[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Religion and philosophy](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion) › [Early Monastic Buddhism](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.dutt-1941) › v1.c19.2 # Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c19.2 Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c19.2 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c19.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.dutt-1941.v1.c19.2) Before and at the time of the appearance of Buddhism monasticism in the form it obtained among the Buddhists was unknown in India. There were brāhmanic and non-brāhmanic recluses who dwelt, or moved about, in groups,¹ and there were also in the forests and outskirts of towns or villages hermitages (āśramas) wherein lived not only those who had taken the third and fourth āśramas of life, viz., vānaprastha and yati but also life-long sannyāsins with their disciples including sometimes the members of their families, male and female, who had taken the vow of brahmacarya. In the Nikāyas,² we come across accounts referring to rich khattiyas and brāhmaṇas, who after having their head and moustache shaven, body unbesmeared with oil, and putting on deer-skins and using deer horns for scratching his body, took resort to hermitages newly built on the outskirt of the town, and dwelt there with wife and purohita, living on cow's milk. Leading such a life they performed also sacrifices, offering animal-victims and so forth. There were also āśramas of life-long sannyāsins like Ārāḍa Kālāma and Rudraka Rāmaputra. In these āśramas the Guru or the chief teacher not only acted as the spiritual head imparting esoteric and exoteric religious instructions but also regulated the daily life of the inmates according to the usages of brahmacārins. - [Previous: v1.c18.s5.t7.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.dutt-1941.v1.c18.s5.t7.1) - [Next: v1.c19.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.dutt-1941.v1.c19.3) - [Up: v1.c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.dutt-1941.v1.c19) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.dutt-1941.v1.c19.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.dutt-1941.v1.c19.2) · Pramāṇa