I thought I’d let you know an exciting bit of information – I got a new saṅghāti yesterday!
The sanghati is the ‘outer robe’, the third of the three robes of bhikkhu. The other two are the lower robe, like a sarong (in Pali, antaravāsaka) and the upper robe (uttarasaṅga), which is the main robe you’ll see monks and nuns wearing.
Bhikkhunis have an extra two robes. They have a ‘bathing cloth’, which is used mainly for bathing outdoors. And also the somewhat mysterious ‘saṅkacchika’, which is a cloth that covers the breasts. Some regard this as a ‘vest’, but I’ve never seen a woman wearing a vest in ancient Indian artwork. Women in ancient India usually went topless, but it seems a simple cloth was sometimes tied across the breasts. See, for example, the woman on the right in this ancient fresco from Sri Lanka, or this Indian sculpture (pg. 96).
The sanghati is double-layered, and is used to provide extra warmth and protection. Often, the sanghati is hardly used, although in some strict Vinaya traditions they will wear the sanghati outside the uttarasanga when in the village, or just when on alms-round. Otherwise it’s used like a cloak for warmth, or as a bed sheet. In Thailand, the sanghati is used almost entirely for ceremonial purposes: you’ll see the Thai monks when in formal occasions have a folded robe draped over their left shoulder – that’s the sanghati.
I got my sanghati when I was in Bodhinyana, about 13 years ago. It’s been with me ever since. Now, it’s just looking too sad. There comes a point when the cloth just wears out, and patching really doesn’t work any more. Luckily, we had one in our stores that is suitable, so that’s it.
When we’re finished with our old robes, we don’t throw them away. They can have plenty of uses: as a bedsheet, a rag, stuffing for a cushion… Everything is recycled.
Sujato’s Blog 
Dear Bhante
May I be so bold as to request that you save a piece of your old saṅghāti for me?
Hee, hee, your experience in Thailand should inform you what luksits do when they make such requests. Trying to get around the rule occassioned by the Prince Bodhirajakumara incident… 🙂
Dear Sylvester,
ahem, yes. Best keep the robe for the purposes mentioned at the end of the First Council Khandhaka:
Sigh, can’t say I didn’t try…
Speaking of bathing Bhikkunis. I’m curious…..what are the rules for monks and nuns regarding having a swim in the ocean? Being one who loves the sea, I think that would be a particulary difficult thing to renounce.
There’s no specific rule about bathing in the ocean. The Vinaya has a rule against ‘udake hāsadhamme’, which literally means ‘larking about in the water’. There are some in Australia who see surfing as a path to enlightenment, in which case this rule would not apply….
Oh, I am so relieved to hear! A spiritual path that allows swimming in the ocean and eating chocolate is surely the path to bliss 🙂
I was curious how such a saṅghāti actually looks like, so I searched the internet and came up with these:
http://www.thawsischool.com/dhamma_english/Atta/sub/sanghati.html
(including pronounciation)
and here’s a picture with unwrapped sanghatis:
http://buddhism.about.com/od/thefirstbuddhists/ig/The-Buddha-s-Robe/Angor-Wat-Monks.htm
So I guess that it’s basically a sheet of clothing, but what shape does is have when it’s unfolded? Square with sleeves?
Hi Alexander,
Like all the robes, the sanghati is a rectangle. None of the basic robes has sleeves, although they may have been adapted in that way in later times.
The size of the robes is controversial. These days a sanghati or uttarasanga is around 2M x 3.5M.
May I ask which of the 3 robes carry the padi field patchwork pattern?
All of them! Sometimes the lower robe is worn without the patchwork pattern, but this is the exception.
Hello
Please can you tell me how to fold the sanghati and place it on your body, how to wear it.