Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c13.34

c13.34

**Classes of Ascetics.** There were also other educators of thought in the country. Pāṇini refers to the class of *Parivrājakas* or religious mendicants of the last Āśrama or fourth stage of life who were also called *Maskariṇaḥ* [vi, 1, 154]. They were so called because, as explained by Patañjali, they preached thus to the people: "Perform ye no works (i.e. sacrifices): seek ye peace as the highest end." Thus these wandering preachers, renouncing the world, went about the country teaching doctrines which preferred the pursuit of inner peace as being more religious than the disquieting performance of external ceremonies. Pāṇini alludes to two classes of ascetics [iv, 4, 73], viz. those called *Āraṇyakas* who, according to the rules of their order, must dwell at least two miles away from human habitations and those called *Naikaṭika* bhikshus who are permitted to live in the vicinity of society [*Kāśika*; but, according to the *Bālamanoramā*, the *Naikaṭikas* do so in violation of rules].