Vrīhi
Vrīhi, “rice”
Grammar: masculine noun.
Meaning: rice, a grain.
In the scriptures: it is the seventh of the things taken month by month as prāśana in the year-long vrata of the Saptamī tithis, which burn pāpa and purify the self (Brahma Parva, Chapter 112). It is among the things set out for the yajña (Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 2, Chapters 14–16), and among the eight aushadhis: yava, godhūma, nīvāra, tila, sāṃvā, śāli, priyaṅgu and vrīhi (Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 2, Chapters 19–21).
In the Brahma Purāṇa: Vyāsa, teaching the munis the rules of śrāddha, names the grains praised for śrāddha: yava (barley), vrīhi, tila (sesame), wheat, chickpeas, green gram, millet, mustard, nīvāra (wild rice), hastiśyāmāka, priyaṅgu, satūlika and prāsātika, which is aṇuvrīhi (fine rice) (Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 220).
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 112; Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 2, Chapters 14–16, 19–21
- Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 220