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XV
MONKS' DIFFERENT ROLES
The white-robed monk may keep thirty-six yards of cloth and a nun forty-eight. Acāranga mentions monks having one, two, three or four pieces of cloth. Those who keep three pieces must not desire an additional one, nor should he ask for it. A monk must not have more than forty-eight yards inclusive of three saria, waist-cloth and seat, bag, cloth for filtering water, for covering the mouth, cloth to bind the upper end of a broom, and a bag to pour water into a pot in order to ease nature at a proper place. Cloth is permissible only for such monks as cannot bear the rigours of winter and summer, the first that makes one shiver with cold and the second with its scorching heat makes a person restless. Those who keep three pieces, after the expiry of winter, should keep as many as needed and put aside the unused ones. One piece of cloth suffices for a young, healthy monk.
A nun, however, may keep four 'Saris', the measurement of which is as follows-One Sarī mcasuring a yard, two Sārīs of four and a half feet cach and another one of two yards. She should put on her Sārī measuring a yard, in the convent where she stays, one of a bigger size while going for alms and the other of equal size while easing nature. The biggest size should be worn while attending a religious gathering so as to cover the body well. This is not the waist-cloth. This is very essential for nuns. It is of different kinds, but the idea is to cover the privities.
'Acārārga' has given a list of cloths—woollen blankets,cloth made of fibers of trees, and of hemp or of the leaves of trees like the palmyra or cotton or of swallow wort. No monk would accept any precious cloth. They would not put on cloths the borders of which are as bright as gold or even embroidered or coloured one. They could, however, use cloth with borders separated. Vrhatkalpabhāsya has given a list of cloths to be worn by nuns positively and without fail. They are:
(1) Kancuka' i.e. brassieres unsewn. It was like that of a Sadhu keeping a human skull in his hand. It was one and a half yards long and one foot and six inches broad.
(2) Ukachiya—It used to be like brassieres. It is quadrilateral and measures two feet. It covers breasts, the right side and waist. It is tied at the back.
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