KUSHA PAVITRI & ANGOOTHI KIT

• पवित्राः परमादर्भा दर्भ हिना वृथाक्रियाः।
  दर्भमूले वसे ब्रह्मा मध्यदेवो जनार्दनः।।
  दर्भाग्रे तू उमानाथस्तस्मा दर्भैर्न्र मार्जयेत्।।

This verse is taken from Mahabharata, which says that Brahma resides in the root of the Kusha/Darbha grass while Vishnu resides in the body of Darbha and Umanaath Bhagavan Mahadev resides at the top of the grass.

• विना दर्भेण यत्स्ननाम् यच्चदानं विनोदकं।
  असन्ख्यातं च यज्जाप्यं तत्सर्वं निष्फलं भवेत्।

The above Shloka means that all the Puja, Path, Saadhna, Tapa, Yagya, Daanam that are done without Kusha/Darbha are fruitless just as all the Japa (chanting) without counting is useless.

• विना दर्भेण यत्कर्म विना सूत्रेण वापुनः।
  रक्षसां तद्भवेत्सर्वं नामुत्रेह् फल प्रदम।।

This Shloka says that without Kusha and Yagyopavita (Janeu), all Karma is called Rakshasa, and they do not produce any fruits in this Loka.

Pādmottara-khaṇḍa says that without Darbha or Kusha and without Tilak, all Karma (Puja/Saadhna/Yagya/Havan – Karmakand) becomes fruitless in this Shloka

• विना तिलक दर्भाभ्यां कुर्यात्त तत निष्फलं भवेत्।

These many verses clearly indicate how much importance Sanatan Shastra and our Rishis have given to the Darbha grass when pursuing spiritual progress. Therefore, every Hindu must acquire Kusha or Darbha grass and keep it inside the house to be used in all Puja rituals, including Kusha Aasana and Pavitri.

During Chandra Grahan (Lunar Eclipse) and Soorya Grahan (Solar Eclipse) as well, it is highly recommended that we put a piece of Darbha on all the items of the house, including home temples, that we do not want to be negatively affected by during the eclipse just as Tulasi leaves are recommended to be placed in the food items to protect them against the impurities during that phase.