Dūrvā grass leaves (दूर्वा दल) !

    Dūrvā grass leaves (दूर्वा दल) !

Durva grass, Doob grass, Dubo (Cynodon Dactylon)
Ready for offering in worship

            The tips of Dūrvā grass with three leaves (टुस्सा - Tussa in Hindi) are used in Hindu worship rituals. It is offered to God Ganesha, God Shiva and his vehicle and gatekeeper Nandi, the bull. Generally a pinch of turmeric powder is sprinkled over them before the offering.

              Dūrvā grass is commonly known as "Doob"(दूब) grass in Hindi, "Dubo" in Bengali and Bermuda grass in English. Dūrvā is its name in Sanskrit. Its scientific name is "Cynodon dactylon". It can be easily found around the houses, roadsides and in the fields. If taken care of, it performs as very good lawn grass.  

              In Hindu culture this grass is thought to be very auspicious. On the occasion of wedding "Doob"(दूब) grass along-with Akshat (अक्षत) is sprinkled over the couple by the priest and elderly 

relatives as auspicious blessings. Sometimes holy waters like Ganga Jal is needed to be sprinkled in all corners of every room in a house to bring the auspiciousness again. This is done with a bunch of "Doob"(दूब) grass. 

                  Lord Ganesha who is the first god to be worshiped when a Puja (worship) is commenced is also a god of auspiciousness and a god who removes hurdles (विघ्नहर्ता) in any good work when worshiped. When offered the "Doob"(दूब) grass, He is pleased and believed to remove the hurdles in good works of a person. There is a story behind the offering of "Doob"(दूब) grass to Lord Ganesha. It is said that a demon named Analasur (Anal means fire, so Analasur means an Asur who emits fire), who came into existence due to some weak moments of Yamaraj seeing an "Apsara", had became a trouble for gods. So the gods requested Lord Ganesha to kill Analasur which he accepted. In the fight Ganesha swallowed Analasur but he got restless due to the heat produced in his stomach. No god could suppress his pain. He could get relief only when some "Rishis" put some "Doob"(दूब) grass over his head. From that time Ganesha is pleased whenever "Doob"(दूब) grass is put over his head during his worship. It is customary to sprinkle turmeric powder over "Doob"(दूब) grass before offering, because yellow color is favorite of Ganesha and turmeric is one of the auspicious items in Hindu customs.   

 

Thin leaved Durva grass,
Doob grass,Dubo
(Cynodon Dactylon)

               "Doob"(दूब) grass is also offered to God Shiva. It is said that God Shiva is pleased when "Doob"(दूब) grass is placed over Shivalinga during worship and he makes the devotee wealthy. So people with a desire to have wealth offer him "Doob". In the Hindu month of Shravan (That is also a favorite month of Shiva) the "Doob"(दूब) grass is found abundantly due to rainy season. One can see the favorite things of Shiva in my blog at this link --- What Lord Shiva likes ! 

                 Shiva's gatekeeper Nandi is a bull and he is included in Shiva's family (called Shiva - parivaar). Nandi worship is also done during Shiva-worship because if Nandi  is pleased then the devotee can send his wishes direct to the heart of Shiva through saying it in the ears of Nandi. It is a boon given to Nandi by Shiva. Since "Doob"(दूब) grass is a natural food of cows and bulls, so it is also offered to Nandi to please him. 

                  The "Doob"(दूब) grass to be offered to gods should be picked from clean places and carried to the worship place in right hand only. The mantra to offer "Doob"(दुर्वाम ) is as follows,

दुर्वांकुरान्  सुहारितानमृतान् मंगलप्रदान्। 

आनीतांस्त्व  पूजार्थं  गृहाण  गणनायक।।  

===<<<O>>>===