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Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c14.s1.t4: Ājīvika an Important Sect

Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c14.s1.t4

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Ājīvika an Important Sect

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It seems from the Jain and Buddhist records that the sect of the Ājīvikas was an important sect and the Ājīvikas exercised considerable influence in Indian society ¹¹⁸ The contents of the Ditthuaya in the Nandi ¹¹⁹ mention the eighty eight Sūtras out of which twenty two are said to have followed the tradition of the Ājīvikas and twenty two those of the Terāsiyas, who were the disciples of Gosala according to Abhayadeva ¹²⁰ There is no wonder if Mahāvīra were influenced by Gosala's doctrines ¹²¹ Unfortunately, no authoritative statements recording the tenets of the Ājīvikas have come forth so far, for which we have to depend solely on the Jain and Buddhist records The order of the Ājīvikas is thrice mentioned in the edicts of king Asoka whose grandson Dasaratha gave them some cave dwellings at the Nāgārjunī and Barabar hills Then Varahamihira (about 550 A D ) mentions this sect as one of the seven sects of his time In the Nisītha curni (8th century) as pointed out above, the Pandarabhikkhus are identified with the disciples of Gosala Silanka (876 A D ) identifies the Ājīvikas with the Digambaras, both being the followers of ²² Gosāla, and Bhaṭṭotpala the commentator of the Bṛhajjataka identified them with the Ekadaṇḍins ¹²³

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¹¹⁸ Buddha considered Makkhali as the most dangerous of the heretical teachers (Anguttara I 33)

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¹¹⁹ Su 37

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¹²⁰ Sama Ii 22 p 383 However, according to the Kalpasutra (S p 282) the Terāsiyas were the descendants of Mahagiri

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¹²¹ Cf Jacobi S B E XIV p xv if the rigid rules form an part of the ancient s creed of Jainism and Mahavira might have borrowed them from the Acelakas or Ājīvikas granthas the followers of Gosala with whom he is said to have lived for six years Prof Jacobi has also pointed out resemblances between the doctrine of Jains and that of Gosala (1) both believe in all classes of living beings possess life (2) both have the division of animals according to their senses viz having one sense two senses etc (3) both believe in the doctrine of six lesya (ibid p XXX)

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¹²³ Kalyan Vijaya S B M p 41 f Dr Bhandarkar also notes p 239 f This sect is also mentioned in the South Indian inscriptions (Raja the Cola king of the 13th century of the Vikramaditya) But this is mistak [sic] This inscription is meant for the Digambara Jains in I not for the Ājīvika The sect of the Ājīvikas was no more in existence during this period and because the sadhus of the Ājīvikas and the Digambara both went about naked one was conveniently identified with the other (ibid).

Cites (4)