Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. there was a nun was associating with the family of a certain woman. Tena kho pana samayena aññatarā bhikkhunī aññatarissā itthiyā kulūpikā hoti. That woman said to that nun, Atha kho sā itthī taṁ bhikkhuniṁ etadavoca—“Venerable, please give this hip ornament to such-and-such a woman.” “handāyye, imaṁ saṅghāṇiṁ amukāya nāma itthiyā dehī”ti. The nun thought, Atha kho sā bhikkhunī—“If I carry it in my almsbowl, I’ll get into trouble,” and so she put it on and then left. “sacāhaṁ pattena ādāya gacchāmi vissaro me bhavissatī”ti paṭimuñcitvā agamāsi. While she was walking along a street the threads snapped and were scattered all over. Tassā rathikāya suttake chinne vippakiriyiṁsu. People complained and criticized her, Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can nuns wear hip ornaments? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!” “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo saṅghāṇiṁ dhāressanti, seyyathāpi gihiniyo kāmabhoginiyo”ti.

The nuns heard the complaints of those people. Assosuṁ kho bhikkhuniyo tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could a nun wear a hip ornament?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhunī saṅghāṇiṁ dhāressatī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that a nun did this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī saṅghāṇiṁ dhāretī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked her … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How could a nun do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī saṅghāṇiṁ dhāressati. 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—