Hindu Havan – An Ancient Fire Ritual

By
Rgyan Admin
-
November 10, 2017

Hinduism has extremely precious rituals and vidhis associated with its existence. Every ritual
framed has highly advanced beneficiary methodologies associated. Havan is seen to be the
prime part of any major Puja. The sacredness and purity which a Havan can create are much
more than any other process. A Homa or Havan is a sacred Hindu ritual in which offerings
are made to the fire.

Fire is considered to be the main element of a Havan or Homa as well as belongs to the major
five elements of existence. The offerings made to the sacred fire, during a Havan, are said to
purify the environment as well as the people around. It is also believed to drive away all
negative energies around. This fire is supposedly the main link between cosmic
consciousness and human consciousness.

Table of Contents

o The key to spiritual and material success

 What is a Havan?
 Types Of Havan Kunds
 Types Of Havan performed
 Samagri/ Materials Needed For A Havan
 Why should Havan be performed? (Benefits)
o Hindu Havan Benefits
o When should havan be performed?
 Conclusion

The key to spiritual and material success

Havan is seen as one of the ten niyams/rules or positive virtues that are prescribed for a
devotee, who wishes to come closer to the divine, one who wants to acquire Oneness with
Him. Havan is also one way of performing the Deva Yagnya, i.e. one of man’s five daily
duties, as per the tenets of the Sanatan Dharma. A Havan is, generally, performed with an aim
to achieve spiritual as well as material success.

What is a Havan?
It is performed in a Havan Kund or fire pit which is made of bricks. This fireplace is
generally decorated with colorful flowers, leaves, beans, and grains. The items used in
performing Havan are a special mixture of medicinal herbs, roots, dry fruits, wood and ghee
and are offered as an oblation into the Havan Kund fire. This is accompanied by Sanskrit
Mantras which are yet another powerful medium.

Types Of Havan Kunds

The most interesting fact about Havan Kunds is its different properties in different situations.
As per the Scriptures, the unique shape of the Havan Kunda looks into the controlled
generation and multi-directional dissipation of energy. It acts as a generator of essential and
highly powerful energy fields and spreads them in its surrounding atmosphere. Below
mentioned are the shapes in which a Havan Kund can be made and their properties:-

 Rectangular or Square – It is also called Chaturastra Kund for the accomplishment of

all work & gaining Siddhis.
 Triangular – It is also called Trikon Kund which look like bow & arrow and perfectly
designed to win over enemies.
 Circular – It is also called Vrut Yajna Kund and is designed for public welfare and
peace.
 Semi-Circle – It is also called Ardha Chandra Kund which is made to gain harmony,
happiness, peace and resolve conflicts. It is also for conferring peace in the family,
both wife and husband have to offer oblation together.
 Hexagonal
 Yoni Kunda – designed for desire manifestation like getting a child and attracting
love
 Octagonal
 Lotus-shaped – It is also known as the Padma Kund which denotes Lotus and the
Yajna Kund is made in Flower shape which is primarily made to gain wealth. Some
old scriptures also mention its construction for safety against evil energies.
 Star-shaped Yajna Kund – It is also called Pushtrkon Kund which is made for a win
over the unseen and seen enemies.
  The Yajna Kund with 6 angles is constructed for stopping death.

Types Of Havan performed

There are different types of Havan performed depending on the requirements. Some depend
on the region, some on the purpose and some on the situation. We may have missed certain
kinds of Havan so do comment below if you know any additional information. We would be
glad to accept that.

 Lakshmi ganapathi havan

 Rudra havan pooja
 Navagraha havan
 Nakshatra havan
 Maha mrityunjaya havan
 Sudarshan havan
 Saraswati havan
 Lakshmi Narasimha havan
 Lakshmi Narayana Havan
 Subrahmanya havan
 Chandi havan
 Mahalakshmi havan
 Dhanvantari havan
 Dakshinamurthy havan
  Lalitha devi havan
 Gayatri havan
 Santana gopala havan

Samagri/ Materials Needed For A Havan

Hawan Samagri ingredients are approximately of 70 types. We have mentioned major of the
samagris below.
Agar Wood
Anwala
Bach
Baheda
Bawachi
Bay Leaves
Cardamom Green
Chharil
Cloves
Daru
Haldi
Deodar
Dhawai Phool
Dry Coconut or Sookha? Nariyal
Dry Eucalyptus leaves
Guggal or Guggul
Guruch
Harr or Harad
Howber
Indra Jau
Jara Kush
Jata Masi? or Balchhad
Kamal Gatta
Kapoor Kachari
Nag Keshar
Nagarmotha
Nutmeg
Red Sandal Wood
Sandal Wood
Sugandh Bala
Sugandh Kokila
Sugandh Mantri
Tagar Wood
Talish Patra
Tej Bal Wood
Tomad Bee

Dry the leaves and roots in a shadowed open space till the entire moisture is removed. Mix
these together and grind the mixture.

Why should Havan be performed? (Benefits)

In Saam Veda, about 114 Mantras speak about the importance of Havana. Yajur Veda says
that the Havana is the most important, necessary and useful deed. The Vedas say that Yajna
or Yagnya and Gayatri Mantra are the only ways of attaining Moksha or Salvation or Self-
realization. All four Vedas have innumerable mantras related to Yajna. The word Yajna is
derived from the root “Yaj”. The word “Yaj” has three connotations as mentioned in the
Yajur Veda mantra as “Yajudevapujasangatikaranadaaneyshu”.

Hindu Havan Benefits

Havan has many benefits; starting from our body, mind, soul to the environment. It’s us who
have left these traditions and super awesome solutions by ancestors, somewhere behind. The
benefits of Havan are mentioned below:-

Acts as a cleanser

We not only purify the air but also remove the impurities from our mind and body.

A source of bonding

This process also helps in maintaining the unity and harmony in the family and the
community.

The evil destructor

By constantly looking at the Havan fire, and by chanting this divine mantra, all disturbing
and wavering thoughts will be destroyed in the fire which will result in concentration and
equanimity.

Acts as a disinfectant

Various gasses produced during Havana decompose the poisonous gasses liberating free
oxygen and other useful products acting as disinfectants. A scientist named Trelle of France
did experiments on Havan. He found that Havan is mainly performed by using mango tree.
When the wood is burnt then a gas, “formic aldehyde” comes out which destroys the harmful
bacteria and makes the atmosphere purified. Then only, the scientists made “formalin” from
“formic aldehyde” gas. He also did experiment on jaggery Gur and found that on burning the
jaggery, jaggery also generates “formic aldehyde” gas. A scientist named Tautilk came to
know that if we stay in a Havan and its smoke for half an hour then the germs of typhoid are
destroyed and all these matters are used in Havan. Yajurveda says that four types of things
mainly used to prepare offerings for a Havan- 1. Sweet Like honey, jaggery, raw sugar etc., 2.
Antibiotic herbs like gyol, etc., 3. Nutrition like pure ghee, dry fruits etc., 4. Fragrant
materials like cardamom, dried petals flowers etc.

An energy booster

With the offerings into the fire and chanting of mantras, one’s chakras are re-energized,
creating a rejuvenating and revitalizing effect for both the mind and body.

Ladder to success
One attains positive thoughts, actions, and words which pave way for one’s success.

Acts as a shield

Havan is said to dispel all negative energies and a protective shield is said to be built around
the house where the ritual is performed, warding off any negative or evil energies.

It strengthens the mental abilities

Havan also induces peace, good health, prosperity and clarity of thought, with the increased
power of discrimination and an improved usage of mental abilities. The result, therefore, is
the success in all one does.

When should havan be performed?

Ideally, Havan should be performed daily. In every household, havan should be carried out
the once per week at least in the presence of all members of the family. Early hours of the
morning are considered to be the most conducive for all religious activities as the air is
charged with energy or praan at that time. However, this practice may also be done at a time
that is best suited for everyone.

No Havan is considered complete until some Donation/Daan is given. Daan refers to acts of
charity and benevolence, liberality, and gifts, financial and otherwise.

Conclusion
Today’s polluted environment is the biggest challenge being faced by the world. It is
threatening the very survival not only of the human race but the entire living world. The
western world has in recent times become truly concerned about our environment which has
become increasingly polluted over the years. Our Rishis and Maharishis have since the early
Vedic Age advised us of the purification process involved in a Havan. It follows that if more
people perform Havan two times a day, it can arguably have a greater influence in purifying
the environment. But, we have ignored it tillages. If we pledge to follow the rules of Sanatana
Dharma and perform our acts accordingly, I’m sure within no time, the world would be a
much better place to reside in.