History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c10.s1.12

c10.s1.12

Each is described in the same stock terms, a formula applied elsewhere to the six heretics in the Pāli canon.⁴ The phrases have a certain importance since they at least indicate the celebrity and influence which the early Buddhist tradition attributed to the six teachers. Each is referred to as the leader of an order (gaṇācariyo), well known, famous, the founder of a sect (titthakāro), respected as a saint (sādhu-sammato), revered by many people, a homeless wanderer of long standing (cira-pabbajito), and advanced in years.