History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c15.s6.8

c15.s6.8

Our belief in the early and close relationship of the two sects is strengthened by similarities in practice and doctrine, such as in the custom of ascetic nudity, and by the Ājīvika *abhijātis*, or six classes of mankind.³ The points in which these resemble and differ from the *leśyās* of the Jainas will be considered in our second part.⁴ Meanwhile the classification is of interest for the intimations which it gives of the attitude of the early Ājīvikas to their rivals among the heterodox communities. The highest, or supremely white group (*parama-sukk’-abhijāti*) contains only Nanda Vaccha, Kisa Saṅkicca, and Makkhali Gosāla. Below these is the white category (*sukk’-abhijāti*), containing Ājīvikas and Ājīvinīs. Next comes the green (*halidda*), which holds “the householder clad in white robes, the disciple of the *acelakas*”, to which Buddhaghosa adds: “he (i.e. Makkhali) makes the *nigaṇṭha* (laymen), who give him his necessities, superior (to the *nigaṇṭha* ascetics of the red class).”⁵ Fourth from the top is the red class (*lohita*), “*nigaṇṭhas* who wear a single garment”⁶; while in the lowest place but one is the blue (*nīla*), “*bhikkhus* who live as thieves, and believers in *karma* and (the efficiency of) works.”⁷ Finally in the lowest and most debased and reprobate class, the black (*kaṇh’-abhijāti*), are found thieves, hunters, and others who live by violence.