The Universal and the Particular: Mary Douglas and the Politics of Impurity* * Mary Douglas, In the Wilderness. (1993; rev. ed., London: Oxford, 2001);Mary Douglas, Leviticus as Literature. (Oxford: Oxford University, 1999);Mary Douglas, Jacob’s Tears: The Priestly Work of Reconciliation. (Oxford: Oxford University, 2004).

Certain types of women were sexually unavailable in ancient India; one category comprised those 'guarded' by another man, whether father, husband, or son.

“Certain types of women were sexually unavailable in ancient India. One category of sexually unavailable women comprised those ' guarded ' ( raks ̣ it ā , gupt ā ) by another man, whether father, husband, or son.”

The presence of the household cloth, guarding monastic bhagas, may signal nuns' sexual unavailability, especially in a public setting.

“Similarly, the presence of the household cloth, guarding monastic bhagas , as it were, may signal nuns ' sexual unavailability, especially in a public setting. 34”

According to traditions like the Kāmasūtra, female ascetics were to be categorized with sexually available women.

“According to traditions like the K ā mas ū tra , female ascetics were to be categorized with sexually available women.”

Many Vinaya prescriptions place the nuns' community under the guardianship and control of the monks' community, indicating that Buddhist monks regarded themselves, however unwillingly, as guardians of monastic women.

“Though the many Vinaya prescriptions that place the nuns ' community under the guardianship and control of the monks ' community indicate that Buddhist monks regarded themselves, however unwillingly, as guardians of monastic women, it is likely that many in the ancient context thought of Buddhist nuns as ' unguarded, ' or at least as insufficiently guarded.”

It is likely that many in the ancient context thought of Buddhist nuns as 'unguarded,' or at least as insufficiently guarded.

“it is likely that many in the ancient context thought of Buddhist nuns as ' unguarded, ' or at least as insufficiently guarded.”