Uśīra
Uśīra, “vetiver root”
Grammar: neuter noun.
Meaning: a root; the Telugu of the text gives vaṭṭivēru.
In the scriptures: the Brahma Parva of the Bhavishya Purāṇa uses it in two remedies. When the poison reaches the blood, the first medicine is vaṭṭivēru, candana, ceṅgalvakoshṭu, nandivardhana, mahākāla roots, vāvili roots, iṅgilīkam and black pepper. When it reaches the majjā, vaṭṭivēru and candana are ground with ghee, honey and sugar, made into a powder, mixed with water and given to drink, and the powder is inhaled through the nose (Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 35).
In the Brahma Purāṇa. Vyāsa teaches the munis that the fragrant substances pleasing to the pitṛs at śrāddha are the black water-lily, the red water-lily, kalhāra, kushṭha, māṃsī, bālaka, kukkaṭi, jātipatraka (mace), naśika, uśīra, musta, granthiparṇī and the like (Chapter 220). Among the marks of the Kali age he tells that goat’s milk becomes important and smearing the paste of vetiver roots becomes common (Chapter 230).
Related terms: Candana · Nandivardhana
Sources
- Bhavishya Purāṇa, Brahma Parva, Chapter 35
- Brahma Purāṇa, Chapters 220, 230