History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c21.s1.3

c21.s1.3

The Jaina version of the origin of the Ājīvika canon is given in the *Bhagavatī Sūtra*,¹ where it is said that the six *disācaras* "extracted the eightfold *Mahāṇimitta* in the *Puvvas*, with the *Maggas* making the total up to ten, after examining hundreds of opinions ", and that this was approved by Gosāla Maṅkhaliputta after brief consideration. Abhayadeva gives the names of the eight *aṅgas* of the *Mahāṇimitta* as follows :—