Alternative spellings of this word include Mikhla.

Images (photo gallery)

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Google Books: Cultural History from the Vāyu Purāna

Mekhalā (मेखला)—One of the Heavenly ornaments according to the Vāyu Purāṇa. A brahmacārin in the Tretā age was expected to use mekhalā. Śiva is called muñja-mekhalin (i.e., havin a girdle made of muñja grass).

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Mekhala (मेखल).—(mekala) Mekhala was a country which had attained Purāṇic fame in ancient India. The inhabitants of this place were called Mekhalas. They were the bodyguards of Bhīṣma. (Chapter 51, Bhīṣma Parva). They formed a separate division in the army of Bṛhannala, King of Kosala. (Chapter 87, Bhīṣma Parva). Once Karṇa conquered this country. (Śloka 8, Chapter 4, Droṇa Parva). Mekhalas were Kṣatriyas formerly. But they became persons of low caste when they showed jealousy towards the brahmins. (Śloka 17, Chapter 35, Anuśāsana Parva).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Mekhalā (मेखला).—A Śakti.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 36. 76.

1b) The shrine of Śārṅgadhara in Meghakara.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 22. 41.

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Mekhalā (मेखला) refers to the name of a Lady mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. IX.45.10). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Mekhalā) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstra

Mekhala (मेखल) refers to a type of temple (prāsāda) classified under the group named Triviṣṭapa, according to Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra chapter 49. The Triviṣṭapa group contains ten out of a sixty-four total prāsādas (temples) classified under five prime vimānas (aerial car/palace), which were created by Brahmā for as many gods (including himself). This group represents temples (e.g. Mekhala) that are to be octangular in shape. The prāsādas, or ‘temples’, represent the dwelling place of God and are to be built in towns. The Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra is an 11th-century encyclopedia dealing with various topics from the Vāstuśāstra.

Source: OpenEdition books: Architectural terms contained in Ajitāgama and Rauravāgama

Mekhalā (मेखला) refers to “- 1. lifting (surrounding a kuṇḍa ) §§ 4.28, 29, 32. - 2. degree (of a substitute altar) § 5.13.”.—(For paragraphs cf. Les enseignements architecturaux de l'Ajitāgama et du Rauravāgama by Bruno Dagens)

Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (vastu)

Mekhalā (मेखला) refers to “slop of the of temple ” (in ancient Indian architecture), according to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy.—Temples like saumudga, nandī, vṛtta, vṛṣa etc. were constructed in circular or round shape. According to Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, the kaṭi i.e., waist part and the mekhalā i.e., the slop of the digvandha type of temple should be made in circular shape. Ānanda type of temple should be constructed in square or circular shape.

context information

Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

Mekhalā (मेखला) refers to a “girdle of eight strings” and is a type of ornament (ābharaṇa) for the hips (śroṇī) to be worn by females, according to Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 23. Such ornaments for females should be used in cases of human females and celestial beings (gods and goddesses).

Ābharaṇa (‘ornaments’, eg., mekhalā) is a category of alaṃkāra, or “decorations”, which in turn is a category of nepathya, or “costumes and make-up”, the perfection of which forms the main concern of the Āhāryābhinaya, or “extraneous representation”, a critical component for a successful dramatic play.

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram (shaivism)

Mekhala (मेखल) refers to a “belt” (for decorating the hips), according to the Śrīmatottara-tantra, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult. Accordingly, “O goddess, Svacchanda is in the middle, within the abode of the triangle. Very powerful, he has five faces with three times five flaming eyes. [...] He sits on a great lotus and is adorned with a belt on his hips [i.e., kaṭi-mekhala-maṇḍita]. He is adorned with small bells and a garland of gems. There are anklets on his feet and they are well adorned with necklaces of pearls. He sits on Ananta as a seat and is like heated gold. On Ananta’s seat are seventy billion mantras. He is beautiful, divine, (white) like the stars, snow and the moon.]. [...]”.

Source: academia.edu: Yakṣiṇī-sādhana in the Kakṣapuṭa tantra

Mekhalā (मेखला) is the name of one of the thirty-six Yakṣiṇīs mentioned in the Uḍḍāmareśvaratantra. In the yakṣiṇī-sādhana, the Yakṣiṇī is regarded as the guardian spirit who provides worldly benefits to the practitioner. The Yakṣiṇī (e.g., Mekhalā) provides, inter alia, daily food, clothing and money, tells the future, and bestows a long life, but she seldom becomes a partner in sexual practices.

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

Mekhalā (मेखला) refers to a “girdle” (worn as an ornament), according to the Guhyasūtra chapter 9.—Accordingly, “[...] [The Lord spoke]:—[...] On one half, there should be a forehead mark; on one half a [forehead] eye. A ring [should be] in one ear; a [pendant] ear-ornament in one ear. He should put a trident in his right hand and a breast on his left side, a girdle (mekhalā) on the left half, a bangle on the left arm, a woman’s anklet on the left leg, a man’s anklet on the right leg and a muñja-grass belt. At the hips, he should put a loin-cloth on the right and wear a woman’s garment on the left.”.

Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra Tantra

Mekhala (मेखल) refers to “girdles” (used for decorating a round pot), according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 6.9-15ab]—“[...] He [who is ill] quickly escapes from death. My speech is true and not false. According to the rules for the great protection [rite, the Mantrin] should make an oblation in the name of [the afflicted] into a fire fueled with holy wood. [This fire burns] in a round pot [adorned] with three girdles (tri-mekhala). [The mantrin] uses sesame seeds soaked in ghee and milk [mixed] together with white sugar. [...]”.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Kavya (poetry)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

Mekhalā (मेखला) is the wife of Yaśaskara, a Brāhman from Śobhāvatī, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 104. Accordingly, as a young Brāhman said to Naravāhanadatta: “... in it [Śobhāvatī] there was a wise and rich Brāhman, of the name of Yaśaskara, who had offered many sacrifices, and he had an excellent wife named Mekhalā. I was born to them as an only son, when they were already in middle life, and I was in due course reared up by them, and invested with the sacrificial thread”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Mekhalā, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.

context information

Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.

Ayurveda (science of life)

Nighantu (Synonyms and Characteristics of Drugs and technical terms)

Source: Wisdom Library: Raj Nighantu

Mekhalā (मेखला) refers to the “middle part” of a mountain (giri) according to the second chapter (dharaṇyādi-varga) of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu (an Ayurvedic encyclopedia). The Dharaṇyādi-varga covers the lands, soil, mountains [viz., Mekhalā], jungles and vegetation’s relations between trees and plants and substances, with their various kinds.

Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭu

Mekhalā (मेखला) is another name for Pṛśniparṇī, a medicinal plant identified with Uraria picta Desv. from the Fabaceae or “legume” family of flowering plants, according to verse 4.37-39 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. The fourth chapter (śatāhvādi-varga) of this book enumerates eighty varieties of small plants (pṛthu-kṣupa). Together with the names Mekhalā and Pṛśniparṇī, there are a total of twenty-four Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

context information

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Source: Shodhganga: Vaisnava Agamas And Visnu Images

Mekhalā (मेखला) refers to a “waist belt” and represents a type of “ornaments for the loins” (śroṇī), as defined in treatises such as the Pāñcarātra, Pādmasaṃhitā and Vaikhānasa-āgamas, extensively dealing with the technical features of temple art, iconography and architecture in Vaishnavism.—Bharata (cf. Nāṭyaśāstra 23.35-37) mentions the ornaments for the loins (śroṇī) [viz. mekhalā (waist belt) with eight strings of pearls].

Mekhalā is a very elaborate waist girdle or belt. Often it is seen decorated with additional strings made of chains or pearl beads, which fall over the thighs and are (therefore) called ūrudāman. If the latter are furnished with bells at their edges then they are known by the term kāñcīdāman sometimes with the bells.

context information

Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Mekhalā (मेखला) refers to “girdles” (i.e., concentric circles).—The Liṅga in the core of Kubjikā's maṇḍala is represented by a triangle with a point in the centre. [...] The form of this maṇḍala is relatively simple. In the centre is a Point surrounded by a downward-facing triangle drawn within a hexagon. Beyond them is an eight-petaled lotus. Sometimes three concentric circles or 'girdles' (mekhalā) are drawn either around the lotus or the hexagon. In some versions of the maṇḍala there may be other lotuses around the eight-petaled lotus consisting of sixteen, thirty-two or even sixty-four petals.

2) Mekhalā (मेखला) refers to a “girdle” (made of mantras), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, [while describing the Niṣkala Form of Śrīnātha]—“Adorned with a girdle (mekhalā-maṇḍita) (made of mantras), the venerable teacher is Śambhu the Lord of Yoga. In the form of the Gander (Haṃsa), he dances in the calyx of the Lotus of the Heart. He has twelve arms (with which he plays) twelve musical instruments. He is the teacher * * in the abode of the Void”.

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

The city of birth of Sumana Buddha and the scene of his first sermon to Sarana and Bhavitatta (Bu.v.21; BuA.125f). It was there that Mangala Buddha converted his chief disciples, Sudeva and Dhammasena (BuA.120). Revata Buddha once preached there to an assembly of one thousand crores of people (BuA.134), while later, King Uggata built, for Sobhita Buddha, the Dhammaganarama in the same city (BuA.139).

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhism

1) Mekhalā (मेखला) is the name of Dūtī (i.e., messengers of Lord Vajrapāṇi) mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Mekhalā).

2) Mekhalā (मेखला) is also the name of a Yakṣiṇī mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa.

Source: archive.org: The Indian Buddhist Iconography

Mekhalā (मेखला) refers to “girdle” and represents one of the five auspicious symbols of Nairātmā.—The Indian Museum image is the only image of this goddess [Nairātmā] which conforms to the description given in the sādhana. Here the goddess, in accordance with the Dhyāna, has a terrible appearance with canine teeth, garland of heads and three eyes rolling in anger. She stands on the corpse lying on its back, and dances in the ardhaparyaṅka attitude. Burning flames radiate from her person, and her hair rise upwards in the shape of a flame. She is decked in the five auspicious symbols, the kaṇṭhikā (torque), rucaka (bracelets), ratna (jewels), mekhalā (girdle), and bhasma (ashes) or the sūtra (sacred thread) in the form of a garland of heads. She bears the image of her sire Akṣobhya on her crown and carries the menacing kartri in the right hand. The left hand holding the kapāla is broken. The khaṭvāṅga, as usual, hangs from her left shoulder.

Source: Wisdomlib Libary: Vajrayana

Mekhalā is the name of a mahāsiddha, of which eighty-four in total are recognized in Vajrayāna (tantric buddhism). His title is “the elder severed-headed sister”. He lived somewhere between the 8th and the 12th century AD.

These mahāsiddhas (e.g., Mekhalā) are defined according to the Abhayadatta Sri (possibly Abhayākaragupta) tradition. Its textual origin traces to the 11th century caturāsiti-siddha-pravṛtti, or “the lives of the eighty-four siddhas”, of which only Tibetan translations remains. Mekhalā (and other Mahāsiddhas) are the ancient propounders of the textual tradition of tantric or Vajrayana Buddhism.

Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara Samadhi

Mekhalā (मेखला) refers to “(possesing) a girdle” which is used to describe Cakrasaṃvara, according to the Saṃvaramaṇḍala of Abhayākaragupta’s Niṣpannayogāvalī, p. 45 and n. 145; (Cf. Cakrasaṃvaratantra, Gray, David B., 2007).—Accordingly, [while describing the iconography of Cakrasaṃvara]: “In the Saṃvara Maṇḍala atop Mount Sumera within a vajra-canopy there is a variegated lotus, on top of that a palace, in the middle of which is the Blessed Lord, standing in ālīḍhāsana, "archer's pose", [...] possessing a naraśiromālā-śatārdha, "garland of fifty (fresh) human heads" around the neck, the ṣaṇmudrā, "six insignia", bone ornaments, which are the kaṇṭhikā, "necklace", rucaka, "bracelets", kuṇḍala, "ear-rings", mekhalā, "girdle", śiromaṇi, "crest jewel", and bhasmitiḥ, "covered in ashes", a jaṭā-makuṭa, "crest of dreadlocks", kapālamālā, "crown of (five) skulls", topped by an ardhacandra, "crescent moon", and viśvavajra, "world vajra" or "double vajra", a vikṛitānana, "fierce face", and daṃṣṭrotkaṭa, "horrible gigantic fangs".

context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)

1) Mekhala in India is the name of a plant defined with Aglaia odorata in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Aglaia odorata var. microphyllina C. DC..

2) Mekhala is also identified with Desmostachya bipinnata It has the synonym Cynosurus durus Forssk., nom. illeg., non Cynosurus durus L. (etc.).

Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):

· Journal of Applied Ecology (1999)
· Antiviral Research (2005)
· Flora Cochinchinensis (1790)
· Annuario del Reale Istituto Botanico di Roma (1908)
· Flora Capensis (1900)
· Die Pflanzenwelt Ost-Afrikas (1895)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Mekhala, for example side effects, diet and recipes, pregnancy safety, chemical composition, extract dosage, health benefits, have a look at these references.

context information

This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

mekhalā : (f.) a girdle for women.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Mekhalā, (f.) (cp. Vedic mekhalā) a girdle J. V, 202, 294 (su°, adj.); VI, 456; ThA. 35; KhA 109; DhA. I, 39; PvA. 46. (Page 540)

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

mēkhalā (मेखला).—f (S) pop. mēkhaḷā f A triple zone or string worn round the loins by the three first classes of Hindus. 2 A woman's gridle or zone. 3 A string or chain fastened to the hilt of a sword. 4 A sort of cloak or body-garment without sleeves. See kaphanī.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

mēkhalā (मेखला) [-ḷā, -ळा].—f A woman's girdle. A sort of cloak.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Mekhalā (मेखला).—1 A belt, girdle, waist-band, zone in general (fig. also); anything which girds or surrounds; मही सागरमेखला (mahī sāgaramekhalā) 'the sea-girt earth'; रत्नानुविद्धार्णवमेखलाया दिशः सपत्नी भव दक्षिणस्याः (ratnānuviddhārṇavamekhalāyā diśaḥ sapatnī bhava dakṣiṇasyāḥ) R.6.63; Ṛtusaṃhāra 6.3.

2) Particularly, the girdle or zone of a woman; नितम्बबिम्बैः सदुकूलमेखलैः (nitambabimbaiḥ sadukūlamekhalaiḥ) Ṛs. 1.4,6; R.8.64; मेखलागुणैरुत गोत्रस्खलितेषु बन्धनम् (mekhalāguṇairuta gotraskhaliteṣu bandhanam) Kumārasambhava 4.8.

3) The triple girdle worn by the first three castes; मौञ्जी त्रिवृत् समा श्लक्ष्णा कार्या विप्रस्य मेखला । क्षत्रियस्य तु मौर्वी ज्या वैश्यस्य शणतान्तवी (mauñjī trivṛt samā ślakṣṇā kāryā viprasya mekhalā | kṣatriyasya tu maurvī jyā vaiśyasya śaṇatāntavī) || Manusmṛti 2.42.

4) The slope of a mountain (nitamba); आमेखलं संचरतां घनानाम् (āmekhalaṃ saṃcaratāṃ ghanānām) Kumārasambhava 1.5; Meghadūta 12.

5) The hips.

6) A sword-belt.

7) A sword-knot or string fastened to the hilt.

8) The girth of a horse.

9) Name of the river Narmadā.

1) The cords or lines drawn round an alter; विधिना विहिते कुण्डे मेखलागर्तवेदिभिः (vidhinā vihite kuṇḍe mekhalāgartavedibhiḥ) Bhāgavata 11.27.36.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Mekhala (मेखल).—name of a pupil of 1 Dharma (4): Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra 365.3 f.

--- OR ---

Mekhalā (मेखला).—name of a yakṣiṇī: (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 564.26; 566.9.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mekhalā (मेखला).—f.

(-lā) 1. A woman’s girdle or zone. 2. A sword-knot, a string or chain fastened to the hilt, and in fighting bound round the wrist to secure the weapon. 3. A sword-belt. 4. The slope of a mountain. 5. The Narmada river. 6. The sacrificial string of a Brahmana when made of deer-skin. 7. A sort of figure, made on the four sides of the hole in which sacrificial fire is offered. 8. A triple zone or string worn round the loins by the three first classes; the girdle of the Brahmana should be of the fibres of the Munja or of Kuśa grass, that of the Kshetriya of a Murva, and that of the Vaiśya of a thread of the Sana, &c. 9. The girth of a horse. 10. The hips. E. mi to scatter, khalac aff., deriv. irr.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mekhalā (मेखला).—f. 1. A girdle, [Raghuvaṃśa, (ed. Stenzler.)] 8, 63; [Uttara Rāmacarita, 2. ed. Calc., 1862.] 106, 1. 2. The sacrificial string, see kṛ with mekhalā. 3. A sword-belt. 4. A swordknot. 5. The slope of a mountain, [Meghadūta, (ed. Gildemeister.)] 12. 6. The Narmadā river.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

Mekhalā (मेखला) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—the ceremony of investing the religous student with a girdle. Oudh. Xx, 158.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Mekhala (मेखल):—mn. a girdle, belt, [Rāmāyaṇa]

2) m. [plural] Name of a people, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā] ([probably] [wrong reading] for mekala)

3) Mekhalā (मेखला):—[from mekhala] a f. See below.

4) [from mekhala] b f. a girdle, belt, zone (as worn by men or women, but [especially] that worn by the men of the first three classes; [according to] to [Manu-smṛti ii, 42] that of a Brāhman ought to be of muñja [accord. to, [ii, 169] = yajñopavīta q.v.]; that of a Kṣatriya, of mūrvā; that of a Vaiśya, of śaṇa or hemp, [Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams p. 240]), [Atharva-veda] etc.

5) [v.s. ...] etc.

6) [v.s. ...] the girth of a horse, [Kathāsaritsāgara]

7) [v.s. ...] a band or fillet, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

8) [v.s. ...] (ifc. f(ā). ) anything girding or surrounding (cf. sāgara-m)

9) [v.s. ...] investiture with the girdle and the ceremony connected with it, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]

10) [v.s. ...] a sword-belt, baldric, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

11) [v.s. ...] a sword-knot or string fastened to the hilt, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

12) [v.s. ...] the cords or lines drawn round an altar (on the four sides of the hole or receptacle in which the sacrificial fire is deposited), [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]

13) [v.s. ...] the hips (as the place of the girdle), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

14) [v.s. ...] the slope of a mountain (cf. nitamba), [Kālidāsa]

15) [v.s. ...] a [particular] part of the fire-receptacle, [Hemādri’s Caturvarga-cintāmaṇi]

16) [v.s. ...] Hemionitis Cordifolia, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

17) [v.s. ...] Name of the river Narma-dā ([probably] [wrong reading] for mekalā), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

18) [v.s. ...] of a place (?), [Vāsavadattā, [Introduction]]

19) [v.s. ...] of various women, [Viddhaśālabhañjikā; Kathāsaritsāgara]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Mekhalā (मेखला):—(lā) 1. f. A woman’s girdle or zone; a sword knot or belt.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Mekhalā (मेखला) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Mehalā.

[Sanskrit to German]

Mekhala in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Mekhalā (मेखला) [Also spelled mikhla]:—(nf) a girdle; zone, range.

context information

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See also (Relevant definitions)

Starts with: Mekhala pullu, Mekhalabandha, Mekhalabandhana, Mekhaladaman, Mekhaladayika, Mekhalajinadandanashaprayashcitta, Mekhalaka, Mekhalakanyaka, Mekhalala, Mekhalamandita, Mekhalamani, Mekhalamukha, Mekhalanem, Mekhalapada, Mekhalapaddhati, Mekhalarvin, Mekhalavant, Mekhalavat, Mekhalavin.

Ends with (+17): Ahimekhala, Aholukhalamekhala, Anandamekhala, Anangamekhala, Anantamekhala, Baddhamekhala, Brahmamekhala, Chitramekhala, Citramekhala, Galamekhala, Girimekhala, Haramekhala, Himavamekhala, Katimekhala, Khandankamekhala, Kroshtukamekhala, Lambamekhala, Lohamekhala, Mahamekhala, Maholukhalamekhala.

Full-text (+108): Mekhalapada, Citramekhala, Sagaramekhala, Galamekhala, Samudramekhala, Udadhimekhala, Mekhalabandha, Brahmamekhala, Mekhalin, Mekhalapaddhati, Mekhalamani, Mekhaladaman, Mekhalavin, Mekhalavat, Mekhalika, Mekhalottha, Manimekhala, Mekshana, Kroshtukamekhala, Lohamekhala.

Relevant text

Search found 59 books and stories containing Mekhala, Mekhalā, Mēkhalā; (plurals include: Mekhalas, Mekhalās, Mēkhalās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)

Verse 1.16.19 < [Chapter 16 - Description of Śrī Rādhikā’s Wedding]

Verse 4.12.15 < [Chapter 12 - The Story of the Gopīs That In the Holi Festival Displayed Three Transcendental Virtues]

Verse 2.24.12 < [Chapter 24 - The Story of Asuri Muni in the Rāsa-dance Pastime]

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Women in the Atharva-veda Samhita (by Pranab Jyoti Kalita)

14. Goddess Mekhalā < [Chapter 4 - Female Deities and the Glorification of Women in the Atharvaveda]

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Hanuman Nataka (critical study) (by Nurima Yeasmin)

6. Dress and Decoration < [Chapter 5]

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The Brahma Purana (by G. P. Bhatt)

Chapter 13 - The Family of Vṛṣṇis

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Pallava period (Social and Cultural History) (by S. Krishnamurthy)

Mekhala (girdle) < [Chapter 4 - Material Culture of the People]

Waist Ornaments (Introduction) < [Chapter 4 - Material Culture of the People]

Conclusion (Material Culture) < [Chapter 5 - Conclusion]

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Cosmetics, Costumes and Ornaments in Ancient India (by Remadevi. O.)

2.7. Waist Ornaments (a): Mekhalā < [Chapter 3 - Ornaments]

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