Page 50 - Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols

Handbook of Tibetan Buddhis#12B 9/1/10 11:38 AM Page 32

32 T he Handbook of T ibet an B uddhist S ymbols

creates the characteristic nasal or kazoo-like bound together with a yellow cotton thread,
tone of the Chinese flute. The flute is gener- may be depicted smoldering within a grain-
ally positioned at an inclined angle behind filled bowl or ‘granary’ box. Powdered
the mirror, and usually has a silk tassel juniper or bsang is traditionally shown smol-
hanging from its upper end. dering in incense burners (Tib. spos-phor),
which are commonly depicted in the form of
bronze vase-shaped vessels that stand upon
SMELL three small legs. These incense burners can
(Skt. gandha; Tib. dri) be ornately decorated, and may have carry-
ing handles or be suspended upon three
Smoldering incense sticks, an incense burner, chains in the fashion of a swung Christian
or a conch shell full of perfume, traditionally censer. In Tibet large incense burners (Tib.
represent the faculty of smell. The basic in- bsang khung), for burning juniper leaves and
gredient of Tibetan incense (Tib. bsang) is branches, are traditionally constructed upon
powdered juniper leaf, which is burned in rooftops or near the entrances to temples
charcoal braziers or clay incense burners. Ti- and monasteries. These outdoor incense
betan stick incense (Tib. spos) is hand-rolled burners are made of whitewashed clay and
from a paste of juniper powder mixed to var- fashioned in the shape of stupas. For indoor
ious formulas with medicinal herbs, saffron, use a wooden incense box would be more
sandalwood, frankincense, aloes, musk, and commonly used. This rectangular box has a
other fragrant substances. Several upright in- lower metal tray, upon which incense sticks
cense sticks, or a thick round cluster of sticks are burned horizontally on a bed of ashes. In

Four conch shells full of swirling perfumed liquids (top row). Various examples of burning incense with
tripod mounted censers (left); a wooden incense box with stick incense burning above, and a large out-
door incense burner (right).