Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c12.s9.6

c12.s9.6

There is no doubt that the order of the Śramaṇas and Parivrājakas was open to the people of all castes but there is no clear evidence as to whether they used to give up their caste distinctions and obligations after joining that order. Buddha is once decried by a Brahmin not so much for becoming a Śramaṇa but for giving up his caste distinctions and thus becoming a vṛṣala (Vasalasutta, Sutta Nipāta, p. 21). In the Buddhist texts four kinds of Śramaṇas are spoken of according to their religious conduct. They were : Maggajino—those who had reached the end of the way and attained Nirvāṇa, Maggadesako—