Mahavagga, Khandaka 2, Chapter 8

1. At that time the Bhikkhus recited the Pātimokkha in their successive cells without appointing (a certain place for doing so). The Bhikkhus who arrived (from distant places), did not know where the Uposatha was to be held that day.

They told this thing to the Blessed One.

'Let no one, O Bhikkhus, recite the Pātimokkha in the successive cells without appointing a certain place for it. He who recites it (in this way), commits a dukkaṭa offence. I prescribe, O Bhikkhus, the holding of Uposatha after having fix:ed upon an Uposatha hall, wherever the Saṃgha likes, a Vihāra, or an Aḍḍhayoga, or a storied building, or a house, or a cave^[1]. And you ought to appoint it in this way:

2. 'Let a learned, competent Bhikkhu proclaim the following ñatti before the Saṃgha: "Let the Saṃgha, reverend Sirs, hear me. If the Saṃgha is ready, let the Saṃgha appoint the Vihāra called N. N. to be our Uposatha hall. This is the ñatti Let the Saṃgha, reverend Sirs, hear me. The Saṃgha appoints, &c. Thus I understand." ,

3. At that time there were in a certain residence (or district) two Uposatha halls fixed upon. The Bhikkhus assembled in both places, because (some of them) thought, 'The Uposatha will be held here;' (and some), 'It will be held there.'

They told this thing to the Blessed One.

'Let no one, O Bhikkhus, fix upon two Uposatha halls in one district. He who does so, commits a dukkaṭa offence. I ordain, O Bhikkhus, the abolishing of one of them^[2], and the holding of Uposatha ( only) in one place.

4. 'And you ought to abolish it, O Bhikkhus, in this way: Let a learned, competent Bhikkhu proclaim the following ñatti before the Saṃgha: "Let the Saṃgha, reverend Sirs, hear me. If the Saṃgha is ready, the Saṃgha may abolish the Uposatha hall called N.N. This is the ñatti. Let the Saṃgha, &c. Thus I understand."'

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

See the note on I, 30, 4.

[2]:

I.e. to abolish the (character of uposathāgāra, conferred on the Vihāra &c. by the act of sammuti.