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Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c19.s5: Residence and Articles of furniture

Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c19.s5

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Residence and Articles of furniture

v1.c19.s5.1

It has been mentioned above that for the residence of monks *rukkhamūlasenāsanam* (residence under trees) was the original rule, while a monastery (*vihāra*), a pinnacled house (*aḍḍhayoga*), a big building (*pāsāda*), an attic (*hammiya*) and a cave (*guhā*) were later on allowed as *atirekalābha*.¹ It was at the instance of Bimbisāra that Buddha accepted the Veluvana-vihāra, and in consequence of which he sanctioned *ārāmas* for the dwelling of monks.³

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¹ See *SBE.*, XIII, p. 178-9 fn. I am indebted to my colleague Mr. G. D. De for a few suggestions here.

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³ *Mv.*, i, 22. 18.

v1.c19.s5.4

The monks were still then dwelling at foots of trees, on hills, in grottoes and caves, in cemeteries, forests, open places, or on straw-heaps.⁴ The *seṭṭhis* of Rājagaha were the first to come forward to provide *vihāra*, *aḍḍhayoga*, *pāsāda*, *hammiya* and *guhā* for the monks.⁵ They built sixty *vihāras*, and dedicated the same to the use of members of the order of the four corners (*saṭṭhiṃ vihāre āgatānāgatassa cātuddissassa saṃghassa paṭiṭṭhāpehīti*). These had plastered walls, white-washed or coloured, and were provided with doors and windows, verandahs, boundary walls, etc.¹ The vihāras so far constructed were provided with the bare requirements of monks as shown above. It was Anāthapiṇḍika who built a monastery at Sāvatthi with all its component parts, *viz.*, dwelling rooms, cells, gate-chambers, service-halls, halls with fire-places, store-houses, closets, cloisters, rooms for walking exercises, wells, sheds for the well, bathing places, bath-rooms, tanks, pavilions (*vihāra*, *pariveṇa*, *koṭṭhaka*, *upaṭṭhānasālā*, *aggisālā*, *kappiyakuṭi*, *vaccakuṭi*, *caṅkama*, *caṅkamasālā*, *udapāna*, *udapānasālā*, *jantāghara*, *jantāgharasālā*, *pokkharaṇī*, *maṇḍapa*).²

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⁴ *Cv.*, vi, 1. 1.

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⁵ *Mv.*, i. 2.

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¹ For details, see *Cv.*, vi, 2 & 3.

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² *Cullavagga*, vi, 4. 10; viii, 7. 4; *Mahāvagga*, iii, 5. 6. For the various kinds of rooms in a house for the use of a householder, see *Mv.*, iii, 5. 10; *SBE.*, vol. XX, p. 189; Dutt, *Early Buddhist Monachism*, pp. 122-3, 183.

v1.c19.s5.9

The institution of *Caṅkamasālā*³ and *Jantāghara*⁴ was permitted at the instance of Jīvaka and elaborate directions are given for the construction of these. The directions for *jantāghara* were given mostly in connection with the provision of fire in the rooms and the methods of taking baths. For privies and urinating places there are similar directions, and in addition there are also some instructions regarding the use of bath-rooms and privies (*jantāghara-vattaṃ* and *vaccakuṭivattaṃ*).⁵ The *Kappiyakuṭi* also requires some justification because the monks were required to take the vow of poverty and were prohibited to store any food. This anomalous position has been met by Buddha by recommending *kappiyabhūmi* outside the boundary of the monastery.¹

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³ *Cullavagga*, v. 14.

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⁴ *Ibid.*, v. 14. 3; viii, 8.

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⁵ *Ibid.*, v, 35; viii, 8, 10.

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¹ *Mahāvagga*, vi, 33; cf. Dutt, *op. cit.*, p. 184. See Infra, p. 289.

v1.c19.s5.14

In consonance with the leniency gradually shown by Buddha in the matter of residence suitable for the monks, great latitude was given also in regard to seats, beds, and other articles of furniture.² The monks were allowed to have as their seats or beds benches built against the walls, bedsteads with short removable legs, arm-chairs, sofas, cushioned chairs, carpets, pillows, bolsters stuffed with wool, cotton, grass etc. They were required to keep them clean, and there are also directions for cleaning the *vihāra* and articles of furniture.³

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² In *Mv.*, v, 10. 5 the following *Uccāsayanamahāsayanāni* were prohibited: *āsandi pallaṅko goṇako cittakā paṭikā paṭalikā tūlikā vikatikā* and so forth.

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³ *Cullavagga*, vii, 7.

v1.c19.s5.17

The monks were generally not allowed to use animal skins for seats or beds⁴ but exception was made in the case of monks living in Avantidakkhiṇāpatha where the skins of *eḷaka*, *aja* and *miga* could be used for *attharaṇas*.⁵

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⁴ *Mahāvagga*, v, 7. 10

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⁵ *Ibid.*, v, 13. 3.

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Sometimes difficulties were experienced in accommodating monks in monasteries, some of which were very small. Rules had to be framed for ascertaining the claim of priority, and in course, of time, office-bearers like *Senāsanapaññāpaka*⁶ had to be appointed to arrange for accommodating the incoming bhikkhus properly.

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⁶ Other office-bearers relating to *Senāsana* were *Navakammika* and *Senāsanagāhāpaka* (*Cv.*, vi, 11. 2). See Infra., p. 322.

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