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HISTORY OF JAINA MONACHISM
399
Whatever piece of acceptable clothing was offered to the monk, he had. to use it as it was. Various prayaścittas were prescribed for changing, cutting or transforming pieces of clothes from one quality to another. For instance, if a monk tried to transform:
(1) a best piece into a mediocre type, then he had to face 'masalaghu', (2).... do.... into an inferior type. then.... 'pañcarātrindiva',
(3) a mediocre one into the best type, then 'caturlaghu',
(4) ... do... into jaghanya, then 'pañcarātrindiva',
....
(5) .... an inferior one into the best, then 'caturlaghu',
(6) .... do into madhyama, then 'mäsika'.
The monk had to accept only such clothing as he had predecided to accept. If he violated his vow and accepted any other piece, then also he had to face prayaścittas.
The normal procedure was that a monk who was in need of clothing, told his requirements to the Pravartin (comm: trtiyapadasthagītārtha) who conveyed it to the ācārya. Then permitted by the latter, the monks went a-begging for clothes either in pairs or groups. The ācārya was never allowed to go for begging clothes.
The group had a gītārtha in it, and then it accepted that clothing as was acceptable for it. No threatening or bringing pressure on the householder was ever allowed. The monks made proper inquiries before accepting clothing regarding their ownership, previous use, etc. If they failed to do so then they had to undergo prayaścittas varying from 'pañcarätrindiva' to the 'masalaghu'.
The monks were to pacify the donor if the latter got angry due to their inquiries. They told him that they had to make inquiries as they were to accept only the pure and the acceptable pieces of clothes.
After scanning the clothes offered, and avoiding the faults of improper acceptance of clothes which, it may be noted, were more or less the same as those pertaining to the acceptance of food, the monks took all the clothes thus gathered to the guru, made 'alocanã', showed the clothes to the guru who handed over only the required pieces to the needy monks.138
The Method of Distribution of Clothing:
The monks and nuns had to accept that clothing which was given to them by their superiors.
138. Brh. kalp. bhā. Vol. I, 607-31.
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