#dhurva

Significance of Durva- Sacrificial and Holy Grass

The derivation of the name Kusha lies in meaning sharp in the sense of acute, and it has its root for the Sanskrit word for "expert," kosala. That is because the edges of the long leaves that grow in pairs along the tall stems are very sharp, so like the sword, it is used as a symbol for discernment or "discriminating wisdom." It grows beside brackish (salty) water such as found at the mouths of rivers and is a kind of tussock grass, growing in clumps.

When it is dry, kusa straw is called durva or dharbai. However, some say these are two different species: Kusha is Poa cynosuroides and Durva, Agrostis linearis.

In mythology, to remove the slavery of his mother Vinata from Kadruva, the King of Birds, Garutman (Garuda) went to Amara Loka and brought flagon contains Ambrosia (Amruta Kalasah) and kept on the Kusah (Sacrificial Grass) and shown to cousins (step mother’s , Kadruva’s sons) and asked to liberate his mother’s (Vinata’s) slavery from their mother.  Because of placing the Amruta Kalasah (pot containg Ambrosia) the Sacrificial Grass (Darba) became sacred.

For this reason, since then Kusah (Darba) has become headmost and worthy for all the rituals of religious sacrificial fires (Yagnas and Homas etc.). In mythology, the mighty Demon Vrutrasura was killed by Indra Deva. Then that Asura fell on the gound and became as Kusah (Darbh). Hence Kushah is treated as sacred in all the Hindu Rituals.

The purity of dharba, also known as kusha (or, kusa) grass, is as ancient in its roots as are the pantheon of Indian Gods. Puranas narrate how Vishnu assumed the form of a Cosmic Tortoise (Skt. kurma) whose shell served to support Mandara, the mountain that served as a dasher in the churning of the sea of milk.  As the mountain rotated, several hairs were rubbed from the tortoise's back. With time, they washed ashore and became Kusha.  Later, when the amrita was obtained and distributed among the gods, some drops fell on the grass which further sanctified it imbuing it with healing properties.

Therefore, in the tradition hair-cutting of Vaishnava toddlers, the hair is touched with kusha before it is cut. It was used as a ritual seat as far back as the Vedas, and the Bhagavad Gita (ch. 6) stipulates that, covered with a skin and a cloth, it is the appropriate seat for meditation. Therefore, it was one of the first offerings made to the Buddha.

Dhruva

                “Om Namah Bhagvate Vasudevaya”

Once upon a time there lived a king named Uttanapad. He had two queens, Suneeti and Suruchi. With them, King Uttanapad had two sons - Dhruva from elder queen Suneeti and Uttama from queen Suruchi. Queen Suruchi always wanted her son Uttama to be the next king. This resulted in her hatred for Suneeti as well as for her son Dhruva. King Uttanapad was very fond of his younger wife and had never gone against her wishes.

One day, king Uttanapad and Suruchi were sitting in the palace and Uttama was sitting on king’s lap. Suddenly Dhruva also came near the king and sat on his father’s other lap. Seeing this, queen Suruchi got angry and scolded Dhruva

Suruchi:  “You are not allowed to sit here.”

Dhruva: “Why?”

Suruchi: “Because only Uttama can sit on his father’s lap.”

Upset with his stepmother’s words Dhruva went to his mother and narrated the whole incident. She loved him and said, “You have another eternal father Lord Vishnu, and he will let you sit on his lap. You should pray Lord Vishnu.” Hearing this, he decided to go deep into forest and pray until Lord Vishnu answers his prayers.

In the darkness of the night, Dhruva left the palace, unnoticed by anyone to search his eternal father. When Goddess Lakshmi saw Dhruva’s plight, she pleaded Lord Vishnu to protect him from all dangers.

In the forest, there was also a gang of dacoits from near-by village. When they saw Dhruva, they attacked him. Goddess Lakshmi appeared in the form of lion and saved the child. Seeing this, Lord Vishnu asked Narada Rishi to guide Dhruva to the deep forest and also asked Goddess Saraswati to protect him.

Narada Rishi went in search of Dhruva and was taken aback when he found that the boy searching the supreme lord was just five years old. Rishi was very concerned that child was too young to be alone in a dense forest full of wild animals. In order to scare him away, Rishi asked him “Aren’t you scared of poisonous snakes, ferocious tigers, lions, owls and other animals that live in this forest? You will not find any food or water here. Your age is to play with toys and friends.”

He advised the child to go back to his kingdom. To this child said, “Nothing could change my mind. I will continue with my penance.”

Astonished with the child’s commitment Narada asked him to chant, “Om Namah Bhagvate Vasudevaya” and attain the supreme Lord.

After Narada left Dhruva sat down under a huge banyan tree and started chanting the mantra. In the initial days Dhruva survived only on fruits from near-by trees and drank water from near-by river. He survived only on leaves while meditating for as long as six days continuously.

Time passed gradually from days to months and then years. Now Dhurva was so engrossed in his prayers that he was unaware of the wild animals. He completely gave up eating and continued his penance. Dhruva then stood on one foot and meditated. To achieve his goal, Dhruva stopped breathing and the entire universe stood still. Lord Vishnu was moved by his determination and finally appeared before him.

Dhruva didn’t opened his eyes, so Lord appeared inside him and asked him to open his eyes.

 Lord said, “O son, let me know your wish and that will be fulfilled.” Hearing this Dhruva touched his feet and said, “Now I want nothing and I am fulfilled.”

Lord Vishnu smiled and hold him up in his arms and said, “O child, your father and all others love you very dearly. Go back to your kingdom to become a great king.  After your life on earth is over, you will become Dhruva star also known as Pole star that shines very brightly in sky. The whole world will look up to you for guidance.”