Women in the Atharva-veda Samhita
by Pranab Jyoti Kalita | 2017 | 62,142 words
This page relates ‘Goddess Mekhala’ of the study on women in the Vedic society reflecting the Atharva-veda Samhita in English. These pages discusses the social aspects of women, education, customs of marriage, practices of polyandry and polygamy, descriptions of female deities and various rites and rituals. It is shown how women earned much praise in ancient Indian society. Included are Sanskrit text and references of the Atharvaveda and commentary by Sayana-Acharya.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
14. Goddess Mekhalā
Mekhalā is the sacred girdle, bound on the waist,[1] which is personified and invoked as a deity in the Atharvaveda. One entire hymn[2] consisting of five mantras is dedicated to her invocation. She is called as the daughter of Śraddhā and the sister of the seers.[3] She is born of the penance of Brahmā at the beginning of creation.[4] It is spoken about her that in ancient times, gods fastened her with the desire of slaying their foes.[5] In recent times also, gods bind Mekhalā to others.[6] She is the weapon of the seers.[7] She is asked to be a vīraghnī, i.e. slayer of the enemies.[8] With the fastening of Mekhalā, one wishes to fasten his enemy.[9] Mekhalā is purified with oblations.[10]
Mekhalā is asked to assign thought, wisdom and the power of Indra to her laudators.[11] She is spoken of as being worn by the seers[12] and hence, is asked to encompass one.[13] By means of averting the bad effects of witchcraft, Mekhalā is asked to enfold one in order to ensure long life to that one.[14]
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
Atharvaveda, 6.133
[5]:
[6]:
tathā yo devaḥ saṃnanāha idānīmapi anyeṣāṃ mekhalāṃ saṃnahyati / Ibid.
[7]:
… ṛṣīṇāmasyāyudham / Atharvaveda, 6.133.2
[9]:
tamahaṃ brahmaṇā tapasā śrameṇānayainaṃ mekhalayā sināmi / Atharvaveda, 6.133.3
[12]:
yāṃ tvāṃ pūrve bhūtakṛta ṛṣaya paribedhire / Ibid., 6.133.5
[14]:
sā tvaṃ pari ṣvajasva māṃ dīrghāyutvāya mekhale / Ibid.