Havan (a Vedic fire ceremony)

A Haven is designed to bring together, purify, protect and bring positive energy to the environment, community, household as well as the people around the fire.

While the fire itself is the centre of attention during a Havan, this Yajna (act of worship or devotion) also acknowledges each of the five elements in its design. Accompanied by the chanting of Mantras to provide the intention, offerings such as food, ghee and samagri (a mixture of dried leaves and roots of various herbs) are made into the Havan fire.

In the Satyananda tradition of Yoga, a Havan featuring the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra …a healing Mantra….as its focus, is practised each Saturday in homes and Yoga centres around the world. Practised as a public service to bring healing and positive energy to the local community and environment, those around the fire are encouraged to focus their healing intentions where they are most needed.

On an individual level, the practice can also symbolise a letting go of ways of being that no longer serve us….offering them into the fire with each repetition of the featured Mantra. Havan is also known as Homa, Homam or agnihotra and means offering oblations into the fire. It is said that these offerings waft on the smoke to the devas (celestial beings) as a way of thanking them for all the blessings we receive from them..

In the Bhagavad Gita (3:10–13), Lord Krishna says, “In ancient times, having created mankind together with this yajna, the Lord of Creation said:

‘By this yajna, you shall propagate. Let this yajna be the fulfiller of all your desires. You shall nourish the devas, the shining ones, by this yajna, and may the devas nourish you. Thus, nourishing one another, you shall reap the highest good. For, nourished by yajna, the devas shall bestow on you the enjoyments that you desire. He is a thief who enjoys what is given by the devas without returning anything to them.”

Sources
http://www.yogamag.net/archives/2010s/2012/1204/1204yaj.html