History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c18.s2.53

c18.s2.53

In the *Parapakṣam* the Ājīvikas are discussed immediately after the Jainas. The latter are described as naked ascetics,² thus showing that the author had the Digambara sect in mind. Even at this late date, therefore, the Ājīvikas were distinct from the Digambaras. But Aruṇandi appears to have considered the Ājīvikas akin to the Jainas, for they are referred to in his poem as *Ācīvakaṇ amaṇarkaḷ*³ (Skt. *śramaṇa*), the usual Tamil word for Jaina ascetics.