Why Are Havan Ceremonies so Important?
During a Hindu puja, any event, such as birthdays, homecoming, a wedding, or other milestones, one always performs havan ceremonies. This ritual has been an important part of Hinduism for several years. So, today we discuss at some length why it is so.
But first, we must know what a havan ceremony is.
The word havan comes from a Sanskrit word called Homa, meaning “pouring into the fire, offering, and sacrifice.” In Hindu culture havan, also known as Yajna (derived from Yajna-Purush, who is regarded as the Lord of Sacrifices, a form of Vishnu). It is a ritual performed on special occasions in which offerings such as ghee, grains, seeds, and herbs, etc are offered to Fire God.
Havan- Definition
We consider fire to be God, called Agni dev the central pillar of havan. And the offerings made to sacred fire purify the environment as well as human beings.
When and How to Perform a Havan Ceremony?
For centuries, havan was a festive occasion with various purposes in Indian society. Many Indian celebrations, like birthdays and Navratri, are associated with Havana\. Even during historic times, Kings would dedicate havan before leaving on a military campaign, to remove floods and prevent disease, or to eliminate severe illness.
The most important components of havan are the havan samagri (ingredients) and havan kund. Havan samagri consists of various objects like Mango wood, ghee, cow dung, jaggery, agarwood, various herbs such as turmeric, Haldi, bay leaves, deodar wood, cloves, flowers, etc. Copper is one of the principal metals used in making a havan kund. It is placed in the center and then offerings are made to fire or Agni deva to wash away the impurities and sin. Hindu priests chanting their mantras is the most significant aspect of havan.
Significance of a Havan Ceremony
According to some belief systems in Hinduism, a havan is auspicious but in addition to this, havan supports various other physical, mental, and spiritual advantages. A havan ceremony also purifies the environment according to various sects of Hinduism.
Helps the Body
The offerings made in the fire produce smoke; this smoke contains chemicals that remove bacteria from our homes as well as from within our bodies. It might also help clear our brains which are overburdened with stress and anxiety.
Helps the Mind
The spiritual experience of chanting spiritual mantras and prayers makes our minds naturally joyful. And this helps us improve our mental faculties. It is said that, when we pray to open fire, our minds can feel overwhelming empathy. And a feeling of contributing towards the world we live in, thus making us happier.
Spiritual Blessings
It is believed that this ritual directly leads to heaven and the offerings made are received by Him, and thus these offerings bring us nearer to Him and to spirituality. The chanting and prayers heal our hearts and minds and create a connection with spirituality.
Apart from performing it as a sort of ritual, havan ceremonies also have fantastic spiritual significance. You can feel a sense of oneness with God and your fellow humans and thus, feel at ease in this journey called Life.
