Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c24.29

c24.29

**Hot Bath.** There was also "a rule of conduct for the Bhikkhus in respect of the hot bathroom (*jantāghara*), according to which they ought to behave themselves therein" [*Chullav.*, viii, 8, 2]. The Bhikkhu who first enters the bathroom is to clean the fire-place of ashes, if any, and sweep the bathroom, its flooring, the cell, the ante-chamber of the bath, the cooling room, and the hall. He must also get ready the necessaries of bath by pounding the chunam, moistening the clay (to be used against heat) with water, and filling the jar with water. "A seat is not to be taken so as to hustle the senior Bhikkhus and junior Bhikkhus are not to be ousted from their seats. If possible, shampooing is to be performed for the senior Bhikkhus in the hot bathroom." "A bath is not to be taken in front of the senior Bhikkhus, nor above them. One who has bathed and is getting up out (of the water) is to make way for one who is getting down into the water." "Whoso comes last out of the hot bathroom is to wash it, if it be dirty; to wash the vessel in which the clay is kept, to put the chairs used in the hot bathroom in order, to extinguish the fire, to close up the doorway, and then come out" [ib.]. No Bhikkhu was allowed to comb his hairs or to use a looking-glass [ib., v, 2].