Classification of
Dhurbha grass and its use
in rituals
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
(Dhurbha (Desmotachya bipinnata) is a tropical grass
considered a sacred material in Vedic scriptures and is said to purify the
offerings during such rituals .Traditional tropical grass, Darbha, has been
identified as an eco-friendly food preservative. Though I have have been studying about different Hindu rituals
, I was not aware of the
classification of Dhurbha grass and its suitability for
various rituals. This was given in Tamil
by Sri Vasudevan Srinivas.
Thanks to him.
As a young lad , my
elders informed me that Lord Brahma
used to arrange marriages by
two Dhubha plants. I used to ask, which
Dhurbha is male and which female .After a long
time I have got the answer.)
1.Viswamithra
kusoseeraa shali monunjeecha Dharbhaka,
Dhoorvaa
sreshtaa muni prokthaa
saptha Dharbha prakeerthitha.
The great
sages have told that
Dharbha is of seven types ,
Viswamithra , Kusa, Ucheera , Saalee. Mounjee Dharbha
and Dhurvaa.
2.Agra sthoola
bhaven naari , moola sthoolam napoomsakaam,
Moolagra
samam vaapi puman nithya
abhidheeyathe
If the tip is
stout it is feminine, if base is stout it is eunuch,
And if tip and
base are stout it is
Male
3.Vivahe purusha
Dhurbhaa, Sthree Dharbhaa Pumsavane
Thadhaa,
Napumsakam
thwadhanya karmasu . yesha Dharbhasya nirnaya
For marriages male
Dhurbha is used, for Pumsavana female Dhurbha is used,
And for all other
rituals the eunuch dharbha
can be used.
4.ARchanam Japa
Homam cha , dhanam cha pithru thrpanam,
Apavithranu
paanimcha thath sarvam cha vInasyathi
Archana ,
Japa , homa , Dhana and Pithru tharpana,
If done without
pavithram, then everything would be
destroyed
5.Pavithram
yeka dharbhena, pretha karmani
dharayeth,
Nithya karmani
dharbhaayaam dhwabhyameva chathurmukha
For rituals
involving Pretha(dead body) only
one dharbha is used,
And for all
daily rituals two
dharbhas with 4 tips are used
6.Pithru
karyam thribhir durbhai
, chathurbhir deva poojane,
Panchabhi poshitike Dharbhai
shadbhi saanthyaam pavithrakam
Bhojana valayam
kuryaatu , sapthabhi sarva karmasu.
In case of rituals
of pithrus three dharbhas are used
and
For rituals involving
Devas , four dharbhas
are used,
In rituals like
yaga five are used and for doing parihara
six are used.
In case of meals
and all other rituals seven
have to be used as knot.
7.Dwiyangulam valayam
brahmanukramathi rekhaam
kulaa mathaa,
Chathurangulamaayaamaa
pancha mushti smruthaa
kusaa
For a two inches knot
five fist length of Dharbha is
needed
And its height
should be four
inches.
8.Viseernaa
vigalaa hruswaa , vakraa sthoolaa
krusaa dwithaa,
Krumi dashtaascha
deergaascha varjayeth samithoo
budha.
Those which are spilt
, broken, small , curved , thick , thin ,
Spread out , eaten by worms and too
long are rejected by the wise.
9.Yethe vitha
vinasinaa , sthoolaa raja bhayankari,
Dwidhaa
chaora bhayankari viseernaa sukha maahareth,
Agni daham
bhaved deergham krusaa
kanthaa sukham hanyaathu.
All these would
destoy your wealth , very thick would
invite Government punishment,
Split one would lead
to fear of theft, that which has splits would reduce pleasure,
Very long one
would lead to fear of fire and very then would lead to sickness.
10.Aswastha vata ,
palasaa , plaksha ,
Dumbara ,
sambhavaa samyaparkka thiraa ,
Kuchena samitho
nava
Sacred fig, Banyan
, Palasaa tree , holy fig, fig tree,
Vahnni tree ,
chaff flower , Karumgali and Dharbha ,
Provide
sacred offerings to fire and are called Samith
