Why did parents and grandparents not explain the story behind incense stick (agarbatti) and benzoin (sambrani), even though ancient logic is so marvellous?

In the past, incense stick (agarbatti) and benzoin (sambrani) were part of daily rituals, valued for the calm and purity they brought. Elders lived by experience rather than explanation—they trusted the effect, so reasoning wasn’t always shared. Over time, these practices turned into habits where the “why” slowly got lost.

They also lacked today’s scientific language—there were no terms like vagus nerve or SNS/PNS—so they described benefits in spiritual ways such as prana, energy, or divine vibration. Later, with colonial influence and the rush of modern life, storytelling gave way to simple instruction: “Do it, it is good.”

Still, they achieved something vital: they preserved the practice. Now, our role is to reconnect the dots—linking ancient wisdom with modern science—so future generations receive both the ritual and the reasoning.