STRANGE STORIES ABOUT TREES, KUSHA AND DHURVA GRASS IN VEDAS –Part 1 (Post No.4368)

Ganesh with Dhurva Grass (Arukam Pul in Tamil)

 

STRANGE STORIES ABOUT TREES, KUSHA AND DHURVA GRASS IN VEDAS –Part 1 (Post No.4368)

 

Written by London Swaminathan

 

Date: 5 NOVEMBER 2017

 

Time uploaded in London- 14-11

 

 

Post No. 4368

Pictures shown here are taken from various sources such as Facebook friends, Books, Google and newspapers; thanks.

 

 

Origin of vegetation on the earth explained in the Aitareya Brahmana (5-23):

“The earth is the Queen of the Serpents, for she is the queen of all that moves (sarpat). She was in the beginning without hair (without grasses, bushes, trees etc). She then saw the mantra of the Rig Veda (10-189) which commences with

‘This spotted Bull (the sun) hath come, and sat before the mother (the Earth) in the East

Advancing to his Father, Heaven. ‘As expiration from his breath, his radiance penetrates within’.

 

In consequence of it she (the Earth) obtained a motely appearance, she became variegated, being able to produce any form she might like, such as herbs, trees and all other forms. Therefore, the man who has such a knowledge obtains the faculty of assuming any form he might choose.”

DURVA GRASS

The origin of Durva grass, of which much is made in connection with Hindu sacrifices, is described as follows:

“The Hair of Prajapati, which were lying n the ground when he was disjointed, became herbs. The vital air then went out from within him, and that having gone out, he fell down. He said, ‘Verily this vital air has undone me!’ and because he said, ‘it has undone (dhurve) me’, hence  the name Durva; durva doubtless being what is mystically called Durva, FOR THE GODS LOVE THE MYSTIC”—- Satapata Brahmana 7-4-2-11/12

 

Concept of ‘body being Microcosm and the Earth being Macrocosm was borrowed by the Greeks from the Hindus; so plants are equal to hair, blood vessels are equal to rivers etc.

 

The second point to be noticed is Gods love the Mystic, hence queer names and strange explanations. This means they dot speak straight forward language. So one must be careful in translating or interpreting.

 

The third point is reasoning out is found in the Vedic period itself. People named different plants differently on the basis of certain things.

KUSA GRASS

“He then places a bunch of Dharba grass (Kusa) on the middle of the altar site; for the gods then placed plants thereon, and in like manner does the sacrifice, now place thereon- — Satapata Brahmana 7-2-3-1

 

The reference in the next quotation is to the legend of Indra’s killing of Vritra, when the waters, disguised by his putrefying carcase, rose and flowed over —– Satapata Brahmana 1-1-3-5

“Whence spring these grasses of which the strainers are made; for they represent the water which was not putrified; in 7-3-2-3, we read of ‘Stalks of Kusa grass, for these are pure, and sacrificially clean……….. for the top is sacred to the gods.

 

Unclean Plants

There were plants , which are sacrificially unclean; it is said that Greek Philosopher Pythagoras banned beans and fasting Roman Catholics banned certain food.

 

Vedas allowed Forest Plants and Fruits of trees:

“Let him therefore eat only what grows in the forest or the fruit of trees. Barku Varsha said, ‘Cook beans for me, for no offering is made of them! This, however, he should not do; for pulse serves as an addition to rice and barley; and hence they increase the rice and barley by means of it; let him therefore eat only what grows in the forest —– Satapata Brahmana 1-1-1-10

 

Referring to the same incident in Prajapati’s life, we read the origin of Udembara tree —– Satapata Brahmana 7-4-1-39

“When Prajapati was relaxed, Agni took Prajapati’s fiery spirit and carried it off to the south, and there stopped; and because after carrying (karsh) it off, t stopped (ud-ram), therefore Karshmarya sprang up. And Indra took Prajapati’s igour and wet away to the noth; it became the Udumbara tree”

(Fig and its varieties)

UDUMBARA TREE

In Vishnu Sahsranama Nyagroda, Udumbara and Asvatta are worshipped as Vishnu. All these belong to Ficus family.

 

The bathing chair of Udumbara wood figures prominently in Taittiriya sBrahmana 2-6-5, where we find an address to to it and another to the leather spread upon it, a mantra to be repeated when sitting upon the chair, another after sitting thereon, another when descending rom chair, another inaudibly after descending from the chair, and no end of others in the course of the bathing, including many addressed to Agni and the Sun; some of which may be heard uttered to this day on the banks of the Ganges or other bathing places.

 

When Hindus couldn’t get the Udumbara wood they replaced it with a bundle of Dhurva grass. The details are given in Taittiriya Brahmana2-7-9-10/11

 

Tomorrow I will give the stories of Krimuka and Viekantka Trees

 

—-to be continued

 

–subham–

 

 

Hindus’ Ultra Modern Weapons!

Brahmos_imds

Written by London swaminathan

Research Article no. 1703; dated 9 March 2015

uploaded at 19-40 Monday London Time.

“Oh Dharba grass, you have the capacity to ward off death till long age. You are the best armour of all the armours in the world. Shielding the king with the self-same armour, kill the enemies with your strong powers.

“Oh Dharba! hundreds are your shields and thousands are the means of strength and power. All the learned scholars have given you to the king for protection till old age or for long life”– Atharva Veda Book 19, Hymn 30

“O Man, I (physician says) tie this Kuhsa grass, which is forceful, energising herb, with hundreds of reeds infallible, with thousands of leaves and far efficacious than other herbs, for lengthening your life span” – Hymn 31, Book 19

Brahmins believe in this efficacy of Kusha grass till this day. Their entire work is done with the Kusha/Dharba grass.

My opinion is that ancient Hindus channelized the energy through Dharba and Water. Great teachers like Drona and Kripa of Mahabharata knew about ultra-modern weapons which work with sound vibrations. Western Scientists are yet to invent such weapons. It is like cancer drugs with certain nuclear isotopes targeting only the bad cells, the Vibration weapons will target only the intended targets.

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These mantra (Sound) weapons are taught only to Kings and selected people. Like nuclear bomb buttons have secret passwords which are known only to Prime Ministers and Presidents of countries these Ultra Modern Sound Weapons are taught only to the Kings. But like we use nuclear weapons very rarely, they also used it only when it was absolutely necessary. That is why commoner Ekalaiva was denied a place in the Royals class by Drona.

Dharba grass is like the modern delivery vehicles for nuclear war heads. Even when the Hindu kings were taught such most dangerous weapon techniques, they were forced to promise that they use it only once. That too if necessary. So far seven countries have made thousands of nuclear bombs, but only USA used it once in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in in Japan which killed millions of people.

Lord Rama also finished of seven million Kara Dushana demons like we kill the mosquitoes. Demons do not follow any code of conduct in wars. But the same Rama did not use it against Ravana who was ready for a decent fight. He was a great hero and he would not hit anyone below the belt. Ram was also great. When Ravana was disarmed in the battle field, Rama stopped fighting and asked Ravana to go home and come back the next day with full preparations (“Go Today and Come Tomorrow” — was the most famous quote in the Yuddha Kanda of Ramayana)

Like nuclear materials have good and bad uses, Dharba is also used in all the good ceremonies.

pavithram

Power of Dharba Grass!

I posted my article on “Power of Holy Durva Grass” here on 12th July 2013. Now I give below some hymns highlighting the power of sacred Dharba grass. A Brahmin priest won’t leave the house without the sacred Dharba grass. It is his essential tool. It is neatly cut and preserved in its dry form. Hindus believe that that Dharba grass (also known as Kusha) can purify one just by wearing it in the ring finger. Hindu saints do penance or meditation sitting on the Dharba mat. Though Yogis or saints do such meditation sitting on deer skin or tiger skin, Dharba mats are easily available, less expensive and environment friendly.

Botanically it falls under the Graminae ( Poaceae or grass family ) family and it is known as Eragrostis cynosoroides. It is mentioned in all the four (Rig Veda 1-191-3)Vedas. Atharva Veda mentions it as an amulet.

During eclipse period, they put the grass in all the food items to save it from the bad rays. The following hymns show how much they valued it. As a Brahmin, I always keep it here in my London home. I use it during the ceremonies. Usually they make a ring like figure and wear it in the ring finger. It is called Pavitram. That means the dharba as well as Pure and holy in Sanskrit. The ring finger itself is called Pavitra finger.

pavitra

Ghosts will run away!

Hanuman Chalisa of Goswami Tulsidas says that the ghosts will run away when the name of Hanuman is recited. In the same way

Bhuta Preta Pisasascha ye chanye Brahmarakshasaaha

Vipra anguli Kusaan drustwa duuram gachcha adhomukaaha

When the ghosts, ghouls, spirits and goblins see the Dharba worn in the Brahmins’ fingers, they go far away with their heads bowed down.

Another hymn says

Vajro Yathaa Surendrasya Suulam hastha Harasya cha

Chakraaydham Yathaa Vishno: evam vipra kare Kusha:

Like Vajra weapon for Indra, Sula weapon for Lord Shiva, Wheel weapon for Vishnu, Kusha grass weapon is for Brahmins. (Dharba grass is as powerful as Vajra, Sula and Chakra weapons)

If a Brahmin stands with a kusha and is without vain or not showy, he can destroy all the sins like dews driven away by the sun light. ( He can drive away the sins like the sunlight drives away the snow)

Another hymn praise “ even Shiva was cleared of sin by Kusha grass after killing a Brahmin” ( One of Brahma’s five heads was cut off by Shiva; actually  it is a symbolic story saying the four Vedas will be beneficial only when the ego is eliminated)

Anyone wearing gold or dharba in the fingers are considered pure even if their hands are not clean, says another couplet.

darbha02

Picture of Dharba Mat

Such is the greatness of Dharba (Kusha) grass in the Hindu scriptures. The use of water, sesame seeds, white rice in funeral ceremonies, yellow rice in auspicious ceremonies, Kusha grass, cow, its milk, daily bath and Abishek rituals, Asvamedha Yajna, Swayamvara, decimal system and the absence of all these things in the Western world explodes the Aryan –Dravidian Race theory. Actually all these put together with the six divisions of seasons, four divisions of armies, four values in life (Dharma Artha Kama Moksha)  in the oldest parts of Tamil literature, it bulldozes the Aryan Dravidian fake theory.

Long live Dharba Grass! Long Live Durva Grass!

Is Brahmastra a Nuclear Weapon? Written by me in South Indian Society Magazine in London in 2005 and posted here in this blog in 2011 is getting a lot of hits every day until today! Please read it if you have read it already.

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Pictures are taken from various sites; thanks.