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 a woman who had previously belonged to the king’s harem had gone forth as a nun. Tena kho pana samayena aññatarā purāṇarājorodhā bhikkhunīsu pabbajitā hoti. Another nun who was plagued by lust went to that nun and said, Aññatarā bhikkhunī anabhiratiyā pīḷitā yena sā bhikkhunī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ bhikkhuniṁ etadavoca—“Venerable, the king only came to you at long intervals. “rājā kho, ayye, tumhe cirāciraṁ gacchati. How did you cope?” Kathaṁ tumhe dhārethā”ti?

“With a dildo.” “Jatumaṭṭhakena, ayye”ti.

“What’s a dildo?” “Kiṁ etaṁ, ayye, jatumaṭṭhakan”ti?

That nun described a dildo to her. Atha kho sā bhikkhunī tassā bhikkhuniyā jatumaṭṭhakaṁ ācikkhi. The other nun then used a dildo. But she forgot to wash it before disposing of it in a certain place. Atha kho sā bhikkhunī jatumaṭṭhakaṁ ādiyitvā dhovituṁ vissaritvā ekamantaṁ chaḍḍesi. The nuns saw it covered with flies, and they said, Bhikkhuniyo makkhikāhi samparikiṇṇaṁ passitvā evamāhaṁsu—“Who did this?” “kassidaṁ kamman”ti?

“I did it,” she replied. Sā evamāha— “mayhidaṁ kamman”ti.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could a nun use a dildo?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhunī jatumaṭṭhakaṁ ādiyissatī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that a nun did this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī jatumaṭṭhakaṁ ādiyatī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked her, Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How could a nun use a dildo? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī jatumaṭṭhakaṁ ādiyissati. 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—