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Giving and receiving clothes, utensils, and shelter, like food, to sadhus and sadhvis is important. This is explained in the Yoga Shastra, Third Light, verse 87, and in the section on "post-karma" and other defects. It means giving a portion of what is due, i.e., the things that should be given, without any defects. This is the meaning of the entire section on "Atithi-Sanvibhagat" - it is a vow-rule to give a suitable portion of your food, water, clothes, utensils, etc., to sadhus and sadhvis as a pure offering, provided that the food, water, etc., are justly earned, are not "achitt" or "prasook" (not obtained by improper means), are free from defects, are suitable for the sadhu, and are given with respect, in the right place and time, with faith, and with the understanding that it is for the benefit of both oneself and the soul. It is also said: "Giving food, water, etc., that is justly earned and suitable for the sadhu, with respect, in the right place and time, with faith, and with the understanding that it is for the benefit of both oneself and the soul, is "Atithi-Sanvibhagat." There are four things to consider in giving (Sanvibhagat): the method, the object, the giver, and the receiver.
The receiver - the sadhu community is the best receiver, they are those who live by begging, who are restrained, they are the best receivers.
The giver - 16 of the 42 defects of giving offerings are related to the giver. A pure giver is one who does not prepare, cook, or buy anything for the sake of purity, out of sentimentality, or for any other reason. The giver should not have any worldly or material desire, name, or self-interest in giving offerings to the sadhu. The giver should not give out of competition with anyone. The giver should not give out of shame, out of seeing others give, or out of dislike, but should give with sincere faith and devotion.
The object - the object that is given is considered pure if it is "prasook," "achitt," suitable for the sadhu, and "eshniya" (free from defects). It should be something that is prescribed in the scriptures for the sadhu community as a means of religious practice, or it should be food that is acceptable to the sadhu.
The method - the method of giving offerings should also be free from defects. The offerings should be given to the sadhu community in accordance with their own rules of conduct, free from the 42 defects of food, etc. Only then can the offering be conducive to restraint and bring all prosperity. Otherwise, offerings given or received in the wrong way will destroy the brilliance of the monk.
Those who are fortunate and blessed are those who respect the sadhu community and give them food, drink, delicious food, all kinds of food, clothes that are beneficial for their restraint, utensils, blankets, mats, places to live, beds, and other means of increasing restraint, with great joy. Those who follow the teachings of Jinendra Bhagwan should give to sadhus and sadhvis, according to their ability, even a small amount of what is suitable for them, free from defects. And they should never use for themselves what they have not given to them. If they are not very wealthy, they should still give a small amount of their own living space, mats, beds, food, water, medicine, clothes, utensils, etc., to sadhus and sadhvis.
The great sage Umaswati Maharaj, in the "Prashmarati-Prakarana," verses 145-146, says: "Any object, such as food, bed, clothes, utensils, and medicine, that is pure and suitable, can become unsuitable due to some reason, and what is unsuitable can become suitable due to some reason. An object can become suitable or unsuitable depending on the place, time, person, situation, the giver (consumer), and the pure result. No object is inherently suitable or unsuitable.
There is a doubt here: the scriptures mention the name of the food-giver, and it is also heard, but the name of the giver of clothes, etc., is not mentioned, nor is it heard, so how is it proper to give clothes, etc.? In response to this, it is said: this is not true. The giving of clothes, etc., is clearly stated in the Bhagavati Sutra, etc. The passage is as follows: "The householder, who is a follower of the Shramanas, lives by giving the Shramanas, who are Nigranthas, pure (prasook), free from defects (eshniya), food, drink, delicious food, and all kinds of food, clothes, utensils, blankets, mats, beds, and other things that are beneficial for their restraint, and thus gains benefit." Therefore, just as food and water are given, so also should things that are beneficial for restraint be given to sadhus and sadhvis.