The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s20.2

c5.s20.2

SANSKRIT writers describe several varieties of chandana and some include the woods of *Pterocarpus Santalinus* (raktachandana) and *Cæsalpinia Sappan* (pattanga) under this common denomination. Excluding these last, two varieties of sandal wood are generally recognised, namely, *srikhaṇḍa* or white sandal wood and pitachandana or the yellow variety. These varieties are founded on the difference in the depth of colour in the heart-wood and not on any specific difference in the plants. The use of sandal wood in carving, and the elegant and fragrant articles made from it, are too well known to need description here. The Hindus use an emulsion of the wood in the worship of their idols and for painting or anointing their bodies after bathing. Rich natives sometimes use sandal wood for burning their dead relatives. Rich or poor, all add at least one piece of the wood to the funeral pile.