Barhis
object · 3 works · 16 mentions · 21 anchored passages
sacred grass · barhis · the sacred grass · eastward-facing sacred grass · sacred strewn grass · sacrificial grass · the underlayer
spoken of as
1 expressionSacred grass“barhis”11 mentions
Rigveda (Sanskrit) · Atharvaveda (Paippalāda) (Sanskrit) · Sāmaveda (Sanskrit)
Let the wise strew the sacred grass in succession, ghee-backed, where is the seat of the immortal.
in the texts
Rigveda
Sacred grass strewn as a seat for the gods during sacrifice.
We invoke for you Agni upon Agni, the irresistible, we who have strewn the barhis;
O Agni, great as Mitra, with your brilliant flame, take your seat on the sacred grass with the gods.
let the well-extended oblation-bearing ladle anoint thee, the most adorable, to sit upon the barhis-grass.
Atharvaveda (Paippalāda)
The sacred grass (barhis) spread in sacrificial ritual, whose direction of strewing is tied to specific deities or outcomes.
When they spread the underlayer, that is the sacred grass indeed.
When one strews the barhis westward, one does what has never been done before.
When one strews the barhis southward, it is cut off for Yama and for the Pitṛs.
Sāmaveda
The ritually strewn grass (barhis) that forms the seat for gods and priests at the sacrifice.
this sacred grass is my seat.
Sit down, O priest, upon the sacred grass;
the sacred grass is spread, O lord of brilliant light.