Lzh Mu Bi Pm Pc 108Ordaining Married Girls Under Twelve
Pāli / Sanskrit:Ūnadvādasavassa-gihigata
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Sutra on Ordaining Married Girls Under Twelve Years Old
Context
This sutra is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, especially in the rules concerning the ordination of women (Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga). The Vinaya Piṭaka is the body of disciplinary rules established by the Buddha Gotama to maintain harmony and purity in the monastic community. These rules are not arbitrary restrictions, but spiritual guidance serving the progress of each individual and of the whole Sangha.
In the social context of early India in the Buddha’s time, early marriage was a common custom. The legal and ethical issue concerning the ordination of married girls who were still very young, under twelve, was a practical matter faced by the Sangha. This sutra lays down clear rules for this situation, reflecting the practicality and compassion of the Buddha-Dharma in handling real social issues.
Main Content
According to the general principle in the Vinaya Piṭaka, the ordination of women must observe certain conditions. For married girls who have not yet reached twelve years of age, this sutra establishes special regulations.
The core issue is determining the lawful age for receiving novice ordination (sāmaṇerī). A girl who has not yet completed twelve years, even if married, still needs to be considered in terms of her physical and mental maturity. However, if this girl has a husband (gihigata), this changes the legal and ethical nature of the situation.
The sutra stipulates that although the girl is not of sufficient age according to the ordinary standard, because she has a husband she may be permitted to go forth into the community of female monastics. This reflects a balance between disciplinary principles and complex practical situations. The permission is not because of the girl’s age, but because her social status has changed: she is no longer an immature child in social terms, even though she is still very young physically.
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