CAMPHOR – how its made and why its used in PUJA?

 

Not many people know this but Camphor has been produced as a forest product for centuries, condensed from the vapor given off by the roasting of wood chips cut from the relevant trees, and later by passing steam through the pulverized wood and condensing the vapors

Here’s a pic of CAMPHOR LAUREL or whats called the CINNAMOMUM CAMPHORA. This tree is widely available in EAST ASIA, SOUTH EAST ASIA.

Most people would not know but this is the tree that was used to produce camphor originally.

But, the IMPERIAL JAPANESE GOVERNMENT in 1907–08 tried to monopolize the production of camphor in ASIA (basically they wanted to control the supply and make money out of it).

That essentially triggered off revolution among industrial chemists to make CAMPHOR in the lab. That’s when a chemist called GUSTAV KOMPPA managed to synthesize it in the laboratory. He also setup a factor in FINLAND cause CAPMPHOR was a natural product whose demand was high but supply was low.

Camphor can be produced

1. from alpha-pinene, which is abundant in the oils of coniferous trees and With acetic acid as the solvent and with catalysis by a strong acid, alpha-pinene readily rearranges into camphene, which in turn undergoes Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement into the isobornyl cation, which is captured by acetate to give isobornyl acetate. Hydrolysis into isoborneol followed by oxidation gives racemic camphor.
2. can be distilled from turpentine produced as a side product of chemical pulping.

So what we mostly get these days is SYNTHETIC CAMPHOR. Also, I think its a good thing to use synthetic camphor too cause it helps protect these trees.

How to distinguish between NATURAL SYNTHETIC CAMPHOR

1. Appearance
1. Typically, synthetic camphor is a white powder,
2. whereas natural camphor forms waxy white granules.
3. Synthetic camphor can be treated to appear the same as natural camphor.
2. Chemical Composition
1. Both synthetic and natural camphor have the same chemical composition.
3. Source
1. Natural camphor is derived from the sap of an evergreen tree the camphor laurel, other laurels, and rosemary, the common kitchen herb.
2. Synthetic camphor is derived from the sap (turpentine) of evergreen trees in the pine family.

Hinduism & Camphor

Camphor has been an essential ingredient for any puja / homa / yagna / havan since eternity.

Here’s the mantra that’s said while offerring NAIVEDYA / BHOG to the almighty.

pugiphala ( nuts) Samayuktam nagavallidalairyutam Karpura-churna samyuktam tambulam prati-ghruhyatam. Eti tambulam samarpayami.

Why do HINDUS light CAMPHOR

1. In Puja
1. When the camphor is lit, it burns itself out, fully evaporating until there is no residue left in the prayer utensil, leaving behind a sweet fragrance in the air instead. In the same manner, it symbolizes union with God and the promise of the devotee to burn their ego completely without leaving any residue while spreading the light of knowledge to other lives that touches theirs, no matter how brief a time. Just like the scent emanating from the camphor, the devotee, devoid of his ego and arrogance, spreads goodness around themselves
2. The flame of the camphor also signifies the flame of consciousness of Lord Shiva where we can surrender all our egos to be burned under the influence of God, no longer to be seen within us. We close our eyes while performing the aarti as if to look within, to our very self or Atman. Self realization can be achieved by realizing ourselves with the flame of knowledge.
3. At the end of the prayer, the devotee places cupped hands over the flame and touches the eyes and top of the head, symbolizing the illumination of vision and purity of thought.
2. Other Uses
1. As an excellent germicide, camphor is burned to purify the atmosphere, it is also believed to remove negativity from the environment
2. Absorbed through the skin, camphor produces a feeling of cooling similar to that of menthol and acts as a slight local anesthetic and anti-microbial substance.
3. It is a decongestant and can be used as an essential oil for aromatherapy or topical application.
4. If used properly and under the guidance of an ayurvedic expert it can decrease the harshness of nervous disorder as well as convulsions, epileptic episodes, nervousness, mental tension as well as chronic anxiety.
5. It is believed to be toxic to insects and is sometimes used as a repellent and also to deter snakes and other reptiles due to its strong odor.

Hope this helps.

Jai Ganesha!