kusha grass ［吉祥草］ (;  kichijō-sō): A grass regarded as sacred in ancient India and believed to possess powers of purification. Kusha grass, reaching up to sixty centimeters in height, was made into brooms used to sweep and purify ritual sites. Performers of rituals would often seat themselves or place offerings upon a mat made of kusha grass. It is said that Shakyamuni sat on a mat of kusha grass when he meditated and attained enlightenment under the bodhi tree.