Spirituality

Significance of Camphor in Spirituality

Aarti is a Sanatan ritual of worship, where light is offered to the deity. When the fire is provided, devotees sing praises of God, along with the process. For this daily ceremony, every Indian household has a decorative plate dedicated to this, consisting of the Kumkum, Akshata, a Ghee or oil lamp, and flowers.

No Aarti is complete without one essential process: burning the camphor at the end of the Puja. Camphor is burnt, and devotees warm their palms in its flames and gently brush them on their heads and eyes, which signifies the end of the ritual. Camphor is so crucial in the Sanatana that no Aarti is considered complete without it, and in this blog, we are talking about the importance of camphor in spirituality. Let’s begin.

After each Aarti, one mantra is chanted by the devotees.

Karapura Gauram Karuna Vataram| Sansar Saram BhujaGendra Haram|| 

 Sada Vasantam Hridaya Ravinder | Bhavam Bhavani Sahitam Namami ||

 It says I bow down to the one who is as pure as camphor, compassion manifested, the one who is the essence of the universe, wearing a snake as a garland, residing in a blue lotus-like heart, and always accompanied by the Divine Mother Bhavani. There is such an importance of camphor that devotees compare it with Lord Shiva.

What is camphor? 

Karpur or Kapoor is commonly known as a waxy, semi-transparent solid with a strong aroma. It is found in the wood of the camphor laurel tree, which is located in East Asia. Ayurveda, an ancient Indian medical science, has noted down various medicinal benefits of camphor. Camphor helps balance the Kapha, which is beneficial for respiratory disorders and clot deposition in blood vessels.

Camphor mixed in mustard oil rubbed over the fat, which reduces body fat. This helps reduce obesity. Camphor is also used in oral preparations because it relieves mouth dryness and bad breath problems. It’s also known to relieve toothache and clear throat in throat infections. Burning the camphor releases certain chemicals in the air that repels malaria and dengue-causing mosquitoes. 

The spiritual significance of camphor

-As per the Sanatana scriptures, camphor underlines the strong connection with the Gods. When the camphor fumes fill the nearby air, it releases positive energy into the surroundings. It occupies the home with healing energies, removing the harmful vibrations in the air. 

 – Camphor has a sharp, natural menthol-like aroma, which has healing properties, manifesting feelings of peace and tranquillity. When we do the Aarti and burn the camphor, it relaxes us and removes stress and anxiety.     

 -Pitru Dosha is the difficulty we may have to face due to our ancestors, and Kaal Sarpa Dosha is a problem that you may face due to your past deeds or the karma of the past life. Burning camphor daily pacifies the Pitu and Kaal Sarpa Dosha in your horoscope. If you are suffering from such difficulties, experts advise burning camphor thrice a day to reduce the mal effects of the Doshas.

 -Camphor burning repels the evil spirits away from the house. Its strong essence wards off the curses thrown at the home, resulting in an enhancement in your life. If the children are facing nightmares, burning camphor before going to sleep helps in preventing them, enhancing the sound sleep.

 -To ward off the evil eye, the camphor is held into the right hand and moved around the individual three times in a clockwise direction, and then the camphor will be burnt and kept on the floor. Camphor is known for absorbing the negative vibrations from the individual. It burns the evil when held on the floor and ignited.   

As per the Sanatana philosophy, the process of burning the camphor is a symbol of human life. When the camphor is burnt, it leaves no residue whatsoever. Same as that, humans should leave no trace behind. Once the camphor is burnt, it leaves the environment with a smooth, pleasant smell.

Same as that, humans should leave nothing but good deeds, happy memories, and a pious legacy after their demise. During the Aarti, when a devotee burns the camphor, he prays, “O dear Divine, makes me like a Karpur so that I can give light and fragrance to others when I am alive and leave with nothing but good memories after me.”  

Agamas, the ancient Sanatana scriptures mention 16 distinct processes (Upacharas) one must conduct while performing Puja ceremonies. For example, without washing their feet (Padya Puja), offering the seat (Asanam), or offering the food (Naivedyam), no Puja is considered complete. one such process is igniting the camphor in front of the Gods, called Carpura Niranjanam. Burning the camphor signifies the end of the Puja ceremonies. During this, the devotee asks for forgiveness for the knowingly or unknowingly committed mistakes during the Puja and seeks blessings from the Divine.

We hope you have gained some new insight into the importance of burning camphor in spirituality. Next time you burn it during the Aarti, remember what it symbolises and what it can do to your spirituality. When you buy the camphor, make sure it’s natural and pure. Impure camphor does not burn completely and leaves residue and a smell of artificial chemicals. May it be for the Puja ceremony for the regular burning of camphor, always choose pure and organic camphor, which is readily available outside any Hindu temple.   

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