Censer

This large censer was once used in the great temple of Palkhor Chodey Monastery in Gyantse, Tibet. During major religious ceremonies, rare herbal incenses were burned in this censer as it swayed at the end of a silver chain while carried through the rows of meditating lamas and monks. The fragrance of the incense is associated with the divine environments and mystic realms into which monks enter during their meditations.

The inscription on the base of the censer offers worship to the donors’ lama, the principal deity they visualize in meditation (yidam), and the Three Jewels (the Buddha, the Doctrine, and the monastic community). It notes the names of the monks (Rinchen and Tenzin Pelgyey) who donated the censer and even gives the price they paid (415 ounces of silver). Finally, it dedicates the merit of their donation to the early spiritual liberation and enlightenment of the donors’ parents as well as of all other living beings.