Where did Kusha originate from?

Kushotpatani Amavasya Special

Amavasya of Bhadrapada Krishna Paksha is also called Kushotpatani Amavasya, “Bhadrapada Amavasya” and “Pithori Amavasya”. On this day, priests pluck grass called Kusha from rivers and reservoirs and bring it home to perform rituals throughout the year.

Origin and importance of Kusha.
Kush/Kusha (Darbha) is a grass. Due to being very sacred, it also has a name called Pavitri. Its ends are pointed.

In India, Hindu people use it in puja/Shraddha. Shraddha-Tarpan is not possible without Kusha.

Origin of Kusha…Maharishi Kashyap had two wives. The name of one was Kadru and the name of the other was Vinata. Both Kadru and Vinata used to serve Maharishi Kashyap very well. Maharishi Kashyap, overwhelmed by his spirit of service, asked him to ask for a boon.

Kadru said, I want a thousand sons. Maharishi gave him a boon by saying ‘Tathastu’.
Vinata said that she wants only two glorious sons. Maharishi Kashyap blessed him with two bright sons and got engrossed in his meditation.

Kadru’s sons were born in the form of snakes, while Vinata had two majestic sons. But Vinata had to become Kadru’s maid due to mistake.

When Garuda, son of Vinata, saw the plight of his mother, he proposed freedom from slavery to the sons of Kadru. Kadru’s sons said that if Garuda brought them nectar from heaven, they would free Vinata from slavery. Garuda accepted his words and brought the nectar pot from heaven and freed his mother Vinata from slavery.

This nectar pot was kept on the grass called ‘Kush’, from where Indra again took it away and Kadru’s sons were deprived of drinking the nectar. He complained to Garuda that Indra had taken away the nectar pot. Garuda explained to them that now it is not possible to get the pot of nectar, but if you all lick the grass (Kush) on which the pot of nectar was kept, then you will get partial benefit.

Kadru’s sons started licking Kush, due to which their tongues got torn, that is why even today the snake’s tongue is seen torn into two parts, but the importance of ‘Kush’ grass increased due to keeping the nectar pot and as per the instructions of Lord Vishnu, it was used. It started being used in worship.

According to mythological belief, when Lord Vishnu took the form of Varaha and killed the great demon Hiranyaksha hidden in the seabed and freed the earth from him and came out, he tore his hair. At that time some Rome fell on the earth. There he appeared in the form of Kush.

Kush is a poor conductor of energy. Therefore, the power of the instrument used for worship, veneration or performing rituals while sitting on its seat does not diminish. As a result, wishes are fulfilled immediately.

Vedas have described Kush as a medicine that gives immediate results, increases lifespan and prevents the spread of infection by purifying the contaminated environment.

Kush is used for sprinkling water during puja, wearing sacred thread on the finger, covering the mandap at a wedding and in other auspicious activities.

The use of this grass means auspicious work and happiness-prosperity, because it has been touched with nectar.

Kush is often used in various religious rituals performed in Hinduism.

While uprooting it, one has to be careful that it does not get uprooted along with the roots and the hands also do not get cut.

That’s why the word ‘Kushal’ was formed while reciting the mantra “Om Hum Phat”…

The bush should be uprooted while facing north.

In ancient times, when teachers were testing their disciples, they used to ask them to bring Kush. Those who had good hands in bringing Kush were called skilled, that is, they were considered worthy of knowledge.

Kush is a poor conductor of energy. That is why at the time of solar and lunar eclipse, it is put in food and water so that the rays coming to the earth at the time of eclipse collide with Kush and get reflected and those rays do not have any adverse effect on food and water.

If Saraswati Mantra is written on the tongue of a child of five years of age with honey from the tip of Kusha at an auspicious time, then that child becomes Kushagra.

By sitting on a seat made of Kush, the energy obtained from religious rituals like penance, meditation and worship etc. does not reach the earth because the Kush seat acts as a conductor between the earth and the body.

A ring made of Kusha is worn at the time of puja/tarpan. The fortunate person who is wearing a gold ring does not need it. A new Kusha has to be plucked every day but the Kusha broken on Amavasya can be useful for the whole month and the Kusha broken on the Amavasya day of Bhadon is useful for the whole year. That’s why people break it and keep it.

There are ten types of Kush…

There is a description of ten types of Kushas in the scriptures-
Kusha, Kasha Yava Durva Ushirachh Sakundaka.
Godhuma Brahmyo Monja Dash Darbha, Sabalvaja.
That means Kush, Kash, Durva, Ushir, Brahmi, Moonj etc.

Any Kush can be plucked on Amavasya and stored in the house.

But it is very important to keep in mind that the green leafy Kush which is not cut from anywhere, one more special thing, know that the lord of Kush is Ketu, hence if you keep Kush in your house then you can avoid the bad effects of Ketu. Are.

Which bush to uproot…

Before uprooting the bush, keep in mind that the bush you are uprooting should be usable. Do not uproot such a bush which is in a dirty place, which is burnt, which is on the road or whose front part is cut, this type of bush is not suitable for taking.

In the scriptures, Pitrudev is considered to be the lord of Amavasya date. Therefore, in Shraddha rituals and Trayodashi rituals, offerings, donations and good deeds are done through Kusha for the satisfaction of the ancestors.

Hearty congratulations and best wishes to all of you on “Kushotpatini Amavasya”..!!