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Darbha: 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.            

Darbha (Desmostachya bipinnata)

The Uses of Darbha 

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.  

Darbha āsana (seat of Darbha Grass)

- 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.     
 Kumbha (water pot) with Darbha
- During Prāṇa Pratiṣṭhā rituals (rituals of enlivenment) for the - Darbha Pavitram (rings made from darbha), are worn by priests (or at
consecration of a new Murti (Icon), the image is touched with darbha home) whenever prayer rituals are conducted.  These rings help to
kūrcas at various places, accompanied by special mantras.          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.        
 A few Guidelines for Using Darbha 
- For the best results, blades of darbha with the tips intact should be used.
- When cutting darbha into smaller pieces, do not use the finger nails, and keep the tips intact if possible.
- Handle darbha with reverence and respect for its spiritual energies.  
- When strewing Darbha, keep its tips pointing toward the East, North, or North East. 
- Darbha kūrcas (bundles) should consist of 7, 9, 16, 18, 21, 24, 27 or other sacred numbers for best results.
- Darbha pavitrams (rings) should be made with 1 blade for antyeṣṭi (funerals and other rituals of death); with 2 blades for nitya pūjā (regular, home worship offered for oneself
and family); with 3 blades for pitṛ pūjā (rituals for the ancestors like tarpaṇam and śrāddham); and with 4 blades for parārtha pūjā (Temple worship / prayers for others). 
- After gathering, darbha should be used ideally within six months for best results.  
- Darbha should be gathered by spiritually-minded people, while chanting mantras.
- Darbha should be gathered only on the first lunar day of the waning moon cycle.  
- After use, darbha should not be re-used, but discarded respectfully in a natural place where people will not walk.  
- Darbha water should be ideally used within 24 hours.  
- If darbha is not available, other grasses, especially those in the Desmostachya, and Eragrostis  genera, or lemon-grass and its relatives can be substituted.  These grasses will have
lesser but adequate effects.  Be careful when handling grasses, because many have razor-sharp edges which can cut the fingers if a person is not careful (lemongrass is a great
example of this).
- To store darbha or other grasses, ensure they are dried well to prevent mold, and store ideally in an airtight container or bag.       
 Sacred Mantras 
Atharva Veda Saṁhitā (ath saṁ) 11|6|15|| ath saṁ 6|43|1||
पञ्च राज्यानि वीरुधां सोमश्रेष्ठानि ब्रूमः। अयं दर्भो विमन्न्यु कः स्वाय चारणाय च।
दर्भो भङ्गो यवः सह ते नो मु ञ्चन्त्व् अं हसः॥ मन्योर्विमन्यु कस्यायं मन्यु शमन उच्यते ॥
pañca rājyāni vīrudhāṁ somaśreṣṭhāni brūmaḥ | ayaṁ darbho vimannyukaḥ svāya cāraṇāya ca |
darbho bhaṅgo yavaḥ saha te no muñcantv aṁhasaḥ || manyorvimanyukasyāyaṁ manyuśamana ucyate ||

"There are five sacred plants including darbha, bhang, barley, and "The sacred darbha grass quells the anger of friends and foes.  It is
 saha, among which Soma reigns supreme.  These sacred herbs deliver called "Soother of Anger," because it brings calm in the mind of angry
us from all woes."    men."
Mantra for Using Darbha
ath saṁ 19|28|1||
इमं बध्नामि ते मणिं दीर्घायु त्वाय ते जसे ।
दर्भ स॑ पत्नदम्भनं द्विषतस्तपनं हृदः॥
Rig Veda Samhita 10.173.5..
imaṁ badhnāmi te maṇiṁ dīrghāyutvāya tejase |
darbha sa̍patnadambhanaṁ dviṣatastapanaṁ hṛdaḥ || ध्रु॒वन्ते॒ राजा॒ वरु॑ णो ध्रु॒वं दे ॒वो बृ ह॒स्पति॑ ।
ध्रु॒वन्त॒ इन्द्र॑श्चा॒ग्निश्च॑ रा॒ष्ट् रं धा॑रयतां ध्रु॒वम्॥ 
"I bind this amulet on you with prayers for a vigorous, long life; the
sacred darbha grass which quells enemies and destroys the dhru̱vante̱ rājā̱ varu̍ṇo dhru̱vaṁ de̱ vo bṛha̱spati̍ ḥ |
opposition."      dhru̱vanta̱ indra̍ścā̱gniśca̍ rā̱ṣṭraṁ dhā̍rayatāṁ dhru̱vam ||
ath saṁ 19|33|2||
धृ तादुल्लु प्तो मधु मान्पयस्वान्भूमिंदृहोऽच्यु तश्च्यावयिष्णु ः।
"Firm is the King (the Lord)! May the eternal and immovable
नु दन्त्सपत्नानधरां श्च कृण्वन्दर्भा रोह महतामिन्द्रेण॥ Gods; Varuna,  Brhaspati, Indra, and Agni bless the land,
dhṛtādullupto madhumānpayasvānbhūmiṁdṛho'cyutaścyāvayiṣṇuḥ | people, and creatures with stability." 
nudantsapatnānadharāṁśca kṛṇvandarbhā roha mahatāmindreṇa ||
This mantra is recited to purify darbha for use; while strewing
"Drive away my foes, O sacred darbha grass and cast them beneath it, or while putting on pavitram (ring).  This prayer gives
me; help me to ascend with the strength of Indra." stability, consistency, and firmness in our practice, and makes
us impervious to distractions or disturbances.  It is suitable to
empower darbha for all purposes.     
 

   
 

 
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