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Why is Durva Grass Offered to Ganesha? – Durva Grass and Ganapati

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.