2.7. Various other Waist Ornaments

Girdles were known by some other names also. They are:—(1) Nyocinī, (2) Varuṇapāśa, (3) Nināha, (4) Yoktra, (5) Śṛṅkhala, (6) Kaṭisūtra, (7) Kiṅkiṇī, (8) Kalāpa, (9) Talaka, (10) Sūtraka, (11) Kāñcanapaṭṭa, (12)Śroṇisūtra, (13) Pariveśa, (14) Kaṭibandha, (15) Udarabandha, (16) Kiṅkiṇa, (17) Saptakī, (18) Śroṇibandha and (19) Nīvī.

The first four of the above mentioned are seen used in Vedic texts^[1]. The next three are female girdles. According to Bharata, Kalāpa is a girdle with twenty five strings^[2]. Sūtraka is worn by male characters. Kāñcanapaṭṭa was an article of gift during Śrāddha, in Purāṇic period^[3]. Śroṇisūtra was worn by both men and women. In Matsyapurāṇa, Narasiṃha is described as wearing Śroṇisūtra^[4]. Girdle of Rāvaṇa mentioned in Vālmīki-rāmāyaṇa is also Śroṇisūtra^[5]. Pariveśa is described in Harṣacarita as one made by inlaying brilliant pearls^[6].

Dharmasūtras and Smṛtis make references to girdles worn by different castes, on the basis of their hierarchy. Thus Muñja grass is meant for a Brāhmaṇa. In the absence of Muñja, according to Manusmṛti, Kuśa, Aśmantaka and Balbaja may be used. For a Kṣatriya, it is of bow string made of Mūrvā grass. A Vaiśya’s girdle was made out of hempen fibres. Sometimes it was of wool^[7].