Sandalwood - Sacred Fragrance of Enlightenment

Chandana - The Divine Wood

Sandalwood (Sanskrit: चन्दन chandana; Pali: चन्दन candana) holds profound significance in Buddhism as the wood of purity, meditation, and divine offering. Its cooling, calming fragrance aids spiritual practice, while its sacred status makes it the premium incense for Buddhist rituals. From funeral rites to meditation halls, from Buddha statues to prayer beads, sandalwood permeates Buddhist practice across all traditions.

Primary Species: Santalum album (Indian Sandalwood), Santalum spicatum (Australian)

Properties: Cooling, calming, purifying, consciousness-elevating

Sacred Significance in Buddhism

Buddha's Cremation

"When the Buddha entered parinirvana, the disciples built a funeral pyre of precious sandalwood. The fragrant smoke carried his essence to the heavens, and from the ashes arose sacred relics distributed throughout the Buddhist world."

— Mahaparinirvana Sutra

The Five Sacred Fragrances

In Buddhist tradition, sandalwood ranks among the five most sacred aromatic substances:

Symbolism in Buddhist Practice

The Sandalwood Forest

Buddhist texts describe Pure Land paradises containing sandalwood forests:

Sacred Texts and References

Dhammapada Verse 54-56

"The fragrance of flowers does not travel against the wind, nor does the scent of sandalwood, tagara, or jasmine. But the fragrance of the virtuous travels even against the wind. The virtuous person pervades all directions with the fragrance of their virtue."

Lotus Sutra

"The Bodhisattva should offer to the Buddha images made of sandalwood, aloe wood, and all fragrant woods. Merit from such offerings is measureless, boundless."

Key Buddhist Text References

The Sandalwood Buddha

Legendary tale from Udayana Sutra:

Ritual and Ceremonial Uses

Incense Offerings

Funeral and Death Rites

Sandalwood Paste (Chandana Lepa)

Traditional Paste Preparation

Sacred Marking and Cooling Application:

  1. Grind sandalwood on special grinding stone with water
  2. Add rose water or plain water drop by drop
  3. Grind in circular motion with devotion, chanting mantras
  4. Create smooth, fragrant paste
  5. Apply to forehead (third eye), throat, heart
  6. Use in abhisheka (anointing) ceremonies
  7. Apply to Buddha statues during puja

Benefits: Cooling, calming, focuses mind, symbolic purification

Buddha Image Creation

Mala Beads (Prayer Beads)

Stupas and Reliquaries

Zen/Chan Practice

Tibetan Vajrayana Practices

Medicinal and Therapeutic Properties

Botanical Information

Traditional Ayurvedic Uses (Shared with Buddhism)

Cooling Properties

Pitta-Pacifying (Cooling):

  • Nature: Cold, sweet, bitter
  • Paste: Applied externally for burning sensations, fever, inflammation
  • Oil: Cooling massage oil for pitta conditions
  • Internal: Powder taken for heat conditions (under guidance)

Mental and Spiritual Benefits

  • Meditation Aid: Fragrance calms mind, enhances focus
  • Anxiety: Reduces stress, worry, nervousness
  • Insomnia: Promotes restful sleep
  • Third Eye: Traditional association with ajna chakra
  • Clarity: Clears mental fog, enhances awareness

Physical Healing

  • Skin: Treats acne, rashes, inflammation, wounds
  • Antiseptic: Prevents infection
  • Respiratory: Soothes cough, bronchitis (mild expectorant)
  • Urinary: Traditional use for UTIs, cystitis
  • Heart: Cooling for heart "heat" (Ayurvedic concept)

Modern Scientific Research

Aromatherapy Applications

Types of Sandalwood

Sustainability and Ethics

Preparation and Traditional Recipes

Traditional Incense Making

Simple Sandalwood Incense Powder:

  • Pure sandalwood powder (can blend with other woods)
  • Optional: Blend with agarwood, benzoin, camphor
  • Burn on charcoal or electric heater
  • Use in temples, meditation spaces, ceremonies

Sandalwood Paste (Chandana)

For Marking and Cooling:

  1. Use sandalwood grinding stone (rectangular slate)
  2. Add few drops water or rose water
  3. Rub sandalwood stick in circular motion
  4. Collect paste as it forms
  5. Apply to forehead, body, or Buddha images

Meditation Oil

Sandalwood Meditation Blend:

  • Jojoba or sesame oil (base)
  • 3-5 drops sandalwood essential oil per tablespoon
  • Optional: Add frankincense, lotus absolute
  • Apply to third eye, wrists before meditation

Cross-References

Related Buddhist Sacred Plants

Sacred Incense Plants in Other Traditions

Related Buddhist Concepts

Bibliography and Further Reading

Buddhist Texts

Ritual and Practice

Botanical and Medicinal

Conservation

Related Content

Cross-Cultural Uses

Related Archetypes

See Also