Red Sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus)

Red Sandalwood, or Pterocarpus santalinus, is known in Ayurveda as Rakta Chandana, the crimson sandalwood.

The heartwood at the center of the trunk is the part most often used, along with the bark, and it has been traditionally worked with for heat, wounds, digestion, fluid retention and inflammatory conditions.

Spiritually, red sandalwood has long belonged to the world of prayer and protection. It is used to make japa malas (Prayer beads). helping focus the mind while cooling the heat of the body and spirit.

in Vajrayana practice, red sandalwood is associated with magnetizing activity (wangdu) and used in the “prayer that magnetizes all.”

The mystery of this wood is that it carries the color of heat and fire, but its medicine is cooling. It’s properties are much more active in The beloved and play a subtle. supporting role in the remembering.