Chandan tree history and Origin
Sandalwood has got special importance in various religions of India especially Hindu religion and culture. This is such a fragrant wood that is used from the birth of a child, till its cremation and last rites. In the religious and Ayurvedic texts of India, there is an excellent description of its uses and characteristics, literature is also not untouched by it. There are other uses of sandalwood. Except medicines, perfumes, cosmetics, its furniture and decorative items are also made. By sandalwood other countries are also fascinated. In this article we are going to talk about Chandan tree history, significance, origin and everything you want to know about.
Chandan tree history and origin of sandalwood from Malaya Mountain
The glory and history of yellow and red Chandan tree is unique among the different types of sandalwood. Chandan is a Sanskrit word, which means scented wood. It has other names in the same language, such as Malayaj, Chandrashruti, Shrikhand, Bhadrashree etc.
Other than India, its trees are also found in Sri Lanka, Australia, Indonesia, Hawaii and other Pacific islands. Indian and Australian sandalwood is in highest demand all over the world. Sandalwood in India is historically and mythologically originated in the famous southern Indian mountain range of Malaya.
This is the main reason due to which the sandalwood is also called Malayaj. The wind blowing from Malaya Mountain is considered cool and fragrant.
Chandan is religiously important Regarding sandalwood
According to Vamana Purana, sandalwood is preferred for the worship of Lord Shiva. According to Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Lakshmi resides in the fragrant sandalwood. In the Ayodhya Kand of Valmiki Ramayana, there is a description of the beautiful house of Shriram which is getting fragrant with sandalwood. In the 42nd chapter of Bhagwat Purana, located in the tenth wing, the upper part of Shri Krishna’s body has been described as fragrant with sandalwood paste.
There is a long description of sandalwood in the Indian context in the Britannica, it has been said that sandalwood powder is used by the Brahmin caste as tilak on the forehead and to scent clothes. Another foreign text states that Hindu devotees worship the idols of the deities daily with five offerings, which include anointing the idol with aromatic (sandalwood) substances, waving dhoop (incense), garlands of flowers, lamps. Lighting (lamp) and offering Naivedya is included.
Kalidas and Kautilya mentioned Chandan tress in history books
Yellow sandalwood is generally used by those who believe in Vaishnavism and blood sandalwood is mostly used by those who believe in Shaivism and Shaktism. The practice of using sandalwood in the funeral pyre of Hindus has been going on since ancient times. Kalidas has mentioned the use of sandalwood in the funeral pyre of Ikshvaku queen Indumati in his Sanskrit work Raghuvansh.
Kautilya in his Arthashastra mentions many varieties of sandalwood from different places, including sandalwood of different colors like red, black-red, white-red, black, green and saffron. Their fragrance has also been described differently. Even today sandalwood is widely used in Havan etc. Applying sandalwood tika in social functions is still in use today.
Also Read: The history of India’s Flags – From Kesariya to Tiranga
Other than China, many countries are also fascinated by this
Looking at the global scenario, there is a lot of demand for sandalwood in China, Japan, Singapore, Australia, United Arab Emirates and some western countries. According to the English newspaper China Daily, in China, the furniture of the Ming Dynasty, which ruled from the fourteenth to the middle of the seventeenth century, was made of red sandalwood. In Japan too, there is a tradition of giving Shamisen, a musical instrument made of red sandalwood, at the time of marriage. This was the detailed history of Chandan tree and we hope that you liked this article very much. Thanks for reading.
