Durva
Durva — How is this grass so important in our Pujas and Rituals?
We all know how Durva is an essential part of our rituals. The count of the Durbas is important for each Puja and there is a number associated with it. — 21 for ganesha, 56 for Shoshti etc.
Besides the elements of spirituality associated with Durva, I discovered an unknown aspect which was perhaps always prevalent but seldom understood!
We always grew the grass in our home and picked those before a Puja. What we also did was find the three bladed ones and separate those for the Puja or cleaned the grass to leave these three blades to be used for the Puja.
Now these three blades do represent Shiva, Shakti and Ganesha however plucking those also meant focusing on those. To me, I discovered, this is a form of meditation as you are focused and engaged in this little act that you don’t think about anything else.
A google search on the medicinal properties of Durva would reveal that it treats acidity, boosts immunity, controls sugar, cures PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome and solves menstrual problems, cures constipation, treats obesity, cures bleeding of gums, cures eye infection and stops nose bleeding.
And I know this personally because many years back I was on some Ayurvedic medicines which had to be consumed with the juice of the Durva grass. The taste was bitter and I am not too sure it cured me. But for any of the natural ingredients to show results to your health and body, there needs to be some regularity around it.
It is easy to grow too. It grows in the earthen pot easily.
