Lzh Mg Bi Vb Sk 67Headdresses

The Discourse on Headdresses (Veṭhita)

Background

This text belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda tradition, specifically the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga (the explanation of the rules pertaining to bhikkhunīs—nuns). Veṭhita, a Pāli word meaning "that which is wrapped or bound," concerns the regulations regarding the head coverings of female monastics within the Buddhist Sangha.

In its historical context, bhikkhunīs were required to observe strict discipline with regard to clothing, particularly the covering of the head. This served not only to uphold the legal integrity of the monastic life, but also to embody the spirit of wearing the robe of one who has gone forth—the renunciation of sensual adornment and worldly ornamentation. The Veṭhita records specific occasions on which female disciples violated this rule, together with the Buddha's instruction and correction.

Principal Content

This text records specific instances in which bhikkhunīs made use of headdresses or head ornaments unsuitable to the spirit of the monastic life. Female disciples occasionally used thin silk cloth, scarves bearing elaborate patterns or striking colors, or styles of wrapping that were overly careful and refined, evoking the worldly fashion of laywomen.

When the Buddha came to know of these practices, he instructed that bhikkhunīs should wear plain, dark-colored cloth, and that head wrappings should be simple and covering—properly concealing the head without ostentation. This rule was established not to demean, but to protect the purity of mind and to limit factors that arouse sensual desire—both within the nuns themselves and in practitioners who came into contact with them.

The Vinaya Piṭaka specifies that silk scarves, scarves dyed in brilliant colors, or styles of tight binding are not appropriate. Instead, nuns should use cotton or linen cloth, of dark color, and wrap the head in a manner that is well-ventilated and simple.