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HISTORY OF JAINA MONACHISM
261 The Order of Washing Clothes :
The clothes of the ācārya were washed first, then those of the upādhyāya, then of the monk on fast, then those of the ill, then of the newlyordained and lastly one's own.
The reason given for the priority to ācārya's clothes was that an ācārya clad in soiled clothes evoked condemnation in the society. The clothes of the newly-ordained were washed before one's own to avoid his mind getting apathetic towards dirty clothes.
Among the different types of clothes, those which consisted of a single unstitched piece of cloth were washed first, then those which were darned, and last of all such as were darned as well as stitched.
Preparation for Washing :
Before actually washing the clothes, the two upper clothes were kept apart for three days so that all the lices, etc. clung to the rest of the clothes or to the body; or all clothes were kept away for three days; or they were hung from above so as to reach the body so that the lices, etc. clung to that. Then the insects, etc. were carefully removed. Instead of doing each of these three acts for three days, each act was done only for one night also.
The Water Used in Washing :
If there was shortage of sufficient water, then the monks took rain water as fell down from the roof. Then it was exposed to the sun to make it lifeless. Such water was not gathered in their own pots by the monks but they did it in broken dishes, etc. borrowed from the householders. Then salt (kşāra) was put into it to make it lifeless. The rain water was to be accepted only when the rain stopped.
The Mode of Washing :
The clothes were not to be hit over a slab of stone or beaten by a stick. They were not thrown often in profuse water but were gently cleaned by means of hands.
Drying the Clothes :
Those clothes which were 'paribhogya' (constantly used) were dried up in shade, while those which were 'aparibhogya' were dried in the sun. A constant watch was to be kept over them to save them from being stolen. The monk had to undergo a purificatory punishment (kallāņam) for this act of washing, after it was complete.
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