History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c18.s2.51

c18.s2.51

Civañāṇa-cittiyār, one of the most famous Tamil Śaivite texts, is the third important source for Dravidian Ājīvikism. Its author, Aruṇandi Śivācārya, lived in the thirteenth century,¹ and we therefore see in his work Ājīvikas in their final phase. The text is in two parts, the *Parapakṣam* and the *Supakṣam*. The former outlines the chief opposing systems of the time, including Materialism, Buddhism, Jainism, and the orthodox sects, each of which is refuted. The second part is an exposition of Śaivite doctrine and philosophy, and is of no importance for our study.