Itthālaṅkāra

Theravāda Vinaya

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

Bhikkhunivibhaṅga

The Nuns’ Analysis

Pācittiyakaṇḍa

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

Chattupāhanavagga

The subchapter on sunshades and sandals

87. Itthālaṅkārasikkhāpada

Wearing jewelry

Origin story

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery,

Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo itthālaṅkāraṁ dhārenti.

the nuns from the group of six were wearing jewelry.

Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—

People complained and criticized them,

“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo itthālaṅkāraṁ dhāressanti, seyyathāpi gihiniyo kāmabhoginiyo”ti.

“How can nuns wear jewelry? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!”

Assosuṁ kho bhikkhuniyo tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ.

The nuns heard the complaints of those people.

Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,

“kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo itthālaṅkāraṁ dhāressantī”ti …pe…

“How can the nuns from the group of six wear jewelry?” …

“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo itthālaṅkāraṁ dhārentī”ti?

“Is it true, monks, that those nuns do this?”

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

“It’s true, sir.”

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…

The Buddha rebuked them …

kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo itthālaṅkāraṁ dhāressanti.

“How can the nuns from the group of six do this?

Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—

“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling

“Yā pana bhikkhunī itthālaṅkāraṁ dhāreyya, pācittiyan”ti.

‘If a nun wears jewelry, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

Yā panāti

A:

yā yādisā …pe…

whoever …

bhikkhunīti

Nun:

…pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippetā bhikkhunīti.

… The nun who has been given the full ordination in unanimity by both Sanghas through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of nun is meant in this case.

Itthālaṅkāro nāma

Jewelry:

sīsūpago gīvūpago hatthūpago pādūpago kaṭūpago.

what goes on the head, what goes around the neck, what goes on the hands, what goes on the feet, what goes around the hips.

Dhāreyyāti

Wears:

sakimpi dhāreti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

if she wears it even once, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Non-offenses

Anāpatti—

There is no offense:

ābādhappaccayā,

if she does it because she is sick;

ummattikāya,

if she is insane;

ādikammikāyāti.

if she is the first offender.

Catutthasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The fourth training rule is finished.