What is a samrani cup?
A samrani cup is a small, cup-shaped piece of cow dung blended with fragrance essence and aromatic herbs. Traditionally, samrani (also spelled sambrani) was loose resin powder sprinkled on hot coals. The cup form keeps the same warm, resinous smoke in a ready-to-use shape. Each AAHVAAHAN cup weighs about 5 g and a pack holds 10.
How to light one
- Place the cup upside down or upright (both work) on an earthen samrani holder, a clay diya, or a glowing charcoal disc in a metal dhoop stand.
- Light the top edge with a match or lighter and hold the flame there for about 15 seconds.
- Let it flame briefly, then blow it out. The edge should glow and begin to smoke.
- Leave it to smoulder. It burns down slowly for 15 to 20 minutes and gives thick, fragrant smoke.
When families use samrani
In many homes samrani is burned on Tuesdays and Fridays, during evening prayers, on festival days, at a griha pravesh, and after a long day to make the home feel fresh and calm. Many people carry the holder slowly from room to room, so the smoke reaches every corner of the house.
Tips for the best smoke
- Use a holder with air underneath. A cup pressed flat on a cold plate may go out.
- Store the pack closed, in a dry place. Damp cups are hard to light.
- Open a window a little after the smoke has spread, so the room does not get too smoky.
- The holder gets hot. Pick it up by the handle or with a cloth.
Which fragrance to pick
Loban is the classic samrani fragrance: sweet, warm and resinous. Guggal is deeper and smokier. Chandan is soft and woody, and Vedam is our own traditional herbal blend. Try two at once with the dhoop cones and samrani cups combo.
