According to famous Kew Garden data, there are 12,000 grass species worldwide. RigVeda mentions ten types of grass- Kasha, Durva,Kusha,Darbha,Munja, Paka Durva, Shara, Trina, Ulapa,Vamsa and Yuva.Three of these ten grasses -Kusha, Darbha and Durva -are essential for conducting certain Hindu rituals or pujas.
The question is: Why? This post will delve deep into the probable reasons for including these three types of grasses and examine whether scientific reasons behind their inclusion in Hindu rituals exist.
Three Sacred Grasses
The most sacred book of Hindu-Rigveda – the oldest Hindu scripture- mentions three grasses – Kushara, Darbh and Durva. Following the hymn from Rigveda [Rig Veda 1.191.3 ]
“श॒रास॒: कुश॑रासो द॒र्भास॑: सै॒र्या उ॒त । मौ॒ञ्जा अ॒दृष्टा॑ वैरि॒णाः सर्वे॑ सा॒कं न्य॑लिप्सत ॥
शरासः कुशरासो दर्भासः सैर्या उत । मौञ्जा अदृष्टा वैरिणाः सर्वे साकं न्यलिप्सत ॥
Translation in English
(Blades of) śarā grass, (of) kuśarā, (of) darbha, (of) sairyā, (of) muñja, (of) vīraṇa, all (the haunt) of unseen (venomous creatures), have together anointed me (with their venom).
Rigveda (completed around 2000 B.C.) mentions the words “Kushara” and “Darbha” only once in the entire book. However, there are many instances of the phrase “sit on sacred grass” (translated by Ralph T.H. Griffith). Hindu rituals require that a person offering prayers to god should sit on a mat made of Kusha, which historians believe is mentioned as Kushara and the phrase “sacred grass” in Rig Veda.
Similarly, Darbha ( Imperata cylindrica), although not precisely Kusha, has a distinct botanical name, Desmostachya bipinnata. There was a controversy around these grasses because certain old scriptures mentioned them as synonyms. But it is established that both are quite similar in look, but quite different types of grass.
As far as Dub (pronounced Doob in Hindi ), which is one of the 21 items very dear to Ganeshs, is concerned, the word “Durva” is used three times in Rig Veda -Book 10
- Sukta 16.13
- Sukta 134.5;
- Sukta 142.8
This shows that Hindu civilization was not only in full knowledge about this grass but actually gave this grass so much importance that following rituals that a Hindu person will surely do will require Darbha.
Why so much value to Kush, Darbh and Duvra (Dub)?
As I have written earlier, these grasses are not ordinary grass. Kush grass ( Desmostachya bipinnata or Eragrostis cynosuroides) and Duvra (Cynodon ductylon ) are powerful medicinal plants. So the Hindu sage (rishi munies) who knew the power of these grasses included these grasses in people’s daily lives. What can be better than including it as an essential part of prayers and pooja? This way, as long as people do pujas, they will grow, protect, and use these medicinal plants. So, let us discuss the distinct features and powers of these three grasses- Kush, Darbh and Duvra (Dub)
Kush -the Sacred Grass
In Ayurveda – the Hindu way of medicine is Ayurveda. This school of medicine used Kush (( Desmostachya bipinnata or Eragrostis cynosuroides)) to prepare medicine for bleeding disorders like dysentery with bleeding, Menorrhagia and other bleeding disorders.
- Kush grassroots is useful in treating wounds and pimples (as per Charaka Sanhita). Sushruta Sanhita tells about its usefulness in studying corpses.
- Decoction of root is helpful in indigestion (Bhavaprakash).
- Roots of kush are beneficial in Menorrhagia, a disorder of Menorrhagia that is heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding (Refer to the book Chakradatta, also known as Chakrapani).
- Root paste consumption is good in bleeding piles (Bangasena). .[source: Study Of Biological Activity of Eragrostis Cynosuroides (B. A.) based on Ayurvedas Literature]
- Kusha grass is used in dysuria and Calculi because of its inherent diuretic and lithotripsic properties.
- Research published here proved that the extract from the leaf of Eragrostis cynosuroides (Kush) was very effective against the bacteria E. coli and against the fungi A. niger.
- A research paper published here in the Asian Journal of Research in Chemistry provides another property of Darbh as a preventer of iron corrosion. The research [was done by S. Ananth Kumar, A. Sankar, S. Ramesh Kumar, M. Vijayan. Eragrostis cynosuroides Stem Extract as Corrosion Inhibitor for Mild Steel in Acid Medium. Asian J. Research Chem. 6(12): December 2013; Page 1095-1098.] concluded as:
Eragrostis cynosuroides inhibition effects on the corrosion of steel in 1M HCl solution were investigated using polarization and electrochemical impendence techniques. The results revealed that Eragrostis cynosuroides acts as a corrosion inhibitor in 1M HCl solution. The inhibition efficiency increased with an increase in inhibitor concentration. The inhibition is attributed to adsorption of the inhibitor on the steel surface.
Use of Kusha in Solar Eclipse
Hindu sages of Vedic times had great knowledge about plants, the sun and cosmic relationships. It was known to them that when Surya Grahan (Sun Eclipse ) happens, the microorganism takes birth during that period. Scientists of A.J. Institute of Medical Sciences, Kuntikan, Karnataka , conducted an experiment on the effect of solar eclipse on microbes during total solar eclipse on 15th January 2010, which lasted 10 minutes. The research conclusion was :
The present study concludes that blocking the sun’s rays during an eclipse does not harm prokaryotes and eukaryotes; instead, it promoted the progeny of predators in the race of better acclimatization and survival in natural and changing environmental conditions.
This proves what Vedic period sages were already knowing. Microbes grow during solar eclipse. Where do they grow most? In water. For this reason, eating or drinking water or food is prohibited for a Hindu.
This ritual during the Solar eclipse had the use of Kusha grass. The rule is that Kusha must be put in water during the Solar Eclipse. Why? Because Kusha inhibits the growth of microbes.
In a study funded by Shashtra University, a team of scientists experimented to know the veracity of the traditional claim in Hindu tradition that Desmostachya bipinnata (Kush) can prevent bacterial contamination and growth. Five types of grass interacted with curd. It was found that only Kusha (Desmostachya bipinnata ) removed excess bacteria from fermentable food.
All the facts above clearly establish the power of Kusha, the sacred grass. Vedic period scientists (Rishi, Munies) had already discovered and invented various Ayurvedic medical uses.
Homeopathy Medicine from Kusha Grass
Kusha Grass (also known as Durva grass, Bermuda grass, or Dhoob grass) is botanically called Cynodon dactylon. In homeopathy, the medicine prepared from this grass carries the same botanical name.
Common uses of Cynodon dactylon in homeopathy include:
- Bleeding disorders (especially bleeding from mucous membranes)
- Nose bleeds (epistaxis)
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Urinary tract issues
- Kidney and bladder problems
The grass is considered sacred in Hindu tradition and has been used in traditional medicine systems for centuries before being adopted into homeopathic practice.
Darbha (Imperata Cylindrica Beaur)
One of the most fundamental duties of a Hindu is performing Shraddh to his ancestors. The belief is that without “shraddh”, a dead Hindu does not attain salvation. For such important ceremonies, which always happen in Hindu society, the grass Darbha is essential.
The Darbha grass was also used in sacrifices for strewing the ground for placing oblations and sitting of priests and sacrifice. [Refer Atherveda AV,19.32.2;19.32.10;19.33.3]. The word “barhi” is also found repeatedly throughout the Rigveda, in the sense of Darbha grass denoting the litter of grass strewn on the sacrificial ground on which the gods are summoned to seat themselves.[R.V.,1.63.7]
Darbha is Highly Flammable!
While Kush is recommended for all kinds of puja and rituals, Darbha is also recommended for the Shraddh ceremony. Why?
In my understanding, the part and parcel of the shradh is burning the dead body. In those times, our ancestors found the powerful grass Darbha – the fastest-burning material. Because it was weed, it was also abundantly available. Therefore, this grass was fit for the Shraddh ceremony. I would like to draw the reader’s attention to the following Wikipedia description about the flammability of Darbha (Imperata Cylindrica Beaur)
Cogongrass is a pyrophyte. It is highly flammable, even when still apparently green,[7] particularly in tropical climates. It is not uncommon to see hillsides of cogongrass on fire.[8][9] Cogongrass depends on regular fires to spread and maintain ecological dominance. Because of its density and high biomass, cogongrass provides a very high fuel load, enabling wildfires to burn faster, higher, and much hotter. This is hot enough to kill most competing plants, including trees. After a fire, cogongrass will recolonize the area using their rhizome network which was unaffected by the fire.[3][10][11][6]
Seers and sages advised Darbha grass used in the Shraddh ritual based on the properties of burning very fast. Kusha is also used in the Sharddh ceremony but not for arranging for seating or burning purposes.
Medicinal use of Darbha
Shaunakiya Atharvaveda (S.A.), written around 1500 BC, considers Darbha the essence of medicines. It is described as an aquatic, devine grass that grows in mostly in coastal regions through its rich and extensive branched roots (S.A.S. 6/43/1-2).
Darbha is considered the best drug for non-oozing disorders and is beneficial for
- longevity,
- headache,
- Jalodar,
- Snake and scorpion poison and
- prevention of wickedness,
[Refer S.A.S. 8/7/20; 10/4/2, 13; 11/6/15).]
Durva or Dub Grass
The botanical name of Durva is Cynodon ductylon, also known as Bermuda Grass. The use of Dub is also compulsory in many Hindu rituals. Lord Ganesha is worshipped with 21 Durva Grass, and Satynarayana puja or Durga Puja requires it as a mandatory element of puja. In Hinduism, this grass is so sacred that Hindus celebrate Durva Ashtami during the Bhadra Pada (8th day of the waning moon in September- October). On this day, Durva is offered to the Lord with its tip facing the east.
For Rigveda, 1.84.17 mentions the word “ibhāyota“. Ibha in Sanskrit also means “elephant “. Similarly, RV 4.4.1. mentions the word “ibhen” which means Elephant. The point is that Vedic people were very much aware of Elephants and had also domesticated them.
Why the custom of offering Doob to Lord Ganesha?
Lord Ganesh represents the elephant”, symbolically offering the most likeable food for elephants, grass. Durva in Sanskrit means “which is cut or eaten by animals“. Many studies have found that grass is the most liked food among other foods by Elephants. One study can be found here.
Medicinal Properties of Durva Grass (Doob)
Durva grass is greatly used to prepare medicine for many ailments and diseases. Some of them are described below :
1. Anti-convulsant- the study suggests that ethanolic extract of Cynodon dactylon has anti-convulsant properties and the results verify its traditional use in epilepsy. Further phytochemical studies are in progress to isolate, characterize and identify the specific active compounds in this plant responsible for anti-convulsant activity. [Refer to the study]
2. Wound-healing Properties-Durva or Cynodon dactylon has wound-healing properties [ study ]
3. Gastro-protective – One study found that Durva is gastro-protective in ulcerative colitis patients.
4. A review article on the phytochemical properties and pharmacological effects of Cyndon dactylon published in the Journal of Medicinal Plants Research (Vol. 7(48), pp. 3477-3483, 25th December, 2013) “Several studies showed clear evidence that C. dactylon is a natural crude drug having a widespread of biological and pharmacological functions. “
What is the Difference between Durva and Kusha Grass ?
Durva and Kusha are actually two DIFFERENT types of grasses, though they are often confused with each other, especially in religious contexts.
- Growth habit: Durva creeps along the ground; Kusha grows upright
- Texture: Durva is soft; Kusha is sharp and rigid
- Religious use: Durva for Ganesha; Kusha for Vedic rituals
- Homeopathic medicine: Durva (Cynodon dactylon) is used; Kusha typically is not
The confusion arises because both are considered sacred grasses in Hindu tradition, but they serve different ceremonial purposes.
Conclusion
Because of the medicinal values and uses of these three grasses-Kush, Darbh and Duvra, our scientist forefathers included them in the daily life of Hindus by including them in pujas and rituals. This is so that these essential medicinal plants are protected and grown because use in various rituals will always create a demand and supply ecosystem. So, Rishis and Munies( monks) brilliantly saved their research and discovery without making an effort. The followers of Sanatan Dharma, thus, get the benefits from these invaluable grasses without even knowing it.