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Grammatical Analysis
Garudhamma: [m.] Heavy rule; strict principle; rule of respect. Formed by garu (heavy, serious, respectful) + dhamma (rule, principle, duty).
Orthodox Definition
The Garudhammas are the Eight Heavy Rules that the Buddha stipulated as the absolute prerequisite for the establishment of the Bhikkhunī Saṅgha. Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī’s formal acceptance of these eight rules constituted her actual ordination.
These rules permanently define the administrative and social relationship between the monks and nuns. Among the most notable rules:
- A nun even 100 years in robes must pay homage to a monk ordained even that very day.
- A nun must not spend the rains retreat (vassa) in a place where there are no monks.
- Every fortnight, nuns must request two things from the monk’s order: the date of the Uposatha and an exhortation (ovāda).
- A nun’s higher ordination must be verified by both Saṅghas.
- A nun must never revile or abuse a monk.
The Buddha declared that these rules were to be honored, respected, and not transgressed for life, likening them to a strong dam built to contain a great reservoir of water.
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‘‘vassasatūpasampannāya bhikkhuniyā tadahupasampannassa bhikkhuno abhivādanaṃ paccuṭṭhānaṃ añjalikammaṃ sāmīcikammaṃ kātabbaṃ; ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garukatvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṃ anatikkamanīyo.
A bhikkhunī, even one of one hundred Vassa, must perform salutation, rising up, añjali, and proper courtesy towards a bhikkhu ordained on the same day; this rule, too, is to be honored, respected, revered, and worshipped, never to be transgressed throughout life.na bhikkhuniyā abhikkhuke āvāse vassaṃ vasitabbaṃ; ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garukatvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṃ anatikkamanīyo.
A bhikkhunī should not reside for the Rains in a dwelling where there is no bhikkhu; this rule, too, is to be honored, respected, revered, and worshipped, never to be transgressed throughout life.anvaddhamāsaṃ bhikkhuniyā bhikkhusaṅghato dve dhammā paccāsīsitabbā uposathapucchakañca ovādupasaṅkamanañca, ayampi dhammo…pe… vassaṃ vuṭṭhāya bhikkhuniyā ubhatosaṅghe tīhi ṭhānehi pavāretabbaṃ diṭṭhena vā sutena vā parisaṅkāya vā; ayampi dhammo…pe… garudhammaṃ ajjhāpannāya bhikkhuniyā ubhatosaṅghe pakkhamānattaṃ caritabbaṃ; ayampi dhammo…pe… dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya sikkhamānāya ubhatosaṅghe upasampadā pariyesitabbā; ayampi dhammo…pe… na bhikkhuniyā kena ci pariyāyena bhikkhu akkositabbo paribhāsitabbo; ayampi dhammo…pe… ajjatagge ovaṭo bhikkhunīnaṃ bhikkhūsu vacanapatho, anovaṭo bhikkhūnaṃ bhikkhunīsu vacanapatho; ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garukatvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṃ anatikkamanīyo’’ti.
Every half month, a bhikkhunī must expect two things from the Bhikkhusaṅgha: asking about the Uposatha and approaching for instruction; this rule, too…; having completed the Rains, a bhikkhunī must make the Pavāraṇā in both Saṅghas by three modes: by what was seen, by what was heard, or by what was suspected; this rule, too…; a bhikkhunī who has committed a grave offense must undergo Mānatta for half a month in both Saṅghas; this rule, too…; a female trainee who has trained for two years in the six precepts must seek higher ordination in both Saṅghas; this rule, too…; a bhikkhunī must not revile or abuse a bhikkhu by any means whatsoever; this rule, too…; from today, the channel of speech for bhikkhunīs towards bhikkhus is closed, but the channel of speech for bhikkhus towards bhikkhunīs is not closed; this rule, too, is to be honored, respected, revered, and worshipped, never to be transgressed throughout life.— Pācittiyapāḷi
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Sace, ānanda, mahāpajāpatī gotamī aṭṭha garudhamme paṭiggaṇhāti, sāvassā hotu upasampadā … Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīy.
Ānanda, if Mahāpajāpati Gotamī accepts these eight Garudhammas, that will be her ordination … This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts.— Aṅguttara Nikāya (AN 8.51)
Textual References
- Vinaya: Cūḷavagga (Bhikkhunīkhandhaka) – The historical narrative where the Buddha relays these rules through Venerable Ānanda.
- Sutta: Aṅguttara Nikāya (Aṭṭhaka Nipāta) – The canonical listing of the eight principles.
- Commentary: Samantapāsādikā – Legal interpretations of the boundaries of these rules.