Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. At that time the nuns from the group of six removed the hair from their private parts. They then bathed naked at a ford in the river Aciravatī together with sex workers. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo sambādhe lomaṁ saṁharāpetvā aciravatiyā nadiyā vesiyāhi saddhiṁ naggā ekatitthe nahāyanti. The sex workers complained and criticized them, Vesiyā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the nuns remove the hair from their private parts? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!” “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo sambādhe lomaṁ saṁharāpessanti, seyyathāpi gihiniyo kāmabhoginiyo”ti.

The nuns heard the complaints of those sex workers, Assosuṁ kho bhikkhuniyo tāsaṁ vesiyānaṁ ujjhāyantīnaṁ khiyyantīnaṁ vipācentīnaṁ. and the nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the nuns from the group of six remove the hair from their private parts?” … “kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo sambādhe lomaṁ saṁharāpessantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that those nuns do that?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo sambādhe lomaṁ saṁharāpentī”ti?

“It’s true, Sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

The Buddha rebuked them, Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How can the nuns from the group of six do that? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo sambādhe lomaṁ saṁharāpessanti. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—