History of Jaina Monachism

SR No.: 001727
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: S B Deo
Publisher: Deccan College Research Institute
Publication Year: 1956
Total Pages: 616
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Principle, & History
File Size: 12 MB

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S. B. DEO
for avoiding to take resort to fire in cases of cold, etc. (agnih tatsevānivāraņārtham), for the sake of the practice of Dharma-and Sukla meditation, for the protection of the ill, and lastly for covering the dead.237
How to Obtain Clothes :
As in the case of other articles, the monk had to depend on the piety of the laymen for obtaining clothes. He was forbidden to buy clothes or make somebody to buy them for him, or accept bought clothes,238 He was also not allowed to request a person again and again for clothes either in a village or in the road.239 If somebody offered him clothes placed on living beings then he rejected them.240
Another interesting feature in the acceptance of clothes is revealed in the rule which made monks accept clothing according to their rank (ahārāîniyāë).241 This perhaps indicates the practice of the distribution of begged clothing by the superior to his subordinate monks, according to their ranks and wants. It may be noted that this practice bears a close resemblance to the practice of kațhina242 (distribution of clothing) among the Buddhists.
Kinds of Clothes Allowed :
The monks were allowed to use five kinds of clothes; to wit, those of a camel's hair (jangië), of linen (bhangië), of hemp (sāņaë), of wool (pottaë), and of tirīța (tirītapaţte).243 Number of Clothes Allowed :
The monk was allowed three clothes,244 two of which were of cotton and one of wool (uņniya) 245
Besides these, the Brhatkalpa refers to the celacilimiliyam' which was "a covering for the clothes.''246 From the Bhāşya on the text, however, it appears that it was used as a curtain for residences having no doors.
237. Ibid., 706. 238. Nis. 18, 21-64. 239. Ibid. 240. Ibid. 241. Brh.kalp. 3, 19-20. 242. Mahāvagga, VIII, 99. 243. Brh.kalp. 2, 29.
The list is the same as in Than 138a, 338a; the Acārānga list as transl. by JACOBI comes to this: wool, silk, hemp, palm-leaves, cotton and Arkatula: SBE, Vol. XXII, p. 158.
244. Brh. kalp. 3, 15-16; Ogha-N. 669, 675. 245. Ibid., 705. 246. 1, 18: 1.A. Vol. 39, p. 260.