DHARBHAM - The Sacred Vedic Grass

 

Darbha (Desmostachya bipinnata) has been considered a sacred grass and has been used in religious rituals since Vedic times.  Darbha is also called Kusha and it is considered perhaps the second most sacred herb in the Vedas after Soma.  Darbha has very unique spiritual properties and is used in all religious rituals in the Hindu tradition.  Darbha helps to protect from toxic radiation and negative energies of all types.  It energetically shields the area around it from curses, ghosts, demons and the negative energies created by negative thoughts.  It simultaneously works to carry and amplify spiritual energies and helps to connect with the higher spiritual realms.  Darbha is not only useful in religious rituals, but also around the home, where it can be used to help shield people from the radiation from electrical appliances.  Darbha also has healing properties and is used in Ayurvedic medicine.  For all of its importance in the religious rituals of India, Darbha remains virtually unknown in the West and largely unavailable.  South-Indian priests use Darbha frequently for puja and other rituals.  Because it is not widely available in the markets, asking a priest may be the best way to procure this sacred and useful grass. 

​

The botanical name is "Eragrostis cynosuroides" and in Hindi they call this as Kus or Kusha. Brahmins use this Dharbai grass in all functions, auspicious or inauspicious.

 

SPIRITUAL USES

 

- Darbha is used for making āsanas (seats for prayer and meditation).  Traditionally, the seat of darbha grass is covered with another āsana of wool, silk, cotton or animal skin.  A darbhāsana aids in meditation and protects the person who sits on it from all sorts of negative spiritual energies.  If a darbhāsana is not available, a few blades of darbha grass can be placed under the seat for similar effects.  

- Darbha is traditionally strewn around the place where yajña (fire ceremony), pūjā (prayer ritual) and other religious rituals are conducted.  This protects the people praying from negative spiritual influences and helps to open a channel for connecting with the Devas.  

 

- Kūrcas (bundles) of Darbha grass are placed in the kumbhas (sacred water pot images) where the Devas are invoked for worship.  Darbha kūrcas used in this way help to create a channel to the realm of the Devas while shielding from influences from the lower astral realms, and they also amplify the power of the prayers.

- During Kumbhābhiṣekam rituals (rituals of Temple consecration), water is kept in kumbhas (water pots).  The Devas are invoked into the water pot and worshiped with yantra puja (mystical diagrams), upacāras (ritual offerings) and homam (fire ceremony).  This process energizes the water in the kumbhas, which is then used in a ritual bath to purify and energize (or re-energize) the Temple murtis (icons).  During this process a thread is woven from darbha grass to connect the kumbha (water pot) to the Vigrahas (Temple Icons).

- During āvāhana rituals (invocation), the kumbha (water pot), Bimba (statue), or chitrapaṭa (photo) used for worship is touched with a darbha kūrca, along with mantras of invocation.     

- During Prāṇa Pratiṣṭhā rituals (rituals of enlivenment) for the consecration of a new Murti (Icon), the image is touched with darbha kūrcas at various places, accompanied by special mantras.       

 

- Darbha Pavitram (rings made from darbha), are worn by priests (or at home) whenever prayer rituals are conducted.  These rings help to shield the wearer from negative spiritual energies and to energize their prayers.  

- During Sankalpa (ritual of announcing to the Devas what and who the rituals being conducted are for), the wife maintains an energetic connection to the husband, by touching him with a darbha kūrca. 

- During Vivāham (wedding rituals), the woman wears a belt tied from darbha grass.  

- Similarly, a belt made of darbha is tied around the waist of brahmacāris (spiritual aspirants) during upanāyanam (rituals of spiritual initiation).  

- During Yajña (fire ceremonies), darbha is placed inside thehoma kuṇḍa (fire altar) before the sacred fire is lit and on the four sides of the homa kuṇḍa along with mantras to protect from negative energies and empower the rituals.  

- Upon the completion of a homam (fire ceremony), blades of darbha are burnt with special mantras.  The black ash is then mixed with ghee and blessed with mantras before this black ash (called rakṣa) is offered to devotees to transfer blessings from the rituals.

- Darbha is very important in rituals of purification (puṇyā-havācanam) when it is kept in kumbha (water pots) to enhance the purifying qualities of the water.  This water is energized with Vedic mantras while touching the kumbha with kūrcas (bundles) made of darbha.    

- Darbha is considered a must in rituals for the Pitṛs (Ancestors) like tarpanam.  The ancestors are invoked using bundles of darbha and offerings of water and black sesame are made pouring from the hand, through blades of darbha.

 

- Darbha is used medicinally in āyurveda as a cooling diuretic and urinary tonic.  It has been used to treat urinary dis-eases, diabetes, epilepsy, piles, dysentery, and heavy and prolonged menstruation.  It is used to treat repeated abortion and spiritual disorders of all types.  It is used to improve the complexion and to treat internal and external wounds.  It also has tonic effects to help in emaciation, severe debility or after serious illnesses.     

- Darbha is traditionally used to protect cooked foods from toxic radiation during eclipse.  During solar and lunar eclipses, the atmosphere is full of toxic radiation.  It is said that cooked food kept during an eclipse will become toxic.  If cooked foods are covered in a container and darbha grass kept on top, the darbha will shield the food from toxic rays.       

​

पञ्च राज्यानि वीरुधां सोमश्रेष्ठानि ब्रूमः।
दर्भो भङ्गो यवः सह ते नो मुञ्चन्त्व् अंहसः॥
pañca rājyāni vīrudhāṁ somaśreṣṭhāni brūmaḥ |
darbho bhaṅgo yavaḥ saha te no muñcantv aṁhasaḥ ||

"There are five sacred plants including darbha, bhang, barley, and saha, among which Soma reigns supreme.  These sacred herbs deliver us from all woes."   

इमं बध्नामि ते मणिं दीर्घायुत्वाय तेजसे।
दर्भ स॑पत्नदम्भनं द्विषतस्तपनं हृदः॥
imaṁ badhnāmi te maṇiṁ dīrghāyutvāya tejase |
darbha sa̍patnadambhanaṁ dviṣatastapanaṁ hṛdaḥ ||

"I bind this amulet on you with prayers for a vigorous, long life; the sacred darbha grass which quells enemies and destroys the opposition."    

धृतादुल्लुप्तो मधुमान्पयस्वान्भूमिंदृहोऽच्युतश्च्यावयिष्णुः।
नुदन्त्सपत्नानधरांश्च कृण्वन्दर्भा रोह महतामिन्द्रेण॥
dhṛtādullupto madhumānpayasvānbhūmiṁdṛho'cyutaścyāvayiṣṇuḥ |
nudantsapatnānadharāṁśca kṛṇvandarbhā roha mahatāmindreṇa ||

"Drive away my foes, O sacred darbha grass and cast them beneath me; help me to ascend with the strength of Indra."

​

अयं दर्भो विमन्न्युकः स्वाय चारणाय च।
मन्योर्विमन्युकस्यायं मन्युशमन उच्यते॥
ayaṁ darbho vimannyukaḥ svāya cāraṇāya ca |
manyorvimanyukasyāyaṁ manyuśamana ucyate ||

"The sacred darbha grass quells the anger of friends and foes.  It is called "Soother of Anger," because it brings calm in the mind of angry men."

 

ध्रु॒वन्ते॒ राजा॒ वरु॑णो ध्रु॒वं दे॒वो बृह॒स्पति॑।
ध्रु॒वन्त॒ इन्द्र॑श्चा॒ग्निश्च॑ रा॒ष्ट्रं धा॑रयतां ध्रु॒वम्॥ 

dhru̱vante̱ rājā̱ varu̍ṇo dhru̱vaṁ de̱vo bṛha̱spati̍ḥ |
dhru̱vanta̱ indra̍ścā̱gniśca̍ rā̱ṣṭraṁ dhā̍rayatāṁ dhru̱vam ||

"Firm is the King (the Lord)! May the eternal and immovable Gods; Varuna,  Brhaspati, Indra, and Agni bless the land, people, and creatures with stability." 

This mantra is recited to purify darbha for use; while strewing it, or while putting on pavitram (ring).  This prayer gives stability, consistency, and firmness in our practice, and makes us impervious to distractions or disturbances.  It is suitable to empower darbha for all purposes.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​