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. the nuns were having a nun massage and rub them. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhuniyo bhikkhuniyā ummaddāpentipi parimaddāpentipi. When people walking about the dwellings saw this, they complained and criticized them, Manussā vihāracārikaṁ āhiṇḍantā passitvā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can nuns get a nun to massage and rub them? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!” “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo bhikkhuniyā ummaddāpessantipi parimaddāpessantipi, 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 them, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can nuns get a nun to massage and rub them?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo bhikkhuniyā ummaddāpessantipi parimaddāpessantipī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo bhikkhuniyā ummaddāpentipi parimaddāpentipī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How can nuns do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo bhikkhuniyā ummaddāpessantipi parimaddāpessantipi. 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—