Bu Sk 6666. Wearing a headdress
Pāli / Sanskrit:Veṭhita
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The Veṭhita: The Rule Concerning the Wearing of a Head-wrap
Background
The Veṭhita is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Nikāya, in the section known as the Bhikkhunīvibhaṅga (the Analysis of the Rules for Nuns). These are detailed regulations concerning moral discipline established specifically for female monastics within the early Buddhist Saṅgha.
The circumstances giving rise to this rule are connected to particular events within the community of nuns. The Buddha Śākyamuni, upon observing conduct that was either unsuitable or liable to cause confusion in society, established these training rules. The regulations concerning dress, and in particular the manner of wearing a head-wrap, are not merely a matter of aesthetics or custom, but are deeply connected to dignity, self-restraint, and the recognition of one's identity within the monastic community.
The Vinaya Piṭaka is regarded as the ethical foundation of the Theravāda Teaching, reflecting the practical wisdom and high moral character of the Buddha in guiding his disciples.
Main Content
The Veṭhita lays down that bhikkhunīs (nuns) are not permitted to wear a head-wrap in a loose or provocative manner. The word "Veṭhita" (veṭh = to wind, to wrap; ita = having been) refers to covering or wrapping carefully and properly.
This rule is closely related to the maintenance of internal discipline and the seemly appearance of female monastics. In the context of ancient Indian society, the manner of wearing a head-wrap carried powerful symbolic meaning with respect to social standing, status, and attitude. A nun should wear her head-wrap in a tidy and dignified fashion, reflecting respect for herself and for the Dhamma that she has gone forth to follow.
Should a bhikkhunī violate this rule—that is, should she wear her head-wrap in a loose, askew, or attention-seeking manner—she is considered to have committed a pācittiya offence (a minor offence under the Vinaya). This requires her to confess the offence before the Saṅgha and to carry out the appropriate penance.
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