History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c17.s4.4

c17.s4.4

Since Nemicandra was a Jaina philosopher, and his own sect occurs first on the list, it seems that the author intended his five groups of ascetics to be read in declining order of excellence. If so it is plain that he viewed the Ājīvikas with disfavour. Moreover, since Nemicandra was a Jaina of the Digambara sect,³ his reference to the Ājīvikas further disproves Hoernle’s contention that they and the Digambaras were the same.