Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Dh Pc 108Ordaining Married Girls Under Twelve
Pāli / Sanskrit:Ūnadvādasavassa-gihigata
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Explanation of the Discourse on Ordaining Married Girls Under Twelve (Ūnadvādasavassa-gihigata)
Background
In the early period of the Sangha, when the Bhikkhunī order had newly been established under the guidance of Śākyamuni Buddha, the rules concerning ordination needed to be clearly defined. This discourse is one of the regulations in the Pāṭimokkha of the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pācittiya section, the rules requiring confession if violated. It addresses a complex practical issue: how to handle cases of girls who had not yet reached maturity but had entered marriage.
According to the Theravāda tradition, the minimum age at which a female may be formally ordained is twelve. However, exceptional cases raised questions about protection, the legal integrity of the Sangha, and the welfare of the girls themselves.
Main Content
The discourse states that if a girl is under twelve years old but is already someone’s wife, that is, already married, her ordination may not be carried out without the consent of her husband or guardian. If a bhikkhunī grants ordination to a girl in this situation without observing this condition, she commits a Pācittiya offense.
This regulation was established for two principal reasons. First, the Sangha needed to maintain respect for worldly law and the lawful rights of the family. Second, protecting a girl who is still too young is of primary importance; a girl under twelve is regarded as not yet capable of deciding the path of practice for herself.
This reflects the principle of balance in the Vinaya Piṭaka: observing the law of the Dharma without harming lawful human relationships and the safety of vulnerable persons.
Practical Meaning
The discourse teaches us that the practice of the Buddha’s Dharma, though noble, must be carried out within a concrete social context with full respect for law and ethics.
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