Mantra for havan: a simple havan at home, step by step
The mantras for a simple home havan, in order: Ganesha, Agni, the Navagraha, the Gayatri, your main deity and the purnahuti. With fire safety tips.
In a havan, each mantra ends with स्वाहा (swaha), and on that word you offer a little ghee and havan samagri into the fire. A simple home havan goes in this order: Ganesha first, then Agni (the fire), the nine planets, the Gayatri mantra or your main deity's mantra (11, 21 or 108 times), and finally the purnahuti, the full and final offering.
This is a simple order for a household havan. If your family has its own tradition, or a priest guides you, follow them: there is no single correct way.
What you need
A havan kund (or a metal or clay pot set on bricks), dry mango wood or cow-dung cakes, ghee, havan samagri, a little camphor to light the fire, a spoon for the ghee, a coconut (with red cloth or kalava) for the purnahuti, flowers, a lamp, and a small bowl of water.
Fire safety first
- Keep the fire small. A havan does not need big flames.
- Do it outdoors, on a balcony, or in a room with windows open. Keep it well away from curtains, wires and anything that can catch.
- Offer ghee a spoonful at a time. Pouring a lot at once makes the fire flare.
- Keep a bucket of water or sand close by, and keep children and pets at a safe distance.
- Anyone with asthma or breathing trouble should sit away from the smoke.
- Never leave the fire alone. Let it burn down and the ashes cool completely before you clear them.
The havan, in order
Sit facing east if you can, with the kund in front of you. Light the lamp, then the camphor, and build the fire slowly with small pieces of wood.
1. Ganesha first
ॐ गं गणपतये नमः स्वाहा Om Gam Ganapataye Namah Swaha, 3 times. Every puja and havan begins by remembering Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. The mantra without swaha, ॐ गं गणपतये नमः, can be heard on Mahakatha.
2. Welcome all the deities
इष्टदेवताभ्यो नमः कुलदेवताभ्यो नमः ग्रामदेवताभ्यो नमः स्थानदेवताभ्यो नमः Ishtadevatabhyo Namah, Kuladevatabhyo Namah, Gramadevatabhyo Namah, Sthana Devatabhyo Namah
"I bow to my chosen deity, my family deity, the deity of my village and of this place." Said once with folded hands, as a welcome rather than an offering. Listen on Mahakatha.
3. Agni, the fire
ॐ अग्नये स्वाहा Om Agnaye Swaha, 3 times. An offering to the fire itself, which in the Vedic view carries every offering to the gods. To meditate on Agni before you begin, some families also chant the Agni Gayatri, ॐ महाज्वालाय विद्महे… (listen on Mahakatha).
4. The nine planets
ॐ नवग्रहेभ्यो नमः स्वाहा Om Navagrahebhyo Namah Swaha, 3 times. One offering for all nine grahas together, for balance in the year ahead.
5. The Gayatri mantra, the main offering
ॐ भूर् भुवः स्वः। तत्सवितुर्वरेण्यं भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि। धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्। Om Bhur Bhuvah Svah, Tat Savitur Varenyam, Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi, Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat
"We meditate on the radiant light of the divine Sun: may it awaken our understanding." For a general havan, many families make the Gayatri the main offering, adding swaha at the end of each round: 108 times if you can, or 11 or 21. One person can chant while the family offers together. Listen on Mahakatha.
6. Your main deity
If the havan is for a particular deity or occasion, offer that deity's mantra with swaha, 11, 21 or 108 times. For example:
- ॐ नमः शिवाय स्वाहा (Om Namah Shivaya Swaha) for Shiva
- ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय स्वाहा (Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Swaha) for Vishnu or Krishna
For a Devi havan, see the Navratri havan mantra guide, which uses the Navarna mantra.
7. Purnahuti, the final offering
Place the coconut in the fire with the last of the ghee, and chant:
ॐ पूर्णमदः पूर्णमिदं पूर्णात् पूर्णमुदच्यते पूर्णस्य पूर्णमादाय पूर्णमेवावशिष्यते ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः Om Purnamadah Purnamidam, Purnat Purnamudachyate, Purnasya Purnamadaya, Purnamevaavashisyate, Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih
"That is whole, this is whole; from the whole, the whole arises. Take the whole from the whole, and the whole remains." Purnahuti means "the full offering": with it, the havan is complete. Listen on Mahakatha.
8. Close
Do the aarti, then end with a prayer for everyone:
ॐ सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः सर्वे सन्तु निरामयाः । Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niraamayah
"May all be happy; may all be free from illness." Sit quietly for a minute while the fire settles. Listen on Mahakatha.
After the havan
Share the prasad, and once the ashes are fully cold, many families scatter them in a garden or under a tree. For a daily puja without fire, see mantras for puja. If you would like mantras playing softly while you prepare, Mahakatha Radio is on all day and night, free.
Questions people ask
What mantra should I chant during a havan?
Begin with ॐ गं गणपतये नमः स्वाहा for Ganesha, then offerings to Agni and the Navagraha. The main offering is usually the Gayatri mantra or your chosen deity's mantra, each ending in swaha. Close with the purnahuti.
What is the daily havan mantra?
Some households keep a short daily havan, often at sunrise or sunset. A simple form is to offer the Gayatri mantra with swaha 11 times, after an offering to Agni. If your family follows a set daily rite, keep to it.
What is the 108-times havan mantra?
It usually means offering one mantra 108 times, with a little samagri at each swaha. Most often this is the Gayatri mantra, or the main deity's mantra for that occasion.
How do I do a simple havan at home?
Set up a small kund in a safe, airy place, light the fire with camphor, and follow the order above: Ganesha, the deities, Agni, the Navagraha, the main mantra, the purnahuti and aarti. Keep it small and never leave the fire unattended.
How long does a 108-mantra havan take?
Roughly 20 to 40 minutes for the 108 offerings, depending on the mantra's length and how slowly you chant. With setup and the other steps, a simple home havan usually takes about an hour.