Khandhaka & Parivāra

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Khandhaka

The meaning of the word Khandhaka is ‘the collection’. Different types of major and minor formulations in Vinaya are collected in Khandhaka, which is divided into two sections called Mahāvaggapāli and Culluvaggapāli.

Mahāvaggapāli

The Mahāvaggapāli is the collection of various formulations relating to major transactions of the Bhikkhu life such as Pabbajjā ordination, Upasampadā ordination, Uposatha (Observance), etc. The meaning of ‘Mahā’ is ‘Great’ or ‘Significant’ whereas the collections of formulations included in this book are greater by their significance than the Cullavaggapāli. This consists of ten Khandhakas (collections): (1) Mahā Khandhaka  (2) Uposatha Kandaka (3) Vassūpanāyika Khandhaka  (4) Pavāraṇa Khandhaka  (5) Chamma Khandhaka  (6) Bhesajja Khandhaka  (7) Kaṭhina Khandhaka  (8) Cīvara Khandhaka  (9) Campeyya Khandhaka and (10) Kosamba Khandhaka .

The first Mahā khandhaka explains the Buddha's life from the enlightenment and guides the major transactions in the monk life such as pabbajjā ordination. Further, it explains the teacher and preceptor, duties to the teacher and preceptor, etc. The second Uposatha khandhaka provides the formulations on the observance (uposatha) of the Bhikkhus. The third collection is about observing the rainy season. The fourth Pavāraṇa khandhaka provides the proclamations on Pavāraṇa (invitation) transaction at the end of the first three months of the rainy season. Chamma khandhaka is about using the skins of animals. It prohibits the use of skins of some animals such as lions, tigers, etc and allows the use of skins of some animals such as deer, goats, etc. Sixth Bhesajja khandhaka is a collection of medicines allowed by the Buddha for Bhikkhus for numerous diseases. Kaṭhina khandhaka is about the allowance of Kaṭhina to the Saṅgha after the rainy season. Cīvara khandhaka is a collection of formulations relating to robes. Campeyya khandhaka provides some principles relating to community transactions. The last Kosamba khandhaka is about the unanimity in the community. Accordingly, the Mahāvaggapāli comprises of various proclamations of the Buddha relating to major transactions in the monk life.

Cullavaggapāli

The Cullavaggapaāli is a collection of various formulations that are lesser by significance than Mahāvaggapāli. ‘Cūla’ means less or lesser whereas the ‘Vagga’ means sections. ‘Cūla+Vagga=Cullavagga’ means less or lesser sections. The collections of formulations included in this book also significant in the Bhikkhu life but comparatively lesser than those included in Mahāvaggapāli. This consists of twelve Khandhakas (Collections): (1) Kamma Khandhaka (2) Pārivāsika Khandhaka (3) Samuccaya Khandhaka (4) Samatha Khandhaka (5) Khuddakavatthu Khandhaka (6) Senāsana Khandhaka (7) Saṅghabhedaka Khandhaka (8) Vatta Khandhaka (9) Pātimokkhaṭhapana Khandhaka (10) Bhikkhunī Khandhaka (11) Pañchasatika Khandhaka and (12) Sattasatika Khandhaka.

Kamma Khandhaka is a collection of formulations about various community transactions. It explains seven types of transactions in detail. Pārivāsika Khandhaka is a collection of formulations about Parivāsa (probation) in the process of purification from Saṅghādisesa offenses. Samuccaya Khandhaka provides additional guidance about the whole purification process from the Saṅghādisesa offenses. Samatha Khandhaka is a collection of formulation about the seven types of the settlement of the community issues. A set of small formulations are collected into the Khuddakavatthu Khandhaka, by its name, it is a collection of Khuddaka (small) formulations. Senāsana Khandhaka is a collection of formulations regarding dwelling places.  Saṅghabhedaka Khandhaka explains the story of dividing the community into two parts by Venerable Devadatta and Buddha’s formulations against this type of division. Vatta Khandhaka is a collection of duties. Some of these duties are included in the Mahāvaggapāli as well. Pātimokkhaṭhapana Khandhaka is about the preventing of observance of a Bhikkhu due to his unpurified offenses. Bhikkhunī Khandhaka provides a collection of formulations regarding nuns in the dispensation. The last two Khandhakas about the first and second Buddhist councils and codified after those councils by the Arahant who participated in those councils.

Parivārapāli

The Parivārapāli is the fifth book of Vinaya piṭaka which has codified the theories of the Vinaya in order to demonstrate the Vinaya matters in the Vibhaṅga and Khandaka. It is a collection of theories of Vinaya formulations stated by the Buddha, which has codified them in the way that ‘paṭhamaṁ pārājikaṁ katatha paññattaṁ’ etc. This has eight topics called Vāra such as paññattivāra, katāpattivāra, vipattivāra, saṅgahavāra, samuṭṭhānavāra, adhikaraṇavāra, samathavāra, and samuccayavāra. Thereafter, the same is codified with an adjective of ‘paccaya’, and therefore, the total is sixteen sections. The Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga is explained in Parivārapāli by these sixteen vāra therefore it is called sixteen parivāra (soḷasaparivāra). Therefore, it is mentioned in the sub-commentary Vimativinodanī that ‘yehi vārehi ādibhūtehi upalakkhitattā ayaṁ sakalo’pi parivāro soḷasaparivāro’ti voharīyati’. The Parivārapāli is not ended with this sixteen parivāra. The whole content from the samuṭṭhāna sīsa (topics of samuṭṭhāna) up to the sedamocana gāthā (sweating verses) is Parivārapāli.

The Parivārapali bands the whole Vinaya proclamations in the Vibhaṅga and Kandaka like a boutique of flowers banded by one thread. Venerable Arahant Upali Thera, therefore, mentioned that

evaṁ nīyati saddhammo vinaye yadi tiṭṭhati

ubhato ca vibhaṅgāni khandhakā yā ca mātikā

mālā suttaguṇeneva parivārena ganthītā ... pe ...

tasmā sikkhe parivāraṁ dhammakāmo supesalo.


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