Darbha, Dārbha, Darbhā: 21 definitions
Introduction:
Darbha means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, biology. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Kavya (poetry)
Source: archive.org: The ocean of story, vol. 1Darbha (दर्भ) grass is the most sacred of the various kinds of grasses (kuśa, dūrva, etc.) held in special veneration. The origin of darbha grass is explained in numerous legends. It is said to have been formed from the hairs of Viṣṇu which came off while, in his tortoise incarnation, he was acting as a pivot for Mount Mandara at the Churning of the Ocean. Another story relates that while the gods were drinking the amṛta after the Churning a few drops fell on the grass and thus made it sacred. It enters into nearly all important ceremonies among the Hindus. It is used in the famous “sacred thread” (upanayana) ceremony, at weddings, in offering up prayers or invoking deities, at funerals, at a śrāddha, at sacrifices, and at numerous other ceremonies connected with initiation, magic, pregnancy, menses, and different forms of ordeals.
Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation1) Darbha (दर्भ) is a type of grass commonly used in ritualistic worship, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.11, while explaining the mode of worshipping Śiva:—“[...] nine vessels of different sizes should be kept by the sensible devotee. Darbha grass shall be spread and cool water sprinkled over these vessels with Darbha grass. Reciting the oṃkāra, the intelligent devotee shall sprinkle the various materials of worship. [...]”.
2) Darbha (दर्भ) is used in the worship of Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.14:—“[...] a person desirous of liberation (mukti) shall worship him with Darbhas. O best of sages, the number everywhere is a hundred thousand times”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexDarbha (दर्भ).—A son of Āṅgirasa.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 65. 104.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and DrugsDarbha [दर्भ] in the Sanskrit language is the name of a plant identified with Imperata cylindrica Imperata cylindrica (L.) P.Beauv. from the Poaceae (Grass) family. For the possible medicinal usage of darbha, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.
Darbha in the Malayalam language is the name of a plant identified with Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) Stapf from the Poaceae (Grass) family having the following synonyms: Uniola bipinnata, Poa cynosuriodes, Eragrostis cynosuroides.
Darbha in the Marathi language, ibid. previous identification.
Darbha in the Sanskrit language, ibid. previous identification.
Darbha in the Telugu language, ibid. previous identification.
Source: Shodhganga: Edition translation and critical study of yogasarasamgrahaDarbhā (दर्भा) refers to the medicinal plant known as “Desmostachya bipinnata (Linn.) Stapf” and is dealt with in the 15th-century Yogasārasaṅgraha (Yogasara-saṅgraha) by Vāsudeva: an unpublished Keralite work representing an Ayurvedic compendium of medicinal recipes. The Yogasārasaṃgraha [mentioning darbhā] deals with entire recipes in the route of administration, and thus deals with the knowledge of pharmacy (bhaiṣajya-kalpanā) which is a branch of pharmacology (dravyaguṇa).
Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: archive.org: Vedic index of Names and SubjectsDarbha (दर्भ) is the name of a grass in the Rigveda and later. In the Atharvaveda it is used for the calming of anger (manyu-śamana) and as an amulet for protection against the scattering of one’s hair or the striking of one’s breast. It is also said to be ‘rich in roots’ (bhūri-mūla), to possess a thousand leaves (sahasra-parṇa) and a hundred stalks (śata-kāṇḍa).
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraDarbha (दर्भ) or Kuśa, is Poa cynosuroides (synonym of Desmostachya bipinnata): a sacred grass used in some sacrificial ceremonies. It is considered very undesirable in cultivated ground.
Source: HereNow4U: Jaina Pāribhāṣika ŚabdakośaDarbha (दर्भ) or Darbhavidyā refers to a type of Vidyā (occult science) as defined in the Jaina Pāribhāṣika Śabdakośa.—Darbha refers to that Vidyā, in which the kuśa (grass) is first treated by chanting Mantras; then the patient is treated with it, which makes him free from the ailment.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)1) Darbha in India is the name of a plant defined with Desmostachya bipinnata in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Poa cynosuroides Retz., also spelled cynosuriodes (among others).
2) Darbha is also identified with Imperata cylindrica It has the synonym Calamagrostis lagurus (L.) Koeler (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Annuario del Reale Istituto Botanico di Roma (1908)
· Flora Palaestina (1756)
· Journal of Applied Ecology (1999)
· Encyclopédie Méthodique, Botanique (1783)
· Naturalia monspeliensia. Série botanique. (1958)
· Journal of Cytology and Genetics (1983)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Darbha, for example extract dosage, side effects, chemical composition, pregnancy safety, diet and recipes, health benefits, have a look at these references.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarydarbha (दर्भ).—m (S) A grass esteemed sacred and used in sacrifices &c., Poa cynosuroides. 2 fig. A burnt or withered crop. Ex. śēta karapūna darbha jhālēṃ. darbha ghēūna ubhā asaṇēṃ To be waiting for opportunity to do one some injury.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishdarbha (दर्भ).—m A grass esteemed sacred and used in sacrifices, &c. darbha ghēūna ubhā asaṇēṃ To be waiting for opportunity to do some injury.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryDarbha (दर्भ).—[dṛbh-ghañ ac vā] A kind of sacred grass (Kuśa grass) used at sacrificial ceremonies &c.; शरासः कुशरासो दर्भासः सैर्या उत (śarāsaḥ kuśarāso darbhāsaḥ sairyā uta) Ṛgveda 1.191.3. दभैर्रर्धावलीढैः (dabhairrardhāvalīḍhaiḥ) Ś.1.7; R.11. 31; Manusmṛti 2.43;3.28;4.36.
Derivable forms: darbhaḥ (दर्भः).
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Dārbha (दार्भ).—a. (-bhī f.) Made of darbha grass; दार्भं मुञ्चत्युटजपटलं वीतनिद्रो मयूरः (dārbhaṃ muñcatyuṭajapaṭalaṃ vītanidro mayūraḥ) Ś.4 (v. l.)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryDarbha (दर्भ).—m.
(-rbhaḥ) 1. Kusa or sacrificial grass, (Poa cynosuroides.) 2. A kind of reed, (Saccharum spontaneum.) 3. Another species, (S. cylindricum.) E. dṛbhi to collect, to arrange, affix ghañ; or dṝ to tear, Unadi affix bha.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryDarbha (दर्भ).—i. e. dṛbh + a, m. 1. Kuśa, or sacrificial grass, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 3, 216. 2. Another kind of grass, [Suśruta] 1, 137, 19.
— Cf. [Old High German.] zurft (zurba), [Anglo-Saxon.] turf.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryDarbha (दर्भ).—[masculine] bundle or bunch of grass, [especially] of the sacred Kuca grass.
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Dārbha (दार्भ).—[feminine] ī made of Darbha grass.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Darbha (दर्भ):—m. (√2. dṛbh) a tuft or bunch of grass ([especially] of Kuśa grass; used for sacrificial purposes), [Ṛg-veda i, 191, 3; Atharva-veda] etc.
2) Name of a grass (different from Kuśa and Kāśa, [Suśruta i, 38]; Saccharum cylindricum, [Horace H. Wilson]), [Lalita-vistara xvii, 89; Suśruta]
3) ([Pāṇini 4-1, 102]; [gana] kurv-ādi [varia lectio]) Name of a man, [Pravara texts ii, 3, 1] ([Āśvalāyana-gṛhya-sūtra; Kātyāyana etc.])
4) ‘of a prince’ See dambha.
5) Dārbha (दार्भ):—mf(ī)n. made of Darbha grass, [Lāṭyāyana]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryDarbha (दर्भ):—(rbhaḥ) 1. m. Kusa or sacrificial grass; a kind of reed.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Darbha (दर्भ) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Ḍabbha, Dabbha.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusDarbha (ದರ್ಭ):—[noun] = ದರ್ಭೆ [darbhe].
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+30): Darbha gaddi, Darbha pull, Darbhabatu, Darbhacira, Darbhagrumushti, Darbhagurumushti, Darbhah, Darbhahvaya, Darbhaipul, Darbhaka, Darbhakatyayana, Darbhakundika, Darbhakusuma, Darbhalavana, Darbhamaya, Darbhamuli, Darbhamushti, Darbhana, Darbhankura, Darbhanupa.
Ends with (+34): Asamdarbha, Baddhadarbha, Bhagavatakramasamdarbha, Bhagavatasamdarbha, Bhaktibhushanasamdarbha, Bhaktisamdarbha, Brahmadarbha, Brihaddarbha, Dadhividarbha, Dantavaidarbha, Dashividarbha, Duhsamdarbha, Haridarbha, Hrasvadarbha, Hrishividarbha, Ikshudarbha, Kaidarbha, Kaimdarbha, Kakshadarbha, Kathasandarbha.
Full-text (+182): Brahmadarbha, Darbhamaya, Vidarbha, Ikshudarbha, Darbhayana, Darbhamushti, Darbhastamba, Yajnabhushana, Trinapancamula, Darbhakundika, Darbhacira, Darbhaputika, Darbhasamstara, Darbharajju, Sudarbha, Darbhabatu, Darbhamuli, Darbhanupa, Darbhatarunaka, Darbhasuci.
Relevant text
Search found 66 books and stories containing Darbha, Dārbha, Darbhā; (plurals include: Darbhas, Dārbhas, Darbhās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Samarangana-sutradhara (Summary) (by D. N. Shukla)
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 224 - Procedure of Śrāddha < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
Chapter 19 - Greatness of Pitṛkūpikā Tīrtha < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
Chapter 123 - Glory of Śukla Tīrtha < [Section 1 - Tīrtha-māhātmya]
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 22 - The rites on the eleventh day for the ascetics < [Section 6 - Kailāsa-saṃhitā]
Chapter 12 - The procedure of Sannyāsa < [Section 6 - Kailāsa-saṃhitā]
Chapter 27 - The rite of sacrifice < [Section 7.2 - Vāyavīya-saṃhitā (2)]
Expiatory Rites in Keralite Tantra (by T. S. Syamkumar)
2. Expiatory Rites in Tantrasamuccaya < [Chapter 3 - Expiatory Rites in Kerala Tantric Ritual Manuals]
1.1. Expiatory Rites in Prayogamañjarī < [Chapter 3 - Expiatory Rites in Kerala Tantric Ritual Manuals]
The Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 9 - General Rules of Śrāddha Performance < [Section 1 - Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa (section on creation)]
Chapter 214 - The Greatness of Madhuvana < [Section 6 - Uttara-Khaṇḍa (Concluding Section)]
Chapter 117 - Fruit of Worship by Justly Procured, Stolen and Impaired Material < [Section 5 - Pātāla-Khaṇḍa (Section on the Nether World)]
The Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
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