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## Twelfth Uddeshak
[251 Sarom-Charma-Paribhog-Prayaschitta]
5- The monk who uses or approves of the use of skin with hair. [He incurs a Laghu-Chaumasik Prayaschitta.]
**Discussion:**
Generally, it is not appropriate for a monk to keep skin [in the Utsargamarga]. It is permissible to keep and use it only when necessary due to some reason. In old age, when the marrow of the body becomes weak, the skin rubs against the bones of the waist and other parts, or if there are diseases like leprosy, piles, etc., then skin can be used.
Skin is not a medicinal accessory for a monk, therefore, all the sutras related to this topic mentioned in the Brihatkalpasutra, Uddeshak 3, should be understood from the perspective of exceptional situations.
The meaning of those sutras is that in special circumstances, a monk or nun can take and keep a piece of skin without hair, which is suitable for use. In a special situation, a monk can use skin with hair according to the method mentioned in the sutras, but he cannot keep it for a long time. For a nun, skin with hair is completely prohibited.
There are the following disadvantages of using skin with hair:
1. Many microscopic creatures are born in the hair.
2. Transcription cannot be done properly.
3. It becomes moldy or gets infested with insects in the rain.
4. Keeping it in the sun causes harm to those creatures.
If it is necessary to bring skin with hair in any situation, then it should be brought from a blacksmith, goldsmith, etc., who use it for sitting all day and it is unnecessary for them at night. It should be kept overnight and returned, because blacksmiths, goldsmiths, etc., work near fire all day, so the possibility of life arising in it is not possible for one night. Therefore, keeping it for more than one night is prohibited.
Churnikar has said that this Prayaschitta mentioned in the sutras should be understood for a monk, but if a nun uses skin with hair, then Guru-Chaumasik Prayaschitta arises.
Explaining the reason for the complete prohibition for a nun, the commentator says that skin with hair gives the feeling of touch like a man, therefore, it is completely forbidden for a nun.
However, skin without hair can be taken by a monk or nun in special circumstances and kept for a fixed time. There is no mention of Prayaschitta in the sutras for keeping it.
The commentator has said in the discussion of this sutra that if a monk keeps skin without hair, he incurs Guru-Chaumasik Prayaschitta, and if a nun keeps it, she incurs Laghu-Chaumasik Prayaschitta. This has been said from the perspective of keeping it without any reason. Because keeping any accessory without any reason is worthy of Prayaschitta.