12
Opinion on Wearing of Monastic Robes[1]
(Presumedly Offered by Somdet Krommaphra Paramanuchitchinorot)
Antaravāsaka robe means robe that covers defects. As seen from the letters, antara means defect and vāsaka means covering. Uttarāsaṅga robe means robe that covers the left shoulder or robe that is chiefly worn on the left part. Uttara means the left and āsaṅga means chiefly worn. Saṃghāti means to prevent danger from around. Saṃ means around and ghāti means to prevent danger. If one is to wear them, it is proper for him to do correctly in accordance with their meanings.
Sabong[2] robe covers the abdominal and knee regions. Cīvara[3] robe covers the left shoulder. Saṃghāti robe covers the outer part. In addition, the Mahā-aṭṭhakathā states that samapamāṇaṃ cīvaraṃ pārupentena saṃharitvā bāhāya upari ṭhapitā ubho antā bahimukhā tiṭṭhanti,[4] meaning the two edges of an equally measured cīvara, after having been worn, are rolled up and placed above the upper parts of the arms and are fixed on the front, the inside, and the outside. Thus, placing a cīvara under a saṃghāti and wearing them whilst rolling [their edges] up like a gourd and placing [the rolled edges] upon a shoulder is deemed contrary to this clause.
- ↑ A Buddhist monk wears a set of three robes: one called antaravāsaka for the lower part of the body, one called uttarāsaṅga for the upper part of the body, and the other, called saṃghāti, serving as an outer cloak. (Wikisource contributor note)
- ↑ A synonym of antaravāsaka. (Wikisource contributor note)
- ↑ A synonym of uttarāsaṅga. (Wikisource contributor note)
- ↑ Correctly, this should be “suppamāṇaṃ cīvaraṃ pārupantena saṃharitvā bāhāya upari ṭhapitā ubho antā bahimukhā tiṭṭhanti”, as found in the Mahāvagga-aṭṭhakathā. (Wikisource contributor note)
