The present thesis is divided into five chapters to cover all parts concerned with the topic. As is evident from the Sinhalese Chronicles the Bhikkhunī Order has survived more than 1200 years from its first inception in Sri Lanka in 236 B.C. In the second chapter it has been pointed out how the rulers and the people have supported the Bhikkhunīs all along. Also in the seccond chapter the reasons for the decline of the Bhikkhunī Order in Sri Lanka at the end of the Anurādhapura period in the 11th century are explained. Chapter three of the thesis deals with the reestablishing of the Theravāda Bhikkhunī Order in Sri Lanka on March 12, 1998. Views for and against the reestablishing of the Order of Bhikkhunis of prominent Buddhist scholars and leading members of the Sangha have been stated in this chapter. They were clearly separated into the group of support and the group of objection. The arguments of both groups and the supporting factors to prove their views were quoted in detail. The common views of the Sri Lankan Sangha and the Buddhist lay people before and after the reestablishment of the Bhikkhunī Order in 1998 have also been included. Chapter four of the thesis is concerned with the present situation of the Bhikkhunī Order. It is discussed in details how the Buddhist people of Sri Lanka are supporting the Order of Bhikkhunīs and how the Bhikkhunīs perform their religious and social work for the lay people. Other sub-topics discussed in this chapter are the relationship between Bhikkhunīs and the Buddhist lay people, the number of ordained Bhikkhunīs in Sri Lanka, the education of the Bhikkhunīs and problems concerning their education and full recognition by the leaders of the Sangha. Chapter five summerises the preceding four chapters. Solutions for the problems concerning the reestablishmnent of the Bhukkhunī Order in Sri Lanka are suggested on the basis of the Pāli Vinaya Rules and suggestions for future research are made.
The present thesis is divided into five chapters to cover all parts concerned with the topic. As is evident from the Sinhalese Chronicles the Bhikkhunī Order has survived more than 1200 years from its first inception in Sri Lanka in 236 B.C. In the second chapter it has been pointed out how the rulers and the people have supported the Bhikkhunīs all along. Also in the seccond chapter the reasons for the decline of the Bhikkhunī Order in Sri Lanka at the end of the Anurādhapura period in the 11th century are explained. Chapter three of the thesis deals with the reestablishing of the Theravāda Bhikkhunī Order in Sri Lanka on March 12, 1998. Views for and against the reestablishing of the Order of Bhikkhunis of prominent Buddhist scholars and leading members of the Sangha have been stated in this chapter. They were clearly separated into the group of support and the group of objection. The arguments of both groups and the supporting factors to prove their views were quoted in detail. The common views of the Sri Lankan Sangha and the Buddhist lay people before and after the reestablishment of the Bhikkhunī Order in 1998 have also been included. Chapter four of the thesis is concerned with the present situation of the Bhikkhunī Order. It is discussed in details how the Buddhist people of Sri Lanka are supporting the Order of Bhikkhunīs and how the Bhikkhunīs perform their religious and social work for the lay people. Other sub-topics discussed in this chapter are the relationship between Bhikkhunīs and the Buddhist lay people, the number of ordained Bhikkhunīs in Sri Lanka, the education of the Bhikkhunīs and problems concerning their education and full recognition by the leaders of the Sangha. Chapter five summerises the preceding four chapters. Solutions for the problems concerning the reestablishmnent of the Bhukkhunī Order in Sri Lanka are suggested on the basis of the Pāli Vinaya Rules and suggestions for future research are made.