War in Ancient India c5.s1.19

c5.s1.19

Next came the outfit of the Kṣatriyas. The sacred thread was made of hemp. The Kṣatriya wore a girdle made either of *muñja* grass with iron pieces¹⁸ tied to it or of a bow-string.¹⁹ The girdle of a Brahman was of *muñja* grass, and to distinguish it from that of a Kṣatriya, pieces of iron were added to the *muñja* grass. This seems to have been an alternative to the girdle of a bow-string, as the ancient Kṣatriya was generally a bowman. He held a staff reaching the forehead. The warrior should not carry any kind of staff, though Āśvalāyana would permit it.²⁰ The staff was made of banyan or acacia wood.²¹ Every caste had its own kind of staff. But the rule was that the higher the caste the longer the staff. The height was determined by the social position of the caste.