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Pravrajya: The Itinerant Life
537
which they use to write on during the day, unless they have been provided with small low writing-desks.
ii) Vastras: Garments
The sādhvis may, with the permission of the guruni acquire new garments when their own are worn out, except during the cāturmāsya.25 These garments are outward signs of the ascetic state:
- they may be made only of certain materials, preferably cotton;26 - all that is luxurious, elegant, embroidered, dyed, trimmed with fur or brocade, is inadmissible;27
- a sādhvi may not accept a garment that has been bought or made specially for her;28
- she must not, while passing through a house on gocari, expressly request the mistress of the house for a garment, but if she needs one she may ask for some material, referring the matter to the guruņi saying that she will hand it over to her, that this latter shall decide whether to give it to her or to another sadhvi or to retum it.29 These rules endorse an attitude of non-possession, of renunciation of one's own will and personal preferences.
25 Cf. Brks III, 16-17; this rule obtains also for pătras and other objects.
26 Cf. AS II, 5, 1, 16.
27 Ibid., 11, 5, 1,4.5.
28 Ibid., II, 5, 1, 3.
29 Cf. Brks III, 13.
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