Cultural Study of Nisitha Curni

SR No.: 001743
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Madhu Sen
Publisher: Sohanlal Jain Dharm Pracharak Samiti Amrutsar
Publication Year: 1975
Total Pages: 432
Language: English, Prakrit
Classification: Book_English, Agam, Canon, & Literature
File Size: 23 MB

Page 189

MATERIAL CULTURE
169
by the nuns as well, such as the kañcuka, ardhoruka (addhoruga), bahirnivasani and saṁ ghati.1 However, there seems to have been a difference between the kañcuka of the nuns and that of the ordinary women. The kañcuka of the nuns, as mentioned before, was a loose unsewn garment", but another type of kañcuka which was made by stitching the pieces of cloth together has also been mentioned in the text.Evidently, this type of kañcuka must have been well-fitting and well-shaped, and would have been worn by women in society. In the Puumacariya of Vimalasūri, the kañcuka worn by Kalyānamala, who kept herself dressed up in male attire, is explained as a coat like jacket full sleeved and hanging upto the knees." Bana also refers to the kañcuka of a similar type.'
In the 'Scene of Toilet of a Royal Lady' in the Ajanta Cave No. XVII, the mistress is shown as clad in short drawers which are similar to the ardhoruka garment of the Sanskrit lexicons and literature, and was also worn by the Jaina nuns during this time.? Evidently, most of the garments worn by the ordinary women and nuns would have been similar except that the latter wore some additional garments to avoid nakedness of any part of the body, which in case of ordinary women was considered not as a matter of shame but quite in keeping with the fashion of the day,
Besides, girls in Mahārāsıra used to wear a type of underwear known as bhoyada which was worn by them from their childhood till the time they got married and conceived. Then a feast was held, the guests and relatives were invited, a cere
1. Motichandra's article on Dress in JISOA. XII. 2. NC. 2, p. 190. 3. 3 UutuuLİSTİ THT PEMUTATOTT FEL Digitato_NC. 4, p. 282. 4. PCV. 34. 15; Chandra, K. R., A Critical Study of Paumacariyam,
p. 519. 5. Agrawala, Kodambari-Eka Sanskrtika Adhyayana, p 26 6. Ghurye, G, S., Indian Costume, p. 131. 7. NC. 2, p. 190. 8. Motichandra's article on Dress in JISOA., XII.