Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 270

Sec. VII) STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA 245 (jangiya or jānghika), bhanga (bhangiya)?, hemp cloth (sāņiya), palm leaf-cloth (pottugas, linen (khomiya,', tūla (tülakada)", etc.
Besides these, many varieties of costly cloths are also mentioned in them, such as, āiņaga (com. ajina, cloth manufactured from skin,", sahiņa (com. sūksma, fine cloth), sahiņakallāņa (superfine), āya (cloth made from goat's hair)”, tāya (cloth made from blue cotton), etc.
There is a reference in the Anuyogadvāra' Sutra to cloths manufactured from eggs (anduga), cotton stalks (boņdaya), insects (Icidaya), hair (vālaya) and bark (vägaya).
Like the BhS, the Acārānga cūrnill makes reference to another kind of cloth called 'disa' or devudīsa (divine cloth) which was put on by Lord Mahāvīra at the time of his renouncing the world. It is stated that the value of this divine cloth was estimated to be one hundred thousand pieces of coins (sayasahassamollan".
1 Refer to 'Life in Ancient India' p. 123 ; Acūränga Sūtra II
5, 1, 364, 368. A kind of cloth produced from the fibre of bhanga plant; it is still manufactured in the Kumaon district of U.P., and is known as Dhangelā ; refer to Dr. Motichand's article in the Bharatiya Vidyā, Vol. 1 pt. 1, p. 41 ; also see the Vinayavastu of the
Mülasarvāstivāda, p. 92. & According to the commentary on the Brhatkalpa Bhasya
(2.3661), Pottaga is cotton. 4 It is cotton cloth, see Mahāvagga VIII, 3-1. Refer to Indian
culture Vol. 1, 1-4, p. 196 f. The Bihatkalpa Sutra (2.24), and the Thānănga Sūtra (5,446) refer to Tirida paffa instead of tulakada manufactured from the bark of the tirida tree. Refer to Vinayavastu of the
Mulasarvästivāda, p. 94. & Skin was used for clothing (Mahāvagga V. 10-63). 7 The āya cloth was produced from the moss that grew on the
goats hoofs in the country of Tosali (Nisitha Cūrni, 7, p. 467). & The Nišitha Cūrni, 7, p. 467 states that the Kāya cloths were manufactured from Kākajangha (Abrus precatorious) in the
Kaka-country. . Anuyogadvara Sūtra (com.) 37. 10 It was manufactured from the egg of a swan (hansa), refer to
Life in Ancient India' for details of dresses, p. 130. 11.12 Ācārānga Curni, p. 263, also "Life in Ancient India,' p. 130
f. n. 92.