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HISTORY OF JAINA MONACHISM
411
411 The Use of Skins:
We have already seen that the BỊhatkalpasūtra permitted the monk to make use of skins with hair. But such skins were not to be a complete (krtsna) piece. The reasons for the non-use of complete pieces of skins was that they led to pride, cruelty and indifference to animals. Moreover, the fact remained that a living being getting into such a shoe could not get out easily.172
The skins were generally used for various kinds of shoes as also to cover oneself if the clothes were stolen by robbers.
Such monks whose feet were delicate (asahu), who were on tour (viha), who were troubled by thieves and wild animals (sambhama), who were ill (atara), who suffered from leprosy (kottha) or piles (arisa), who had eye-trouble (cakkhudubbala), and who were young (bāla), were allowed to make use of shoes.
The following types of shoes are mentioned: 173 Egapuda - having one sole, Dupudādiyam having two or more soles, Khallaga - (a) 'ardhakhallaka': covering half the feet,
(b) 'samastakhallaka': covering the entire feet, Khaüsa - which covered the ankle (ghunţaka), Vagguri
- which covered the toes as also the foot, Kosaga
- which covered the toes to save them from getting
struck against stones, etc., Janghā -- which covered the whole thigh, Addhajangha - which covered half the thigh.
With all this, however, only the persons previously mentioned and those who had to walk quickly for some urgent work of the kula, gara or samgha, were allowed to use such shoes. This is clear from the various prāyaścittas laid down for those who used such shoes without any reason.174
Other articles :
Besides the requisites noted up till now, there were others which were used by monks occasionally or in certain regions.
For instance, if the monks happened to go to the Golla country, where people were very particular about purity, they were allowed to use the 'ghadimattaga', and not otherwise.175
172. Byh. kalp. bha. Vol. IV, 3856-61. 173. Ibid. 3847. 174. Ibid. Vol. IV, 3852-55.
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