Divine Fragrance
Oxford Dictionary defines ‘divine’ as ‘of or like God’ and ‘very pleasing; delightful’ and defines ‘fragrance’ as ‘a pleasant, sweet smell.‘
‘Smell’ is defined as ‘the faculty or power of perceiving odours or scents by means of the organs in the nose.’ Perfumes are called also called fragrances sometimes. If you like the fragrance of coffee, you like its smell. All smells may not be fragrances but all fragrances are smells. Bad smells are usually called ‘odour’, while good smells are called ‘fragrance.’
Sense of Smell
The sense of smell or gandha is closely linked with memory, mood and emotion. Probably more so, than any of our other senses. A scent acts as a trigger in recalling a person, event or experience. Smell is also highly emotive and that is the reason perfumers develop fragrances that seek to convey a vast array of emotions and feelings; from desire to power, vitality to relaxation. It is likely that much of our emotional response to smell is governed by association, something which is borne out by the fact that different people can have completely different perceptions of the same smell.
Chinmaya Saurabh – the Inspiration
ekenāpi suvṛkṣeṇa puṣpitena sugandhinā
vāsitaṁ tad vanaṁ sarvaṁ suputreṇa kulaṁ yathā
The whole forest is made fragrant (vāsita) even by a (single) good tree fragrant in blossom, as the whole family by a good son.
Swami Chinmayananda proved to be one of the best sons of Bhaarat, who dedicated his life for her political as well as cultural and spiritual freedom. He transformed from being a self-proclaimed agnostic to a seeker, a spiritual Master, a mighty visionary and a missionary, who dedicated 42 years of His life to share the knowledge of Advaita Vedanta with the masses.
The Fragrance – Tadvadam
Many of us have spent years with Swami Chinmayanada, some a few moments and many have known and are getting to know Him through His presence and grace in spite of His physical absence.
Swami Chinmayananda used to apply Guruvayoor Chandan and vibhooti. He had a ‘presence’ and a distinct fragrance about and around Him. A fragrance has been carefully handcrafted and made exclusively to remind people of His divinity. It has been named ‘Tadvadam.’ ‘Tadvanam’ means ‘the most adorable or the Self of an individual.’ Swami Chinmayananda is most adorable to us, and ‘chinmaya‘ is the Self of all as consciousness.
Tadvadam is a luxurious blend of the best quality, pure and natural sandalwood oil and other essential oils. It has a unique fragrance with a strong woody and floral notes, which serves as a very welcoming home fragrance and can even relieve you of all the stress and calm your sense. It can transport you to your inner world of tranquility and is fantastic for meditation and other spiritual practices too.
Chinmaya Saurabh – the Vision
Chinmaya Saurabh is a diffuser set which contains the Tadvandam Oil with a handcarved stone diffuser and a few ornate t-lights. It is an attempt to recreate that divine fragrance of Swami Chinmayananda. It aims to bring Him to our hearts and home, like never before!
‘Chinmaya’ means consciousness and ‘saurabh’ means fragrance. Hence ‘Chinmaya Saurabh’, refers to ‘Chinmaya fragrance’ as well as ‘fragrance of consciousness that enlivens us.’
Chinmaya Saurabh – a Mobile Altar
The stone diffuser inside the Chinmaya Saurabh box has the signature Om of Swami Chinmayananda hand-carved on it. When you light a t-light and place it inside the diffuser, the Om gets projected on the surface behind it. Focusing on this will diffuse all our thoughts and make the mind still, providing you with a perfect altar of focus.
Chinmaya Saurabh is based on the holistic approach where the fragrance calms the body and senses, the memory of Swami Chinmayananda invokes devotion in mind and with the intellect we contemplate on Om. Thus Chinmaya Saurabh is a mobile altar and integrates our whole personality.
Bhagavad Geeta on Fragrance
Swami Chinmayananda was one of the greatest exponents of Bhagavad Geeta. Chinmaya Saurabh also derives its inspiration from the Geeta. Sri Krishna describes the presence of divinity in the whole creation and with respect to smell he says:
punyo gandhah prithivyaam cha tejashcha’smi vibhaavasau
jeevanam sarvabhooteshu tapashchaasmi tapaswishu – Bhagavad Gita – Ch.7 Verse 9
I am the pleasing natural fragrance of the earth , the heat in fire.
I am the life (consciousness) of all that lives, the penance of all ascetics.
Chinmaya Saurabh incorporates all the four – fragrance, light, consciousness (Om) and altar of focus for meditation.
Chinmaya Saurabh – a Blessing
May every whiff of Chinmaya Saurabh, invoke devotion in us. May this divine fragrance remind us of Him, His tireless efforts, His unconditional love and His great Vision for each one of us individually, culturally and collectively as global citizens.