________________
The Homeless Ones
perfectly as possible. It is their faithful companion. They use it frequently and carefully to remove any insect. There is no need for an insect to be visible, for, with regularity and with a ritual gesture, they sweep the ground before seating themselves, in order to avoid striking or squashing any living being. 10 The rajoharana has been immortalised in stone, for example in certain of the Mathurā sculptures.11 In iconography the sadhvi is generally depicted holding the rajoharana.
423
iii) Mukhavastrikā or mukhapattikä: The small piece of cloth wor over the mouth
This is a rectangle of very fine cotton or of thin plastic material that the Sthanakavāsi and Terapanthi sadhvis wear over their mouths. This is held in position by two strings tied behind the ears and they only remove it at mealtimes. It is usually called a muhapatti and its function is to prevent the sadhvi swallowing insects while speaking or breathing. The Murtipujaka sädhvis do not wear the muhapatti, but when they are addressing a group or even conversing, they hold it before the mouth in their right hand. Its use dates from antiquity as it is mentioned in the Agamas and represented in sculpture.12
iv) Pātras: Bowls
These are used for begging alms, for food and drink. They may be calabashes or made of very light wood or, again, of earthenware.13 These are the only materials to be both light, easy to preserve in good condition and of modest appearance. Each sådhvi possesses a certain number of bowls of different sizes; they fit one inside another and are
10 Cf. NS V, 66-76 where the wrong usages of the rajoharana are mentioned with a matching penance.
Jain Education International
11 Cf. U.P. Shah, 1975, paper No 6; figs. 17; 18; 20; 28 and ns. pp. 70-72; cf. also U.P. Shah, 1955, p. 114.
12 Cf. e.g. US XXVI, 23; U.P. Shah. 1975, paper No 6; fig. 28.
13 Cf. Sth$ 170.
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
