It is an old tradition among people to remember gods and spiritual beliefs, mainly when someone gets in trouble or wants something. Similarly, Hindu people have been following numerous rituals and practices since the ancient Vedic times. As a result, they acquire what they aspire. One of the most popular fire rituals in Hindu culture is Chandika Homam. Also known as Chandi Homa or Havan.
Chandi Homam is dedicated to Goddess Chandi – a Hindu Warrior Goddess. She is the most potent form of Goddess Parvati, who eradicates evils and negativity. Maa Chandika is the ultimate source of power (Shakti) of this unbounded universe.
The word Chandi has its roots in the Sanskrit word Chanda. Goddess Chandi worshipers depicted her as the ferocious angry force of the entire universe as she gets angry when encountering evil and negative thoughts, intentions, and energies. Maa Chandi worship benefits people with good health, trouble-less successful life, and free from black magic and negative energy effects. Chandika Homam is the only way to please and get the blessing from her.
Chandi Havan is the best choice for individuals suffering from long-term issues related to heath, court, negativity, and poverty. This havan is regarded as one of the most potent Havan in Vedic tradition. In this Homam, Maa Durga, in her prominent avatar of Devi Chandika, is invoked through hundreds of Chandi Patha and mantras from Durga Saptashati. And, only the experienced and knowledgeable pandits can perform this complex Homam.
Chandika Homam Benefits
Following are the significant benefits of performing Chandika Homam:
- This Homam offers blessings from three main goddesses – Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Parvati as Devi Chandika is a blend of these three Hindu deities.
- Performing this Homam removes every kind of obstacle and problem in life.
- It also protects people from supernatural things like evil eyes and black magic.
- Conducting the havan multiple times reduces the adverse effects of nine planetary gods.
- The one who is performing the puja gets courage, good health, knowledge, prosperity, offsprings, and success as blessings.
- All the family members and houses get protection from harmful and evil energy.
- Parents get gifts in the form of offsprings.
- It removes the black magic and curses put on by someone.
Significance of Chandika Homam
It is among the most complex and powerful Rituals in the Hindu religion. So, the benefits earned from Chandi Havan are very fruitful and valuable. The primary significance of performing Chandika Homam is;
- It eliminates every source of evil and negative energy and blesses the person with good health, prosperity, knowledge, confidence, offspring, and great success.
- Besides that, it solves all the legal and financial problems and fills the person’s life with happiness, satisfaction, and peace.
Chandika Homam Procedure
Since Chandika Homam requires strict rules and numerous steps to follow, only the experienced and wise purohits can perform it. The main purohit will recite 700 shlokas from Durga Saptasati, followed by an offering of oblations into the Agni Kund (fire). In general, there are 16 rituals in Chandi Havan, which are;
- Ganapati or Ganesh Puja: In Hinduism, every religious event begins with praying and blessing Lord Ganesha. Here, you invoke Lord Ganesha and pray that this Homam gets complete well with no interruption and distraction.
- Kanya Puja: It is a sacred Hindu ritual where young girls who have not reached puberty are worshipped as the Baligh form of Devi Chandi.
- Anugna Sankalpam: In this ritual, Yagya performers take vows that the entire puja gets accomplished fully in a predefined manner. They ask for Goddess Chandi’s approval to begin other practices. At the same time, they define whom, where, and when the Havan takes place.
- Punyahavachanam: Before the Havan starts, the purification of mind, body, and soul requires. For this, the pandits will splash a few drops of holy water around the site with mango leaves.
- Kalasa Sthaapana: In the Hindu religion, kalasa or Kalash is a metal pot or container. It represents fertility and the womb. The mango leaves placed on Kalash represent Kamadev – the god of love and desire.
- Saptashati Parayanam: Now the purohits start to chant the 700 slokas from Durga Saptasati. All these slokas describe her divine birth, bravery, and how she ends evils. And at the end of mantras reciting, offerings to Lord Bhairava – the god of destruction and one of Lord Shiva’s avatars take place.
- Punyahavachanam: People who are performing the pooja are purified and cleansed along with places around the havan.
- Gho Puja: It is a ritual of worshiping the sacred cow as the Devi Kamadhenu – the goddess of wish-fulfilling. Vedas describes her as the goddess of limitless resources and happiness.
- Suhasini Puja: Another name for it is Suvasini pooja. In this puja, the worshipping of elderly married women takes place by offering them food, clothes, and some donations.
- Dampathi Puja: It involves the worshipping of elderly couples and taking their blessings.
- Brahmachari Puja: Brahmachari means an unmarried man. In the Hindu religion, such celibacy people have great importance and respect in society. This Brahmachari puja includes worshipping a brahmachari and seeking their blessings.
- Chandi Yagya: Various reciting mantras of Chandi Patha and Durga Saptasati starts. And then it follows the ritual of offering into the fire.
- Sumangala Dravyaahuti: The Goddess Chandi is invoked into the sacred fire. Then, the puja performer offers her sarees and powder of turmeric, sandalwood, and kumkum.
- Purnaahuti: Any Vedic rituals like Yagna, Homam, or havan all get accomplished only after completing this ritual. Various holy items like betel nuts and leaves, turmeric and kumkum powder, flowers, coins, coconuts are wrapped in a cloth and offered into the fire.
- Maha Deeparadhana: The final part of this Homam is Aarti – a light ritual offered to Mata Chandi.
Chandika Homam Costs
On average, performing simple Chandika Homam costs around Indian 15,000 to 18,000 rupees. The overall costs depend on the number of purohits, locations, and Homam complexity. Nava Chandi Homam costs range from Indian 60,000 rupees to a few lakhs.
Chandika Homam Preparation
The list of things needed to perform Chandika Havan are as follows;
- Turmeric powder
- Kumkum (Vermillion) Powder
- Sandalwood Powder
- Incense sticks
- Camphor (Kapoor)
- Betel Leaves & Nuts
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Coconuts
- Rice
- Saree (for Purna Ahuti)
- Ghee
- Coins
- Naivedyam
- Dried Half Coconut
- Atukulu (flatten rice)
- Diya or Dipak – an oil lamp
- Oil for an aarti ceremony
- Cotton Batti or wicks
- Vasthram – in total 15 with different colors
- Panchapatra Udharini
- Clothes (for Kanya Pooja)
- Kalash
- Honey