Verified
Grammatical Analysis
Pabbajjā: [f.] Going forth; leaving home; lower ordination. Formed by prefix pa (forth, out) + root vaj (to go). Literally “going forth” from the household life into homelessness.
Orthodox Definition
Pabbajjā is the formal act of renunciation that initiates an individual into the Buddhist monastic order (Saṅgha).
In the canonical texts, it is repeatedly described by the formula: “Cutting off hair and beard, donning ochre robes, and going forth from the home life into homelessness.” Mechanically, within the Vinaya, Pabbajjā constitutes the “lower ordination,” making a layperson a Novice Monk (Sāmaṇera) or Novice Nun (Sāmaṇerī). The candidate formally requests admission from a preceptor (upajjhāya), takes the Three Refuges (Tisarana), and undertakes the Ten Precepts.
It is distinct from Upasampadā (higher ordination), which makes one a fully-fledged Bhikkhu or Bhikkhunī subject to the complete Pātimokkha rules. To take Pabbajjā, a candidate must generally be at least 15 years old or be able to scare away crows, free from certain diseases, and have parental consent.
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Assosuṃ kho āyasmato yasassa paññāsamattā gihisahāyakā jānapadā pubbānupubbakānaṃ kulānaṃ puttā – yaso kira kulaputto kesamassuṃ ohāretvā kāsāyāni vatthāni acchādetvā agārasmā anagāriyaṃ pabbajitoti.
Now, fifty lay friends of Venerable Yasa, sons of families of successive lineage from the countryside, heard: ‘It is said that Yasa, the young man of good family, has shaved off his hair and beard, donned saffron robes, and gone forth from home into homelessness.’Sutvāna nesaṃ etadahosi – ‘‘na hi nūna so orako dhammavinayo, na sā orakā pabbajjā, yattha yaso kulaputto kesamassuṃ ohāretvā kāsāyāni vatthāni acchādetvā agārasmā anagāriyaṃ pabbajito’’ti.
Having heard this, it occurred to them: ‘‘Surely, that Dhamma and Vinaya is not inferior, nor is that going forth inferior, in which Yasa, the young man of good family, has shaved off his hair and beard, donned saffron robes, and gone forth from home into homelessness.’’— Mahāvagga (Pabbajjākathā)
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Ime ca dārakā ūnapannarasavassā.
And these boys are under fifteen years of age.Kena nu kho upāyena ime dārakā na vinasseyyu’’nti?
By what means, then, would these boys not perish?”Atha kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesi.
Then Venerable Ānanda reported the matter to the Blessed One.Ussahanti pana te, ānanda, dārakā kāke uḍḍāpetunti?
“Are those boys, Ānanda, able to scare away crows?”Ussahanti, bhagavāti.
“They are able, Blessed One.”Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṃ nidāne etasmiṃ pakaraṇe dhammiṃ kathaṃ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi – ‘‘anujānāmi, bhikkhave, ūnapannarasavassaṃ dārakaṃ kākuḍḍepakaṃ pabbājetu’’nti.
Then, on account of this matter, on account of this incident, the Blessed One gave a Dhamma talk and addressed the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus, I allow that a boy under fifteen years of age who is able to scare away crows may be ordained.”— Mahāvagga (Pabbajjākathā)
Textual References
- Vinaya: Mahāvagga (Pabbajjākathā) – The detailed origin stories and legal procedures for admitting novices into the order.
- Sutta: Pabbajjāsutta (Snp 3.1) – Presenting the going forth as open space, in contrast to the confinement and dust of household life.
- Sutta: Sāmaññaphala Sutta (DN 2) – Extolling the immense benefits and spiritual fruits of going forth.
- Commentary: Samantapāsādikā – The definitive Vinaya commentary explaining the procedural nuances of granting the going-forth.