Studies in Buddhist and Jaina Monachism

Author(s): Nand Kishor Prasad
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

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STUDIES IN BUDDHIST AND JAINA MONACHISM
the Order. Thrice she prayed for and all the times her request was refused with the same reply-"Enough, O Gautami, let not please thee that women should be allowed to do so"1.
Therefrom, the Buddha proceeded to Vaisali. Gautami, too having got her hair cut off and dressed in saffron robes followed him with a band of Sakyan ladies. With swollen feet and tearful eyes, she arrived at Vaisali along with her party and waited at the gate of Kuṭāgāra hall where the Blessed One was staying with his disciples. Interviewed with Gautami, Ananda promised her to put her case to the Master. Accordingly, he pleaded her cause but with the same effect as in the case of Gautami noted above. However Ananda by his convincing and well-reasoned arguments persuaded the Blessed One to give his consent in favour. Thus the Buddha decided to receive Gautami into the Order on condition that she would conform to the restrictions (garudhamma) imposed upon her. Gautami, though reluctantly, conceded to his proposal that a bhikkhuni
i.
ii.
even if of a long standing, must bow down before a bhikkhu, even if just initiated;
iii. in any case, must seek the necessary consultation from the Bhikkhusangha regarding the date of fortnightly meeting (uposatha) and exhortation;
V.
in no case, would spend the rainy season in an avasa (residence) where there was no bhikkhu;
iv. after the expiry of the rain-retreat (vassāvāsa), must confess her faults, if any, before both the Saughas of monks and
nuns;
vi
in any case, must undergo the man atta punishment towards both the Sanghas;
after the completion of the noviciate would seek the sanction of both the Sanghas for her ordination;
vii. on no account, would revile a bhikkhu;
viii. in no case, could admonish a monk, while a bhikkhu could admonish a bhikkhuni,
Soon after the conversion of Gautami, other ladies following her were also received into the Order by the monks, most probably by
1. al m, gotami, må te rucci matugamassa tathāgatappaveditassa dhammavinaye agarasma anagariyam pabbajja ti.--CV, 10. 1. 1, p. 373. 2. CV, 10. 1.2, pp. 373-77.