Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v1.c7.s7.t16.8

v1.c7.s7.t16.8

In extant historical texts, ideas of Purana Kassapa are often confused with those of Makkhali Gosala and Pakudha Kaccayana, since they are usually identified as teachers of Indian Ajivaka (or Ajivika). And so, their ideas were not clearly distinguished by later generations. Ajivika has been existent in India for about two thousand years. At the time of these three persons, their doctrines were not hard to be known, but after they died, people easily forgot and confuse the doctrinal differences and similarities between these Ajivika predecessors. Besides, Pali texts and Chinese texts do not provide consistent relevant information.