Durva, Dūrvā, Dūrva: 30 definitions
Introduction:
Durva means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, Hindi, 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
Ayurveda (science of life)
Rasashastra (Alchemy and Herbo-Mineral preparations)
Dūrvā (दूर्वा):—One of the sixty-seven Mahauṣadhi, as per Rasaśāstra texts (rasa literature). These drugs are useful for processing mercury (rasa), such as the alchemical processes known as sūta-bandhana and māraṇa.
Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)
Dūrvā (दूर्वा) refers to the medicinal plant known as “Cynodon dactylon (Linn.) Pers.” and is dealt with in the 15th-century Yogasārasaṅgraha (Yogasara-saṅgraha) by Vāsudeva: an unpublished Keralite work representing an Ayurvedic compendium of medicinal recipes.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 dūrvā] 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).
Veterinary Medicine (The study and treatment of Animals)
Dūrvā (दूर्वा) refers to a type of grass, which is given to domesticated elephants (as part of routine care-taking), according to the 15th century Mātaṅgalīlā composed by Nīlakaṇṭha in 263 Sanskrit verses, dealing with elephantology in ancient India, focusing on the science of management and treatment of elephants.—[Cf. chapter 11, “On the keeping of elephants and their daily and seasonal regimen”]: “9. (One shall feed them) stalks and bulbs of lotuses and (other) water lilies, plantains (bananas), edible lotus roots, Trapa bispinosa, dūrvā grass, udumbara (kind of fig), Boswellia thurifera, sugar cane, spikenard, banyan (leaves or fruits), bamboos, etc. And the sprouts (or buds) and fruits of (two kinds of) figs (Ficus infectoria and Ficus religiosa), and wood-apples are always to be given to elephants, King of Aṅga, to ease their distress; also other sweet delicacies which they love”.
Dūrvā (दूर्वा) refers to Cynodon dactylon, and is used in the treatment of sarvaroga, according to sections on Horses (Gajāyurveda or Aśvāyurveda) in the Garuḍapurāṇa.—[Dūrvā-kalpa for the management of sarvaroga]—In the management of sarvaroga just like vardhamāna pippalī-kalpa, Dūrvā (Cynodon dactylon) is advised to take in increasing doses. The details are as follows:—One Karṣa dūrvā should be given to a horse on the first day, and the dose should be increased by a Karṣa measure, each day, till the dose reaches five Pala. During this treatment Eighty Pala pāna (drinks) or bhojana (diet) is considered as para/uttama (best/maximum), Sixty Pala is the madhyama (average) and forty Pala is the adhama (lowest/ minimum).
Unclassified Ayurveda definitions
Dūrvā (दूर्वा) is another name (synonym) for Śaṭī, which is a Sanskrit name for the plant Hedychium spicatum (spiked ginger lily). This synonym was identified by Narahari in his 13th-century Rājanighaṇṭu (verses 6.226-227), which is an Ayurvedic medicinal thesaurus.
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Dūrvā (दूर्वा) is used in the worship of Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.14:—“[...] a person desirous of long life (āyus-kāma) shall worship him with Dūrvā grass. A person desirous of sons shall worship him with Dhattūra flowers”.
1a) Dūrva (दूर्व).—A plant sacred to Hari;1 from this Dūrvañjanam, being an auspicious thing to be looked at in the morning.2
1b) A son of Nṛpañjaya: his son Timi.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 22. 42.
Durvā (दुर्वा) wood is used for brushing the teeth in the month Āśvina for the Anaṅgatrayodaśī-Vrata, according to the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, the Anaṅgatrayodaśī-vrata is observed in honour of Śiva for acquiring virtue, great fortune, wealth and for destruction of sins [...] This vrata is to be performed for a year from Mārgaśīra.—In the month of Āśvina, the tooth-brush is that of durvā-wood. The food taken is svamodaka. The deity to be worshipped is Tridaśādhipati. The flowers used in worship are śatapatraka. The naivedya offerings is guṇaka. The result accrued equals gift of crores of gold.
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Dūrvā (दूर्वा) refers to a type of grass (Agrostis linearis), according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 5), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “If there should be both lunar and solar eclipses in one month, princes will suffer both from dissensions among their own army and from wars. [...] If the eclipsed disc should appear yellow resembling the topaz in colour, the Vaiśyas will perish and there will be prosperity in the land. If the disc should appear to be burning, there will be fear from fire; if it should resemble gold ore, there will be wars in the land. If the disc should appear black resembling the colour of the stem of dūrvā grass [i.e., dūrvā-kāṇḍa] or yellow, there will be much death in the land. If of the colour of the flower pāṭali (Bignonia Suaveolenis) ‘trumpet flower’ there will be fear from lightning”.
Dūrvā (दूर्वा) refers to one of the items offered to the nine planets (navagraha), according to the grahaśānti (cf. grahayajña) section of the Yājñavalkyasmṛti (1.295-309), preceded by the section called vināyakakalpa (1.271-294), prescribing a rite to be offered to Vināyaka.—[verse 302-303: Faggots to be burned]—These two verses prescribe different faggots to be burned for grahas with offerings of honey, ghee, dadhi, and milk. It is interesting to note that some of the faggots (i.e. parāśa, khadira, pippala, and śamī) mentioned here are also used in the Suśrutasaṃhitā in the context (Uttaratantra chapters 27-37) of curing the diseases caused by grahas, which, in this case, are not planetary. [verse 304-305: Cooked rice (odana) to be offered to grahas]
Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Dūrva (दूर्व) refers to a type of grass (used for paying homage), according to the Netratantroddyota commentary on the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 4.4cd]—“[...] People with wealth [should pay homage] with lavish ingredients (mahā-saṃbhāra); for others it may be done even with such meager ingredients as dūrva grass, water, and sprouts. For in this way there is a supremacy of our teachers [who] lack laziness and [are] free of greed”.
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Dūrvā (दूर्वा) or “panic grass” refers to a particular shade of the green color, created through the principles of the ancient Indian tradition of Painting (citra), according to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy. In the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, five colours are regarded as the primary ones. A painter can create hundreds or thousands of colours by amalgamating the primary ones. Many shades of a particular colour also can be created by increasing or decreasing the quantity of the white part in the mixture. Thus, different shades of green could be made. For example—dūrvā i.e., panic grass, kapittha i.e., wood apple and mudga i.e a kind of kidney bean—all of which are basically green in colour but shows their colour in light and dark shades of green.
Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
Ganapatya (worship of Ganesha)
Dūrvā (दूर्वा) refers to a type of grass (used in the worship of Gaṇeśa), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.18 (“Gaṇeśa crowned as the chief of Gaṇas”).—Accordingly, as Śiva said to Gaṇeśa: “[...] A handful of Dūrvā grass having three knots and without roots shall be used for worship. The shoots shall be hundred and one in number. With twentyone the idol shall be worshipped. Gaṇeśa shall be adored with incense, lamps and different kinds of food-offerings.After worshipping you with various articles of worship like betel etc. and eulogising you with hymns, the devotee shall worship the crescent moon. [...]”.
Ganapatya (गाणपत्य, gāṇapatya) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Ganesha is revered and worshipped as the prime deity (ishta-devata). Being a minor though influential movement, Ganapatya evovled, llike Shaktism and Shaivism, as a separate movement leaving behind a large body of literature.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Dūrvā (दूर्वा) is the name of an object which is to be deposited at the building-plot presided over by (1) Nairṛiti or (2) Puṣpadanta, as discussed in the thesis entitled “concept of ritual deposit of Khmer temples in northeastern Thailand from 10th-13th century A.D.” by Naiyana Munparn.—(Also see: Acharya, Architecture of Mānasāra, 111).—Note: Dūrvā is denoted in the Thai language as หญ้าแพรก (yaphraek).
Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Dūrvā (दूर्वा) a species of grass (Panicum dactylon), is mentioned frequently from the Rigveda1 onwards. It grew in damp ground. A simile occurring in the Rigveda seems to indicate that the ears lay horizontal with the stem. Cf. Pākadūrvā.
In Jainism
Jain philosophy
Dūrvā (दूर्वा) refers to a kind of grass, as occurring in the Anekāntajayapatākā-prakaraṇa, a Śvetāmbara Jain philosophical work written by Haribhadra Sūri.—[Cf. Vol. I, P. 343, ll. 9-10]—‘Goloma’ means hair on the body of a cow and ‘dūrvā’ a kind of grass. The latter originates from the former. Dūrvā is bent grass, panic grass, and it is held sacred and is offered to deities at the time of worship.
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Biology (plants and animals)
Durva in the Hindi 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. For the possible medicinal usage of durva, 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.
1) Durva 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 Cynosurus durus Forssk., nom. illeg., non Cynosurus durus L. (among others).
2) Durva is also identified with Hedychium spicatum It has the synonym Gandasulium sieboldii (Wall.) Kuntze (etc.).
3) Durva is also identified with Rotheca serrata It has the synonym Clerodendrum serratum f. lacteum Moldenke (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Prodr. (1847)
· Flora Yunnanica (1977)
· Catalogue of the Indigenous and Exotic Plants Growing in Ceylon (1824)
· Hooker’s Journal of Botany Kew Gard. Misc. (1853)
· Flora of the British India. (1885)
· Novon (1998)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Durva, for example pregnancy safety, chemical composition, diet and recipes, extract dosage, side effects, 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
durvā (दुर्वा).—Properly dūrvā, dūrvāvrata, dūrvāṣṭamī.
--- OR ---
dūrvā (दूर्वा).—f pl (S) Bent grass, commonly Doob, Agrostis linearis.
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
Dūrvā (दूर्वा).—Bent grass, panic grass (considered as a sacred article of worship and offered to deities &c.).
Dūrvā (दूर्वा).—f.
(-rvā) Bent grass, commonly Durba, (Panicum dactylon.) E. dūrva to hurt or be hurt, affix ac or ghañ; fem. affix ṭāp what hurts sin, or is injured by cattle. dūrvati rogān aniṣṭaṃ vā .
Dūrvā (दूर्वा).—f. A kind of milletgrass, Panicum dactylon, Mahābhārata 3, 9984.
Dūrva (दूर्व).—[masculine] [Name] of a king; [feminine] dūrvā a kind of grass.
1) Dūrva (दूर्व):—m. Name of a prince who was son of Nṛpaṃ-jaya and father of Timi, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa ix, 22, 41.]
2) Dūrvā (दूर्वा):—f. (√durt?) bent grass, panic grass, Dūrb grass, Panicum Dactylon, [Ṛg-veda; Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā; Brāhmaṇa; Mahābhārata etc.] (cf. ali-, gaṇḍa-, granthi-, mālā-).
Dūrvā (दूर्वा):—(rvvā) 1. f. Bent grass, dūb.
Dūrva (दूर्व):—m. Nomen proprium eines Fürsten, eines Sohnes des Nṛpaṃjaya und Vaters des Timi, [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 9, 22, 41.] — Vgl. ūrva .
--- OR ---
Dūrvā (दूर्वा):—
Dūrva (दूर्व):——
1) m. Nomen proprium eines Fürsten. —
2) f. dūrvā Panicum Dactylon.
Dūrvā (दूर्वा) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Duruvvā.
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.
Hindi dictionary
Dūrvā (दूर्वा):—(nf) see [dūba].
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Kannada-English dictionary
Dūrva (ದೂರ್ವ):—[noun] = ದೂರ್ವೆ [durve].
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 (+18): Dur-vachaka, Durvaani, Durvaasane-mara, Durvac, Durvaca, Durvacaka, Durvacakayoga, Durvacana, Durvacas, Durvacastva, Durvacatva, Durvacatvara, Durvachan, Durvachya, Durvacika, Durvacya, Durvada, Durvadaka, Durvadi, Durvadighrita.
Full-text (+241): Granthidurva, Durvashtami, Durvavrata, Sadurva, Shvetadurva, Durvavana, Arunadurva, Alidurva, Niladurva, Sitadurva, Rajadurva, Maladurva, Durvasoma, Vallidurva, Gandadurva, Pakadurva, Durvakanda, Durvaloshta, Mugdhadurva, Gandali.
Relevant text
Search found 139 books and stories containing Durva, Dūrvā, Dūrva, Durvā; (plurals include: Durvas, Dūrvās, Dūrvas, Durvās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 1.6.4 < [Chapter 6 - Description of Kaṃsa’s Strength]
Verse 4.1.52 < [Chapter 1 - The Story of the Personified Vedas]
Verses 4.1.37-38 < [Chapter 1 - The Story of the Personified Vedas]
Saura-purana (analytical study) (by Priyanku Chakraborty)
Part 9.6 - Description of the Dūrvāgaṇapati-vrata < [Chapter 2 - A Brief Discourse on the Saura-purāṇa]
Part 6.4 - Description and worship of Skanda and Vināyaka < [Chapter 2 - A Brief Discourse on the Saura-purāṇa]
Part 5 - Gaṇeśa, the Gāṇapatya cult and the Saura-purāṇa < [Chapter 6 - Different Religious Cults in the Perspective of the Saura-purāṇa]
Agriculture and Animal husbandry in the Puranas (by Purboshri Borpuzari)
Part 21 - Treatment and Care of Horses < [Chapter 4 - Animal husbandry in the Purāṇas]
Part 26 - Herbs and Plants prescribed for the treatment of Animals < [Chapter 4 - Animal husbandry in the Purāṇas]
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]
Brihat Jataka by Varahamihira [Sanskrit/English] (by Michael D Neely)
Verse 2.4 < [Chapter 2 - Planets]