GG Verse 139 - Guru Gita - recite with one mind

[Guest guest]

Our verse for today -

 

Oh Goddess, one should cover kusha grass or durva grass with a white

blanket, and then oh Goddess, he should recite with one mind.

 

Please share your thoughts.

 

Kalia

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[Guest guest]

Dear all,

 

some information I found on kusha grass, which I'd like to share for

your convenience:

 

-'The sanctity of dharba, also known as kusha grass, is as old as the

Indian gods. Puranas tell how Vishnu assumed the form of the Cosmic

Tortoise (Kurma) whose shell served to support Mandara, the mountain

that served as a dasher in the Churning of the Sea of Milk. As the

mountain rotated, several hairs were rubbed from the tortoise's back.

With time, they washed ashore and became Kusha.'

(another souce says that the hairs were from the body of Lord Varaha

(the boar), which sounds more convincing than hairs from a tortoise's

back...)

-'Later, when amrita was obtained and distributed among the gods, some

drops fell on the grass which further sanctified it, imbuing it with

healing properties.'

-'Kusha, whose name signifies sharp in the sense of acute, is the root

for the Sanskrit word for 'expert', kosala. That is because the edges

of the long leaves that grow in pairs along the tall stems are very

sharp, so like the sword, it is used as a symbol for discernment or

'discriminating wisdom'. It growns beside brackish (salty) water such

as found at the mouths of rivers and is a kind of tussock grass; that

is, it grows in clumps. When it is dry, kusa straw is called durva or

dharbai. However, some say these are two different species: Kusha is

Poa cynosuroides and Durva, Agrostis linearis.'

-'Another myth explains that when the pot of Amrita was set on the

sacred grass, the children of Kadru (Garuda's stepmother) were

determined to get some of the elixer. Ever-watchful Garuda, to prevent

their attaining immortality, quickly snatched it away. The snakes

ended up licking the leaves in hopes that some drops had fallen there,

but they were so sharp the poor serpent's tongues were sliced in

two.'

-Another source says: 'Kusha is found in damp marshy and low-lying

areas. Brahmins always keep some in their houses and it is used for

purification in all kinds of ceremonies. It grows to a height of about

two feet and is thinly pointed at the top. It is extremely rough to

touch, and if rubbed the wrong way, it may cut through the skin. The

word Kusha is related to the Sanskrit Kushala meaning sharp in the

sense of keen intelligence (because of the sharp tips of the grass).

[...] It is identified with Lord Vishnu and is believed to possess the

power to purify anything'

 

So, keeping in mind the ideas of purity (also the white of the blanket

may refer to this) and sharpness, the kusha grass should help to

attain and hold on to the one-pointed attention required for

recitation,

 

with love,

Henny

 

 

, Kali Kali <kaliananda_saraswati@y.

...> wrote:

> Dear All,

>

> Our verse for today -

>

> Oh Goddess, one should cover kusha grass or durva grass with a white

blanket, and then oh Goddess, he should recite with one mind.

>

> Please share your thoughts.

>

> Kalia

>

>

>

> Discover

> Get on-the-go sports scores, stock quotes, news & more. Check it

out!