Temple-town incense from Tiruvannamalai, rooted in the devotional life of Arunachala.

B.G Pooja Store is a small devotional shop in the temple town of Tiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu, southern India. The town is dominated by the vast Arunachalesvara Temple and the sacred hill of Arunachala, which has drawn pilgrims and spiritual seekers for centuries.

Among those drawn to Arunachala was Sri Ramana Maharshi, the sage whose presence made Tiruvannamalai known to seekers from around the world. The town today remains a living centre of devotion, where temple worship, satsang, pilgrimage and simple daily ritual continue much as they have for generations.

The B.G shop sits close to the temple’s great gateway tower and offers incense and other materials used in daily worship. Alongside well-known brands, the shop commissions small batches of its own incense, likely produced locally by nearby craftspeople.

Rather than polished commercial fragrances, these feel closer to the simple devotional incense of temple towns. They are, however, accomplished agarbatti — atmospheric, expressive and well made. The Agarwood in particular is an impressive incense, while the Nag Champa has earned a reputation among enthusiasts.