Lzh Dg Bi Pm Pc 125Ordaining Married Girls Under Twelve
Pāli / Sanskrit:Ūnadvādasavassa-gihigata
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Exposition of the Ūnadvādasavassa-gihigata Sutta (On the Going Forth of Married Girls Under Twelve Years Old)
Background
This sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition of the Buddha-Dharma, specifically in the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha, the code of discipline for nuns. These are detailed regulations of comprehensive discipline that the Buddha taught for the bhikkhunī Sangha in order to maintain the purity of the community of practice.
The background of this sutta reflects real situations that arose in the early Buddhist community. As the Buddha-Dharma developed, especially in ancient India, many women wished to go forth and practice, including girls whose marriages had been arranged by their parents according to social custom. The question arose whether a married girl could be allowed to go forth and become a nun, especially when she had not yet reached adulthood.
The establishment of this rule reflects the Buddha's wisdom in managing the community of practice and respecting social norms, while also protecting individual welfare on the sacred path of cultivation.
Main Content
This sutta states that a married girl under twelve years of age is not permitted to go forth as a nun according to the general principles. This rule is based on the fundamental principle of age and legal capacity.
In the Pāli Vinaya, legal maturity is considered from several angles: the ability to understand the intention to go forth, physical health, and personal social status. In the case of a married girl under twelve years old, the Buddha considered that she was not yet qualified to decide upon such a sacred step for herself.
This is not because the Buddha-Dharma rejects women, but because the Buddha held that a woman who is too young remains under the influence of the marital relationship, and therefore her decision to go forth may not be voluntary or lasting. In addition, this rule also protects the interests of the family and husband according to the social norms of that time.
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