History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c14.s1.30

c14.s1.30

This has been recognized by Barua in his latest work on the subject.⁴ “The term Ājīvika,” he writes, “is used in Indian literature; (1) in its widest sense to denote the Parivrājakas or Wanderers as distinguished from the Tāpasas or hermits; (2) in its narrower sense to denote the religious orders represented by the five Tīrthaṅkaras, Pūraṇa Kassapa, Makkhali Gosāla and the rest, considered heretics by the Buddhists; and (3) in its narrowest sense to denote the disciples and followers of Makkhali or Maṅkhaliputta Gosāla.”