Dharba is
a holy grass with a lot of significance in sanatana dharma. It's botonical name
is Eragrostis cynosuroides. It is called as Kus or Kusha in Hindi. Brahmins use
this Dharba grass in all functions, auspicious or inauspicious. A performing
person needs to wear a ring made of this Dharbam. Below are a few scientific
applications of Dharba
Absorber of harmful rays:
During
the Eclipse time, these Dharba are used to cover all food items to protect them
from the harmful ultra violet radiation. It is also
said that Dharba can also absorb 60% of X-rays if placed between the body and
the X-ray machine.
Conductor of phonetic vibrations:
Before
a homam, brahmins perform a site-cleansing act known as "Sudhhi
Punyaahavachanam". While reciting the selective versus, they hold the
Dharbha bunch in their hand and placing the tip point of it over the vessel
containing water. Thus the recited vibration values are absorbed by water in
the vessel through the Dharbha. The Holy Grass known as Dharbha has the highest
value in conducting the phonetic vibrations through its tip. It acts as the
transmitter of the vedic phonetic vibrations from brahmins to water. Then this
water is sprinkled in every nook and corner of the place where the function is held. A Dharbha
without the tip is considered of no value, as the conductor-type value is lost
in it."
Ramayanam
is written by sage Valmiki but
Lava and Kusha spread it across the length and breadth of the country. Just
like that Dharba which is transferring the vibrations into water. Valmiki aptly
named the boys as 'Kusha' the tip and 'Lava' the other end. Lava Kusha gave us
the phonetic vibration of word "Rama" by singing Ramayanam
Usage:
While
chanting and reciting some Vedic phrases and versus, one needs to wear a ring
made of Dharbha on his right hand ring finger. This is most essential, while
performing all the rituals, such as Agni Santhanam, Thiru-Aaradhanam, all sorts
of Havans known as Homam etc.
The count of leaves depends upon the function that is held viz.: for some
functions related to death only Single leaf Dharbha is used; for Auspicious and
daily routine a ring made of two leaves is used; for inauspicious but not death
related functions, (i.e. Amavasya Tharppanam, Pithru Pooja etc) a three leaf
Dharbha ring is used. And for the Temple Prayer and Pooja, a Four-leaf Dharbha
ring is used. Also, when a fire ritual known as Agni Santhana is performed,
these Dharbha are spread all the four sides of the Agni Kundam.
