Durva Grass is one of the most popular offering to Ganesha.
You can find stalls selling Durva Grass before important Ganapati temples. But
why is Durva Grass offered to Ganesha? The offering has to do with the large
stomach of Ganesh and his huge appetite.
Legend says that a demon named Anala had gained several
boons through years of penance. He had even got the boon of immortality. Anala
was also the son of Yama, the Hindu god of death.
People could no longer tolerate the destructive activities
of the demon. Therefore, saints, humans and Devas approached Ganesh for a
solution. He promised to help them.
But there was no way to annihilate Anala, so Ganesh simply
had to eat him alive. Now this divine act caused numerous problems like
heaviness and indigestion. To get relief from this constant problem, Ganesha
eats Durva Grass.
Devotees therefore provide Durva grass to Ganesha in the
form of offerings.
Today Durva grass is widely used in medicines meant to cure
indigestion and other stomach ailments.
Durva is known as arugampul in Tamil and Bermuda grass in English.