History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c10.21.4

v1.c10.21.4

Arhatas,* (Jains), Maskaris (Sanyāsis), Svetapaṭas (Śvetambara Jains), white-clothed Bhiksus, Bhāgavatas, Varṇis (Brahmachāris), Keśalunchakas (those who rooted out their hair), Kāpilas (Sānkhyas), Lokāyatikas (atheists), Jains (Buddhists), Kānādas (followers of Kanada’s Vaiśeṣika philosophy), Aupaniṣadas (Vedantins), Aiśvara Karaṇikas (Naiyayikas), Karandhamas (the philosophers of धातुवाद or elements), Dharmaśāstris, Purāṇikas, Śapta-tantavas (?), Śaivas, Śabdikas (gramarians), Pāncharātrikas (followers of the Pancharātra sect of Vaishnavas) and others. This catalogue of the philosophies which were current in the seventh century is historically important. The Buddhists are here called Jains, Jina being a name of Buddha while what are now called Jains are called Ārhatas. The Bhāgavatas are again distinguished from the Pāncharātras. The Mīmānsakas are probably intended by the term Dharmaśāstris for they based their arguments on revelation. Lastly, Varṇis or Brahmachāris are distinguished from the Aupaniṣadas and these again from the Maskaris. It is difficult to find out the nature of the exact differences in these several allied philosophies and we must content ourselves with noting the fact of the distinction.