History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c14.s5.9

c14.s5.9

The Jaina Aupapātika Sūtra contains a significant list of the types of Ājīvika mendicant.² These include dugharantariyā, who, according to Abhayadeva's commentary, were in the habit of begging food at every third house only; tigharantariyā, who begged at every fourth house; sattagharantariyā, who begged at every eighth house; uppala-beṇṭiyā, who, Abhayadeva explains, under a special vow employed lotus stalks in begging,³ and who perhaps used lotus leaves as begging receptacles; gharasamudāṇiyā, those who begged at every house; vijju-antariyā, who would not go begging when lightning was seen⁴; and finally uṭṭiyā-samaṇā, who, according to Abhayadeva, were ascetics who entered large earthen pots in order to do penance.⁵ It is difficult to provide a satisfactory alternative explanation of the last term, which seems meaningless if interpreted according to the primary meaning of uṣṭrikā (she-camel).