History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c14.s1.15

c14.s1.15

The towns mentioned in connection with the seven reanimations of Udāī in the *Bhagavatī Sūtra* ⁵ also suggest that, even before Gosāla’s ministry, the regions of Kosala, Magadha, Kāsī, Videha, and Campā were the homes of peripatetic naked philosophers of the Ājīvika type. It is probable that these travelling philosophers, however abstruse their metaphysical doctrines, aimed at gaining the support of the populace, and very often obtained it. An interesting picture of the conditions which must have prevailed at the time is given in *Neru Jātaka*,⁶ where we find a certain Buddhist *bhikkhu* preaching in an unnamed frontier village, and winning considerable support from the villagers. On his departure his place is taken by an “eternalist” (*sassatavādi*), then by an “annihilationist” (*ucchedavādi*), and finally by a naked ascetic (acelaka), who in turn gain the temporary loyalty of the villagers.