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.
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”.
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.