Item 1
Kumkum in ritual quantity, turmeric and akshata
Kumkuma by the quarter-kilo for the kumkumarchana — a pinch at each name of the Lalitha Sahasranama or the Devi Ashtottara — with pasupu and akshintalu for the pooja.
🎁 For Chandi Homam
Chandi Homam Kit — the Chandi Havan Samagri List
The Chandi havan samagri for a Chandi Homam at home — the larger dravyam the seven hundred verses of the Devi Mahatmyam run through, with kumkum in the quantity the kumkumarchana needs, the samidha and ghee in homam measure, and the red cloth and thread Devi is dressed with. Performed on Navaratri, on Ashtami, or by sankalpam; annotated below.
About this kit
What the Chandi Homam Kit is for
Chandi Homam offers the Durga Saptashati — the seven hundred verses of the Devi Mahatmyam — into the fire, verse by verse, with the Navakshari mantra, after the parayanam and the kumkumarchana of Devi. It is the largest of the household homams: it runs several hours with one purohit or a day with several, and it consumes far more ghee, samidha and havan samagri than a Ganapathi or Navagraha Homam. The kumkum is the other difference: the archana is a kumkumarchana, and the kit carries it by the quarter-kilo.
The kit is measured for a Chandi Homam of one purohit with the full parayanam: the samidha in quantity, havan samagri and cow ghee for seven hundred ahutis and the purnahuti, kumkum in ritual quantity with turmeric and akshata, a red cloth and thread for the kalasam, and the fruit, coconut and tamboolam fresh against the date. For a Sata Chandi or a homam with several ritviks, tell us the format and the quantities are scaled.
What is in the box
Contents — 6 items, and what each is for
Item 2
Chandi homam samidha
Samidha in homam quantity, cut to length, for a fire that burns through the seven hundred verses; some families add bilva and khadira, which can be included.
Item 3
Havan samagri mix and cow ghee
The dry offering and the ghee for seven hundred ahutis with the sruk, plus the purnahuti — measured for one purohit's full parayanam.
Item 4
Red cloth and sacred thread
A red blouse-piece to dress the Devi kalasam and the thread bound round its neck; red is Chandi's colour and the cloth is later given as vastram.
Item 5
Coconut, banana, betel leaves and areca nuts
Naivedyam and tamboolam for the pooja and the dry coconut for the purnahuti, supplied fresh against the date.
Item 6
Camphor, cotton wicks and matchboxes
Karpuram to kindle the fire and for the harathi, vathulu for the lamps, matchboxes.
Samagri requirements vary with regional tradition, family custom and the performing priest. This list is what the kit is normally assembled with — confirm the final contents with your purohit before dispatch. Fresh items are supplied against your ceremony date.
Through the ceremony
How the samagri is used in Chandi Homam
Kalasam and kundam
The Devi kalasam is dressed in the red cloth and thread and set on rice as Chandi's seat; the kundam is set on its liner and sand bed with the samidha, ghee and havan samagri in quantity beside it.
Sankalpam and the opening poojas
Sankalpam, Ganapathi Pooja, and the avahanam of Devi into the kalasam with the Navakshari mantra.
Kumkumarchana
The Lalitha Sahasranama or Devi Ashtottara is recited with a pinch of kumkum offered at each name, until the kalasam and image are heaped in red.
Saptashati parayanam
The thirteen chapters of the Devi Mahatmyam are read with the Kavacham, Argala and Kilaka before and the Devi Suktam after; in some formats the parayanam and the homam run together.
The homam
Agni pratishta, then the seven hundred verses offered as ahutis — ghee, havan samagri and samidha with each — followed by the Navakshari japam count.
Purnahuti, kanya pooja and harathi
The dry coconut goes into the fire with the purnahuti mantra; where the family keeps it, young girls are worshipped as Devi and fed; camphor harathi and raksha close the homam.
Not in the box
What the house provides
- The homa kundam, liner and sand — a large kundam; see Homam Dravyam
- A brass or silver kalasam for Devi and a Devi image, and rice to seat it
- Milk, sugar and the naivedyam dishes — pongal or the family's offering
- Fruit in quantity, and gifts for the kanya pooja if it is included
- A ventilated space where a fire can burn for several hours, and water beside it
- Plates, a bell, the harathi plate, and seating for the family through a long homam
Common questions
Before you book
What is on the Chandi havan samagri list?
Kumkum in ritual quantity with turmeric and akshata; samidha in homam quantity; havan samagri and cow ghee for seven hundred ahutis; a red cloth and thread for the kalasam; coconut, banana, betel leaves and areca nuts; camphor, cotton wicks and matchboxes. The kundam, the kalasam, milk and the naivedyam dishes are provided at home.
How much ghee does a Chandi Homam need?
A full Saptashati homam with one purohit uses several kilograms of ghee — roughly two to three — with samidha and havan samagri in proportion, which is what the kit is measured for. A Sata Chandi with several ritviks uses many times that; tell us the format.
Why so much kumkum?
The archana in a Chandi Homam is a kumkumarchana: a pinch of kumkum is offered at each of the thousand names of the Lalitha Sahasranama or the hundred and eight of the Ashtottara, and the image and kalasam are heaped in it. A household pooja packet is not enough; the kit carries it by the quarter-kilo.
How long does a Chandi Homam take?
Four to six hours with one purohit for the parayanam and homam together; a full day for a Sata Chandi with several ritviks. Plan the space and the seating accordingly.
When is Chandi Homam performed?
Navaratri — especially Ashtami and Navami — Ashada Navaratri, a Friday or an Ashtami by sankalpam, and for the family's protection at a difficult time. The Chandi Homam page carries the vidhi and the booking details.
How do I order?
Tell us the ceremony date when you enquire. We confirm availability, the final contents and the price before anything is charged; fresh items are supplied against the date.
Other kits
Also assembled
Ordering the Chandi Homam Kit?
Send us the ceremony date and we will confirm availability, the final contents and the price before anything is charged.