Materials for the Study of the Early History of the Vaishnava Sect c10.2

c10.2

While the Religion of Vāsudeva was slowly spreading from its cradle in the valley of the Jumna, India saw the rise and progress of three great non-Brāhmaṇical creeds which had chequered careers in the annals of Hindusthān. These were the religions of Makkhali Gosāla, of Vardhamāna Mahāvīra, and of Gautama Buddha. The followers of these faiths were known as Ājīvikas, Nirgranthas or Jainas, and Saugatas or Bauddhas respectively. A foreign religion, Christianity, was also introduced, probably as early as the third century A.D.