Lzh Sarv Bi Vb Pc 147Jewellery

The Scripture on Adornments (Itthālaṅkāra Pācittiya)

Background

This scripture is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pācittiya, the code concerning offenses that require confession. This is an essential part of the Saṅghādisesa, disciplinary rules that monks and nuns, female monastics, must follow in order to maintain purity and unity in the Sangha.

The arising context of the scripture concerns the time when the Buddha was still living, when nuns in various regions began neglecting the basic principle of simplicity in clothing and personal ornaments. This scripture did not arise spontaneously, but was the Buddha’s instruction to correct conduct that weakened the nature of practice: liberation from the bonds of desire and attachment to material things.

Main Content

The Itthālaṅkāra scripture stipulates that nuns are not permitted to wear ornaments such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings, or other adornments used to beautify the appearance. This rule is stated on a clear principle: such objects are signs of desire, ambition for beauty, and the wish to be admired.

The deeper reason behind this rule lies in the Pañcasīla, the five training precepts of Buddhism. Specifically, wearing ornaments is regarded as violating the spirit of “the training precepts that create purity” (sīla), because it manifests the desire to beautify oneself in order to attract attention from others, directly contradicting the vow of renunciation.

Nuns are encouraged to maintain a simple appearance, plain clothing, usually robes, and to focus their minds on inner practice rather than outward appearance. When this rule is violated, a nun must perform Paccattanumodana, personal confession before the Sangha, a form of confession in which she openly acknowledges her error in order to restore harmony in the community of practice.

Practical Meaning

The meaning of Itthālaṅkāra goes beyond external regulations. It is a lesson in humility and letting go.