13. Goddess Medhā

For knowledge, whatever basically important is perception. The capacity of perception or the retentiveness of memory is called Medhā.^[1] So, Medhā is certain faculty of mind. The Atharvavedic seers have offered her the status of a goddess. She is principal among the deities, to be eulogised by the gods and men.^[2] She is yajñiyā, i.e. fit to be worshipped.^[3] As the rays of the Sun pervade the whole universe, likewise, Medhā too is asked to come to the sacrificers with all her abilities of pervading all the subjects.^[4] She is called brahmanvatī,^[5] i.e. endowed with Brahman or Veda. She is brahmajutā,^[6] i.e. served by the Brāhmaṇas and also ṛṣiṣṭutā,^[7] i.e. praised by the seers. She is served by the religious students for the protection of the gods like Indra, etc.^[8] She is called bhadrā,^[9] i.e. beneficial. According to Sāyaṇācārya,^[10] Vedic scriptures subject to Medhā. About her, it is spoken that she is known to the Ṛbhus, to the Asuras and to the seers.^[11] She is wanted to be placed upon the sacrifice himself.^[12]

It is notable that Agni is prayed by the worshipper to associate him with Medhā.^[13] An invoker vows to praise Medhā in the morning, midday and evening along with the rays of the Sun through his panegyrics and wishes to place her on himself.^[14]