The humble Durva grass offered with devotion to Lord Ganesha during Ganeshotsav represents much more than a ritual offering
CELLY QUADROS COUTINHO
Durva grass, botanically identified as Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers is regarded as one of the sacred plants of India. It forms part of the traditional group of sacred plant leaves (patri) offered during Ganesha worship.
Botanical identity and nomenclature
It belongs to the family Poaceae (Gramineae). It is a perennial, stoloniferous and rhizomatous grass that spreads rapidly through creeping stems and underground rhizomes. The genus name Cynodon is derived from Greek words associated with “dog” and “tooth,” referring to the characteristic morphology of the grass. The species is widely known as Bermuda grass or Doob grass in English and has numerous vernacular names in Indian languages, including Durva and Harali in Marathi and Doob/Durva in Hindi.
The plant also possesses a rich Sanskrit nomenclature. Names such as Durva, Amrita, Ananta, Shataparva, Neeladurva, Mangala, Vijaya and Gauri occur in traditional literature. Several of these names appear to reflect attributes such as its persistent growth, regenerative capacity, medicinal associations, and auspicious nature.
Ayurveda use
The medicinal importance of Cynodon dactylon has been documented in Ayurvedic and ethnobotanical traditions.
Fresh Durva juice has traditionally been used as a styptic preparation, particularly for controlling minor bleeding. Poultices or pastes prepared from the plant have also been traditionally applied to wounds and inflammatory conditions. Its use in folk medicine for mouth ulcers, certain skin conditions and gastrointestinal disorders has been reported in different regions
of India.
Nevertheless, the strength of evidence varies according to the preparation, experimental model and dosage, and further well-controlled clinical studies are required before such traditional applications can be regarded as established medical treatments.
Similarly, preliminary experimental evidence suggests that extracts of the plant may influence glucose metabolism and blood-glucose levels. However, it would be scientifically inappropriate to describe Durva juice as an established treatment for diabetes or obesity without adequate human clinical evidence.
Ecological importance
Durva has considerable ecological value. Its extensive stoloniferous growth and fibrous root system help bind soil particles, making it useful in reducing surface soil erosion. The plant can colonise disturbed and open habitats rapidly and therefore contributes to ground cover and soil stabilisation.
Because of its adaptability and tolerance to different environmental conditions, C. dactylon is commonly found in grasslands, agricultural margins, roadsides, lawns and other disturbed habitats. Its dense growth can provide ground-level vegetation cover and contribute to the biological protection of soil.
At the same time, its vigorous and sometimes invasive growth in managed landscapes means that its ecological behaviour should be considered in relation to the particular habitat.
Durva and Indian cultural heritage
The association of Durva with Lord Ganesha is particularly prominent. During Ganeshotsav, devotees traditionally offer small bunches of Durva to the deity. The practice has been interpreted through various traditional narratives and linguistic explanations, reinforcing the plant’s association with auspiciousness, longevity and devotion.
The etymological interpretations of the word Durva found in traditional sources are themselves part of India’s cultural and linguistic heritage. Rather than treating these interpretations as botanical explanations, they may be understood as cultural interpretations that have contributed to the symbolic importance of the plant.
Conservation of traditional knowledge
Durva provides an excellent example of how a common and seemingly insignificant plant can represent a convergence of botanical diversity, traditional medicine, religion, culture and ecological knowledge. Many plants used in Indian traditions have been associated with medicinal applications long before modern phytochemical investigations began.
Documenting such knowledge is therefore important, particularly at a time when traditional practices and indigenous plant knowledge are increasingly vulnerable to erosion. Scientific documentation should include correct botanical identification, vernacular names, traditional uses, distribution, ecological significance and available pharmacological evidence, while clearly distinguishing traditional claims from scientifically established findings.
Protecting biological and cultural heritage and transmitting scientifically documented knowledge to future generations is an important responsibility.
(The writer is a research scholar in Botany Discipline, SBBS at Goa University and associate professor at Government College of Arts, Science & Commerce, Quepem)
