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270
S. B. DEO
Pāyatthāvana (pātrakasthāpana):
This was meant to protect the pot from dust. It was prepared out of wool (ūrņāmaya), and was a squarish piece with the length of four angulas.320 The pot was kept over it and hence it served the purpose of a base for the pot.
Gocchaga (gocchaka):
This was a small broom used in cleaning the pot-clothes (patala). Its threads were made of wool, and its measurements were the same as those of the 'pātrakasthāpana. '321
Pāyakesariyā (pātrakesarikā) :
It was also called 'pāyapadilehaniā,322 and was explained as 'pātrakamukhavastrikā.'323 Its size was the same as that of the pātrakasthāpana, i.e. four angulas, and it was made of cotton (khomiyā). It was used for cleaning the pot (pāyapamajjanaheüm). Each pot had one pāyakesariyā.324 The difference between the gocchaga and this article was that the former was used in cleaning the patalas or coverings of the pot, while the latter was of use in cleaning the bowl itself. The nuns were not allowed to use a rolled (asavențayam) pāyakesariyā.325
Padala (patala):
These were used to protect the alms-vessel (pātrāvaraña). They were pieces of cloth two and a half hands in length and sixty-three angulas in breadth, so that they were sufficient enough to cover not only the pot but even the shoulder of the monk. It means that the monk put them on in such a way as to cover a portion of the body and he kept the pot inside the patala.
The purpose of these pieces of cloth was to avoid flowers, fruits, dust, and the excreta of the birds from falling into the alms-vessel,
The number of patalas varied with different seasons. In summer a monk could use three to five patalas, in winter the number was four to six and in rainy season it was between five to seven.
220. Ibid., 694-96.
321. Ibid., This dust-brush or gocchaga is mentioned in the Anga also: see Bhagevati 374b; also to be found in the Brh. kalp. 3, 15; also in Mülasūtras: Uttaradhyayana 26, 13.
322. Ogha-N. 694. 323. Ibid., comm., p. 212a. 324. Ogha-N. 695-96. 325. Bļh. kalp. 5, 43; SCHUBRING renders it as "handle", 1.A. Vol. 39, p. 266.
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