2.1. Upper Garments (n): Breast Cloth

Breast cloth was an unstitched piece of cloth worn by women as a covering for their breasts. It was usually tied in knots in between the breasts or on shoulders. A breast cloth was known by the names Stanāṃśuka, Stanapaṭṭa, Payodharāṃśuka, Payodharapaṭṭa, Stanottarīya, Nitambavastra etc. Of these Stanāṃśuka is the most familiar. In addition to the above mentioned words, Rājaśekhara has used the term Kañculika in the sense of a breast cloth. In Viddhasālabhañjikā it is said that a Kañculika is worn first and above it a Kañcuka is worn. This gives indications to the difference between a Kañcuka and Kañculika^[1]. Even though breast clothes were usually sleeveless, Kalhaṇa alludes to a half sleeved breast cloth also^[2]. A newly married woman usually wore a red breast cloth. In Ṛtusaṃhāra, Kālidāsa has referred to it^[3].