History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c15.s3.22

c15.s3.22

Dr. Barua further believes that Gosāla himself practised the penance. “Mahāvīra’s prophecy,” he writes, “that Gosāla . . . would die . . . in seven days . . . is in conflict with the statement that eight new practices of the Ājīvikas emerged from Gosāla’s personal acts. Considering that the first seven practices . . . are traceable in his acts in the delirium of fever, a presumption is apt to arise that the eighth practice, called the Pure Drink, also arose from his personal example. . . . If the Ājīvikas observed this practice in blind imitation of their master, as I believe they did, Mahāvīra’s prophecy can be reconciled with his statement about Gosāla’s death only by the supposition that he did not actually die in seven days but survived the attack of fever for a period of six months, during which he practised the penance of Pure Drink in the manner above described.” 1