SACRED PLANTS OF INDIA. BARBOUR. XXXIX 



Ficus glomerata, Vern. "Gular." The Gular fig. A large 

 tree with leaves oblong or broadly lanceolate, fruit in clusters on 

 the trunk or branches, small, red downy. The wood is a fair timber, 

 and the fruit is edible. A bath made of the fruit and bark with 

 water is regarded as a cure for leprosy. The liquid extract from 

 the root is used as a tonic from the Vaidvans. It is a fairly 

 common tree over the country and may often be recognized quickly 

 by the growth of galls on its leaves. 



Poa cynosuroides, Vern. "Kust." Dharba- grass. This is not 

 a grass as its name suggests, but belongs to the natural order. 

 Boraginaceae, and grows on damp marshy swamps. 



Brahmins always keep it in their houses and it is used in all 

 ceremonies, including sacrifices. 



It grows to a height of two feet and has a finely pointed top 

 and is rough to the touch. 



There are several legends regarding the origin of this sacred 

 plant. One, that it was produced at a time when gods and giants 

 were all busy churning with the mountains of Mandara, the 

 Sea of Milk in order to extract from it Amrita or nectar which 

 would render them all immortal. The story goes on to say that 

 while the mountain was rolling about on Vishnu's back, who in the 

 form of a turtle was supporting it, it rubbed off a great many 

 hairs from the god, and that these hairs cast ashore by the waves, 

 tcok root there and became Dharba grass. One wonders where the 

 hairs on a turtle's back are, but this is a legend. Another legend 

 is that while the gods were greedily drinking the nectar which 

 they had extracted from the Sea of Milk, let fall some drops on 

 the ground among ordinary grass which thus became sacred and 

 grew up as Dharba grass . 



Dharba grass although sacred to the hosts of Heaven is also 

 considered to be part of Vishnu himself, and Brahmins worship 

 it, and in their ceremonies use it, believing that it has the virtue 

 of purifying everything. An annual feast is instituted in honor 

 of it on 8th day of the Moon in the month of Badra (September), 

 and is called Dharba-ashtami. By offering the grass as a sacrifice 

 on that day immortality and blessedness for ten ancestors may be 

 assurred. Another result is that one's posterity is increased and 

 PROC. & TRANS. N. S. INST. Sci., VOL. XIII. PROC.-D. 



