Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c12.s9.5

c12.s9.5

The Greek accounts as well as the Buddhist texts tell us that among the Śramaṇas there were also the diviners, sorcerers, and adepts in the rites and customs relating to the dead. They lived on begging in the villages and towns. Megasthenes informs us that there were also female ascetics in some classes of the Śramaṇas. Such female ascetics are mentioned in the Buddhist texts too. They are referred to as *paribbājikā* and a special class of them as *molibaddhā paribbājikā* who used to go about in the company of male ascetics (Megasthenes Frag. XLI, 60; Majjhima, I, p. 305 ; Samyutta, III. pp. 238-240).