History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c12.s7.11

c12.s7.11

Despite the testimony of Patañjali and Vāmana we cannot accept this fantastic derivation in the face of Pāṇini. It must be assumed that the name Maskarin, Makkhali, or Maṅkhali was connected with the fact that its owner carried a bamboo staff. That such staff bearing ascetics existed is clear from various references to *maskarins* and *ekadaṇḍins*, which will be considered in a later chapter.⁴