bhikhasunis

Bhikhasunis is a less common transliteration of bhikkhunī, referring to fully ordained female Buddhist monastics. In Buddhism, bhikkhunīs are the female counterpart to bhikkhus, the fully ordained male monks. Transliterations vary, and some sources render the plural as bhikhasunis, bhikṣuṇīs, or bhikkhunīs.

Traditionally, the bhikkhuni order is said to have been established by Mahapajapati Gotami, the Buddha’s aunt, as part of the early Buddhist community. The order spread across different schools and regions, with varying support and transmission. Over time it declined in some areas while remaining active in others. In modern times, there have been efforts to reestablish or preserve bhikkhuni ordination within several Buddhist traditions.

Practically, bhikkhunīs observe the Vinaya for fully ordained monastics, including a prescribed set of precepts and disciplinary rules. They lead monastic communities, study scriptures, teach lay followers, and engage in meditation, alms rounds, and charitable activities. They usually reside in monasteries or nunneries and depend on alms and lay support.

Today, bhikkhuni communities exist in various traditions, particularly in East Asian Mahayana lineages under the Dharmaguptaka Vinaya and in some Theravada contexts where ordination has been revived. The status and recognition of bhikkhuni ordination continue to be a live topic, reflecting ongoing discussions about gender, authority, and Vinaya interpretation within contemporary Buddhism.