गरुधम्म
Garudhamma
Eight heavy rules (for nuns) / Eight principles of respect
八敬法
Grammar 語法
compound: garu (heavy/weighty — adjective) + dhamma (rule/teaching)
Definition 釋義
The eight 'heavy rules' (also called the eight conditions, aṭṭha garu-dhammā) that Mahāpajāpati Gotamī accepted as the conditions of bhikkhunī ordination. These rules place the bhikkhunī order in formal seniority below the bhikkhu order. They have been controversial — some modern scholars argue they are later additions; others hold they are canonical. Their content, historical context, and contemporary relevance are central topics in the revival of the bhikkhunī ordination in modern Theravāda countries.
Canonical Example 典籍例句
Aṭṭhime, ānanda, garu-dhammā mahāpajāpatigotamiyā paṭiggahitabbā.
These eight heavy rules, Ānanda, are to be accepted by Mahāpajāpati Gotamī.
Source: Vinaya Cullavagga X.1
At a Glance
- Pali
- Garudhamma
- IAST
- Gurūdharma
- Devanagari
- गरुधम्म
- Chinese
- 八敬法
- Difficulty
- advanced
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