Horse grams are a bean, specifically legumes, which are mostly used to feed cattle. In rural parts of India, however, it is consumed by humans. They eat it either as a whole seed or as sprouts. Sometimes it even represents an entire meal.
The horse gram bean is a tropical and sub-tropical legume. It grows for the most part beneath dry-land agriculture. Its growth provides an excellent source of iron for the people and animals consuming it, but it is deficient in other things like tryptophan.
Horse grams have some medicinal benefits. They are used to treat things like jaundice and water retention, and can even aid in dieting to lose weight. Because of its iron element, it is useful in treating iron deficiencies as well.
The horse gram is known by a variety of names throughout India. It is called gahat, muthira and kulath. They also use the names kulthi and hurali. In Marathi, the people call it kulith.