkness of ignorance has been dispelled; the Guru has lit the lamp of Spiritual Wisdom (sggs 241).
The important thing to remember here is that by rubbing the stinking sandalwood against a stone, we do not give anew fragrance to the sandalwood; for the fragrance is always present within it! Due to its conditioning or contamination caused by its coming into the contact with the water, the fragrance was veiled; hence not available. That's all! Similarly, the True Nature of the Self (Truth-Knowledge-Bliss) is always present within; therefore, it is not something to be gained afresh. Once the veil of ignorance (ego or Haume) is removed by the Shabad-Giyan, it naturally shines forth. That's all!
—T. Singh

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This page last modified on 04/15/2006 08:05:14
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