Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c12.51

c12.51

The *Mekhalā* was made of a triple chord to indicate the protection of the three Vedas encircling the child. It was tied round his waist to the recitation of verses stating that it was a daughter of the deity *Śraddhā* (Faith) and a sister of the sages (*svasā ṛishīṇām*), born of *tapas* (*tapaso’dhijātā*) [*Av.*, 133, 4], the protector of purity (*ṛita*), and asceticism (*tapas*), against evil [Varāha, *Gṛ. S.*, 5]. Hiraṇyakeśin calls the *Mekhalā* “the blessed one who has come to us, who drives away sin, purifying, our guard, and our protection” [i, 1, 4, 4]. Gobhila [ii, 10, 37] and Pāraskara [ii, 2, 8] also call the *Mekhalā* the girdle of protection.