Grammatical Analysis
Cīvara: [nt.] Monastic robe. Originating from roots meaning “bark” or “rag,” reflecting the early ascetic practice of wearing clothes made from discarded materials.
Orthodox Definition
Cīvara is the monastic robe, the first of the Four Requisites. A fully ordained Theravāda Bhikkhu is allowed a set of exactly three robes (ticīvara):
- Antaravāsaka: The lower robe (undergarment) wrapped around the waist.
- Uttarāsaṅga: The upper robe worn around the torso, leaving the right shoulder bare during formal Saṅgha activities.
- Saṅghāṭi: The heavy double-layered outer robe used for extra warmth or as a sitting mat.
Originally, robes were made from paṃsukūla (rags collected from dust heaps or cemeteries), which were washed, dyed with earth or bark (giving the ochre/kasāya color), and sewn together. The patchwork pattern of the robe was designed by Venerable Ānanda at the Buddha’s request, modeled after the rectangular rice fields of Magadha, symbolizing a field of merit.
Textual References
- Vinaya: Mahāvagga (Cīvarakkhandhaka) – The extensive rules governing the reception, sewing, dyeing, and limits on storing extra robes.
- Sutta: Sāmaññaphala Sutta (DN 2) – “Just as a bird takes its wings wherever it flies, so too the monk takes only his robes and bowl wherever he goes.”
- Commentary: Samantapāsādikā – Detailed explanations on permitted dyes and the legal method of resolving ownership of robes.