History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c15.s4.30

c15.s4.30

There are few indications of the social status of Ājīvika laymen in later centuries. One intimation is, however, contained in the Tamil classic *Cilappatikāram*. Here the father of the heroine Kaṇṇaki, who, on her death, gave away all his wealth and entered the Ājīvika order,² is described as a *mānāykan*.³ This word Dikshitar translates as "sea-captain",⁴ but his translation may be questioned, and the word may here have the more usual meaning of "general". In either case the reference shows that the Dravidian Ājīvikas received the support of men of substance. The imposition of the Ājīvika tax in South India⁵ indicates a certain degree of affluence among those subject to it.