In Hinduism, we often notice that during every kind of worship, the dais of deities, where they are worshipped, is always covered with flowers. And so temple gates are lined with people selling strings and baskets of different kinds of flowers. We also have a tradition of hanging certain kinds of flowers on our doors on the day of Diwali. Moreover, mango leaves are known to play a very important role in the process of prayer.
It is interesting to know that some deities are associated with some specific flowers. Similarly, Lord Ganesha too has His favourite food and flowers. Lord Ganesha is known to be fond of modaks; flowers or leaves around him fail to leave an impression. But it would be interesting to know that offering a red hibiscus to Lord Ganesha, along with the conch flower and the milkweed flower can help you please Him easily. However, along with these flowers, legends state that Durva Grass was a special preference of this deity.
This could make one wonder, why a simple grass amongst all the beautiful flowers that the Mother Nature has blessed us with? This, too, has some stories behind it.
One story states that there was a very beautiful Apsara who fell in love with Lord Ganesha, and prayed to get married to him. Lord Ganesh, too, wanted to marry her. However, Goddess Parvati, Ganesha’s mother did not particularly like her and cursed the Apsara to be transformed into simple Durva grass, so insignificant that nobody would like her. While this could prevent the marriage between the Apsara and Lord Ganesha, this still couldn’t keep the Apsara away from the Lord, since the grass was around the Lord all the time. Another legend suggests a different story altogether.
It is said that a grand event was held in the city of Yama one day, where many dancers and fairies had come to entertain the Yamraj. During the festivities, Lord Yama fell in love with one of them, and consequently, a huge demon, Analasura, was born.
Analasura’s voice alone could make the earth tremble, and His eyes would emit fire. He was capable of destroying everything wherever He went, to the extent that He was not even fearful of the Gods. As a result, all Gods prayed to Lord Ganesha, asking Him to rescue them from the clutches of this devil. Lord Ganesha appeared as Bal Ganesha and approached the demon but the demon’s eyes emitted fire balls and destroyed the surrounds of Bal Ganesha. Seeing the tiny form of the Lord, Analasura scorned and laughed at Him but Bal Ganesh then transformed into his huge avatar of Lord Ganesha and gulped down Analasura. However, due to the sudden increase of heat in his body, the Lord collapsed to the ground. All other Lords tried their best to cure the Lord of this sudden collapse, but nothing worked. Following this, a large group of sages came with some Durva which they put on the Lord’s forehead. Due to the effect of the leaves the burning sensation in the Lord’s body subsided, and Lord Ganesh declared that a simple grass did what nothing else could do. With this, He announced that any devotion, performed with Durva leaves, would be the most pious, and the devotee would be blessed with punya which will be equal to thousands of pilgrimages and donations.
Hence, this could be one of the many reasons why Durva grass is so special in Ganesh Puja.
Some religious studies state that a minimum of 21 Durva should be offered to the Lord, after tying them up together and dipping them into the water. The entire idol of the deity, except for the face, must be covered with the Durva, in order to let the fragrance spread. Also, blossomed Durva must be avoided, and only tender ones should be used.
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