Darbha Amavisia (दर्भ मावस)

Darbha Mavas falls on beuuderpeth mavas (the 15th day of the dark fortnight of beuuderpeth) every year. This day is dedicated to darbha, the holy grass, used during puja, karma kanda and other religious ceremonies. This grass is also worn as the ring (pavitar) on the ring finger of the person who is performing the rituals. Darbha grass or Kusha Grass, Desmotachya bipinnata (Salt-reed grass) is not cultivated but it grows wild. It is found in damp marshy and low laying areas like paddy fields etc. It grows up to 4 feet and appears pointed at the top. It is extremely rough, and if rubbed the wrong way, it may cut through the skin.

Ancient sculptures describe that this grass came into existence after Samudra Manthan (the churning of the cosmic ocean). When demons got ready to churn the cosmic ocean of milk, there was no one to support the base of Madhara Mountain. Lord Vishnu took the form of a tortoise and gave support. During the churning, the hair of the tortoise fell down and was washed away to the shore. This hair turned to Darbha grass. When the nectar was finally procured and due to improper handling, a few drops of it fell on the grass which further sanctified the grass giving it more healing properties.

 On Drabha Amavasya day in Kashmir, the elderly person of the family used to go to paddy fields in the wee hours to collect darbha and after return, he used to knot this Darbi Toojei on the hasp (haankal) in the main entrance of the house to ward off evil spirits for the whole family. Darbha has the highest value in conducting the phonetic vibrations through its tip and that is why priests dip the tip of darbha into the water and sprinkle it all over the room, house or temple to purify the place.

My dear father Pandit Dina Nath Bhat used to collect a maximum chunk of Darbha for distribution among the purohits in Srinagar, especially to Pandit Vishamber Nath Bradu of Kani Kadal, our Kul Brahman. During hawan darbha is placed on all four sides of hawan kund to help block all negative radiations.

According to Rig Veda this grass is used in sacred ceremonies and also to prepare a seat for priests and the gods. It is believed that wearing a ring (paviter) made of darbha, blocks energy generated during meditation from being discharged through our body. That is why during eclipses, darbha is placed on vessels containing water and food so that the negative effect of rays from eclipses does not spoil it.

In Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says in Chapter 6.11: “To practice Dhyan yoga, one should go to a sheltered place and should lay Darbha/Kusha grass on the ground and cover it with a deerskin and a soft cloth.”

Single leafed darbha ring (paviter) is used for the ceremonies related to death; a ring made of a double leaf is used for auspicious occasions and daily routine puja; a three-leaf ring is used for inauspicious occasions (other than death-related functions), like Amavasya tarpan, pitr shraad etc., and a four-leaf darbha ring is used for the prayers in the temple.

It is believed that Buddha meditated on a Darbha mat and got enlightened under the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya. Darbha is plucked or harvested on Amavasya day (the last day of the dark fortnight) only.Darbha is also used as medicine to treat dysentery, menorrhagia and diuretic.

© Chander M. Bhat