History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c17.s2.1

c17.s2.1

The astrologer Varāhamihira, writing a century earlier than Bāṇa, seems to have known of Ājīvikas, whom he mentions in a catalogue of ascetics. His tenth century commentator, Utpala or Bhaṭṭôtpala, apparently confused them with Vaiṣṇavites, quoting in support the Jaina writer Kālakācārya, of the fifth century. The passages have been variously explained, and are worthy of close scrutiny.