Antimicrobial activity of Hawan samagri against pathogens

Abstract

In India majority of people practise’s an ancient ritual almost on every occasion in their homes, which is commonly known as ‘Havan’. Hawan is a Sanskrit word which refers to any ritual that involves making offerings into a consecrated fire. During the ritual special herbal/plant medicinal preparations (Hawan samagri ) are offered in the fire of medicinal woods ignited in a specially designed inverted pyramid shaped fire pit or container (called agni-kunda). Fire lead to sublimation, chemical conversion and/or transformation into vapour phase of the herbal/plant medicinal preparation leading to release of medicinal phytochemicals. This ritual is supposed to clean the environment as well as to cleanse the body from the toxins. Hawan fumes are not only used for the disinfection of air but also it can be environmentally oppressed for the physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual development. It is the easiest way, least taxing,least risky and most effective way for administering a medicine so as to reach every single cell of the body. Havansamagri is the key content to perform the havan, which is a mixture of herbs of superior quality like black till, Kapoorkachri, rose petals,long, kulinjan along with dhoop powders, sandalwood powder, lobaan,ghee, jiggery etc. This work aims to evaluate its antimicrobial potential against S. aureus, E.coli, and C. albicans via well diffusion method and simultaneously evaluates the effect on air quality of the chamber before and after hawan.