कुश /कुशा - Halfa Grass !

A Ring of Darbha/Kusha Grass - Halfa grass

कुश /कुशा - Halfa Grass is an important thing in Sanatan Hindu worship. Before starting the puja when a devotee makes himself pure with the sprinkling of water with mantras over himself, he wears a ring of "Kusha" grass in his ring finger of right hand. It is said that worship without wearing a "Kusha" ring is fruitless. One can notice that when we invite a Pundit Ji for Satyanarayan Puja he would bring the "Kusha" ring with him and advise to wear it in the beginning. Even the small mat called "Aasani-आसनी" is taken as most pure that is made of "Kusha" grass. It is advisable to use "Kusha Aasani-कुश आसनी" as a seat during worship. "Kusha Aasani-कुश आसनी" is also used in meditation (Dhyana-ध्यान). Even in Buddhism, it is an accepted fact. Lord Buddha used to meditate sitting on a "Kusha Aasani-कुश आसनी". So it is a holy grass and there are some rules to uproot it even for the purpose of worship.

                 Though it is a perennial herb, it is uprooted only on one day in a year and that too not in an unlimited quantity. It is plucked only up to the need. This one day is the no-moon day in the Hindu Month of "Bhadon" (भाद्रपद अमावस्या). It is also called "Kushgrahani Amawasya". Before uprooting it the devotee sits keeping the grass either to the east or to the North. And also a Mantra is spoken

Viranchina Sahotpanna Parmeshthinnisagarja

Nud Sarvani Ppapani Darbh Swastikaro Bhava |

Hum fat.

"Darbh" in this Mantra is another name for "Kusha" grass. There are many varieties of "Kusha" grass anyone can be used but it should be well shaped. In this year 2016 "Kushgrahani Amawasya" is on 1st September.
                It is said that during the churning of the ocean by Devas and Danavas in Hindu mythology, "Amrita" came out. Both sides wanted it. In the quarrel, a few drops of it fell on the "Kusha" grass, so not only it became long lasting but became holy too.
            Kusha rings and Puja mats are available in the local market and also online at Amazon. Links for some items are given below:-
1. Kusha/Darbha Ring
2. Kusha Aasan/Mats 
3. Kusha sleeping mats/Meditation Mats 

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Kalash-कलश !

Kalash/कलश 

                In Sanatana Hindu Religion it is believed that all Gods come and stay at different parts of Kalash when invited. It is also believed to be auspicious like symbols of 'Swastik' and 'Aum'. In almost all important worships and "Samskaaras" like Durgapuja, Satyanarayan Puja, Wedding, Upanayan etc, the 'Kalash' is placed to invoke Gods. In many shops or offices of commercial  institutions one may see 'Kalash' at the small place of worship where idols of Ganesh and Lakshmi are worshiped daily. In simple worships like 'Satyanarayan Puja' simple 'Kalash' like in picture above may be made in which a metal (Copper or Bronze) pot or earthen pot is decorated and used. It is placed over "Akshat" and filled with Pure Water (शुद्ध जल) then  "Aamra-pallava"  is places over it. A good and dry coconut with water inside is wrapped with thin red cotton cloth called "Saaluk" in a way shown in above picture. It is placed over the  "Aamra-pallava" with the tip vertically upward. Vermilion lines are drawn over it and when worship starts different gods are invoked in it with proper 'Mantras' and accordingly worshiped. 

"Kalash" in special worship

                In detailed worship like "Praan Pratistha", first the place on the ground is touched by the "Yajmaan" and there "Ashtadal Kamal" (अष्टदल कमल)is made with 'Kumkum' etc. saying its 'Mantra'. In fact for each step there is a Mantra which I am not writing here because these are performed by the "Pundit" and no need to keep it in memory. Here its detail is given only for the general knowledge in worship.

           2nd step- One 'ser' (before kilogram got popular, ser was used as a unit of weight which was a bit more than kg) "Saptadhanya" is poured over the place with Mantra.  

               3rd step- Over it the pot of 'Kalash' is put with Mantra. 

           4th step- "Shuddh Jala" (Pure water) is poured in the pot with Mantra.

               5th step- "Gandh" (Scent like Chandan) is put in and over the "Kalash" with Mantra.  

              6th step- "Sarvoshadhi" (Literal meaning is all medicines) is put in the "Kalash" with Mantra.

               7th step- "Durva" (Doob Grass) is put  in the "Kalash" with Mantra.   

                 8th step- "Panch-pallava" (Five types of leaf bunches)  is put in the "Kalash" with Mantra.  

                  9th step- For more purity a "Pavitri" made from 'Kusha' grass is put in the "Kalash" with Mantra.   

                 10th step- "Sapta-mritti" (soils from Seven different specified places)  is put in the "Kalash" with Mantra.     

                     11th step- "Pungifal" (Betel nut- पुंगीफल, सुपारी)  is put in the "Kalash" with Mantra.    

               12th step- "Panch-ratna" (Five types of precious stones)  is put in the "Kalash" with Mantra.  

                       13th step- Gold is put in the "Kalash" with Mantra.

                    14th step- The "Kalash" is wrapped with two clothes saying Mantra. 

                      15th step- Another copper pot is filled with "Akshat"  and put over 'Kalash' with Mantra.  

                         16th step- A coconut wrapped in red cloth is put over this copper pot on 'Kalash'.  

                 In the last, God Varuna is invoked in the 'Kalash' along with his parts, family, weapons and powers and saying 

A Kalash in Sri Satyanarayan Puja

"ॐ अप्पतये वरुणाय नमः"  Different gods are invoked on the "Kalash" with following shlokas,

Kalash Adhishthapan - Aawahan and Stuti

As it can be seen in above Mantra that almost all gods come at different parts of the "Kalash" when invoked, so it is an important part of Hindu Worship.
Note:- Beautiful metallic Puja Kalash and painted marble Chonki are available at Amazon at THIS LINK.  

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