Ājīvika

Ajivika inscription on the Ashoka pillar, Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi

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Sudama and Lomas Rishi Caves at Barabar, Bihar, 1870

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Visvakarma cave Ashoka inscription

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Tile with Ajivaka (?) Ascetics LACMA M.82.152

Ājīvika was an ancient Indian philosophical and ascetic movement that existed alongside Jainism and early Buddhism around the 5th century BCE. The Ājīvika sect was founded by Makkhali Gosala, a contemporary of Mahavira and Gautama Buddha, the founders of Jainism and Buddhism, respectively. The Ājīvikas were known for their deterministic doctrine of niyati (fate or destiny), which posited that all living beings' course of life, their suffering, and their pleasures are predestined and cannot be changed.

Beliefs and Practices

The core belief of the Ājīvika sect was in the absolute determinism of fate, which stood in contrast to the Jain emphasis on karma and the Buddhist teachings on anatta (non-self) and anatman (non-soul). The Ājīvikas believed that everything in the universe follows a cosmic order (niyati) that is unchangeable and operates independently of any personal effort or behavior. This led to the view that neither good nor bad actions could influence one's future, as the path of each individual's life is already fixed.

Ascetic practices were a significant aspect of the Ājīvika tradition. Followers practiced extreme forms of asceticism and austerity, which were believed to be instrumental in understanding the nature of reality and achieving spiritual liberation, although liberation was also seen as predetermined by fate.

Historical Context

The Ājīvika movement thrived in the Magadha region of ancient India, an area that was also the cradle of Jainism and Buddhism. Historical texts, including Buddhist and Jain literature, provide most of what is known about the Ājīvikas, often depicting them as rivals. Despite their once significant following, the Ājīvika sect gradually declined and eventually disappeared by the 14th century, leaving behind little in the way of direct records or scriptures.

Comparison with Jainism and Buddhism

While the Ājīvikas shared the sramanic background with Jainism and Buddhism, emphasizing renunciation, non-violence, and asceticism, their philosophical outlook was markedly different. Unlike Jains and Buddhists, who believe in some form of liberation or enlightenment through personal effort or insight, the Ājīvikas viewed liberation as part of the cosmic cycle, predetermined and inevitable, regardless of individual action.

Legacy

The legacy of the Ājīvika sect is primarily preserved through the accounts of other religious traditions that were their contemporaries. Despite their eventual disappearance, the Ājīvikas contribute to the rich tapestry of Indian philosophical thought, representing a unique perspective on fate, free will, and the quest for spiritual understanding.

See Also

• Indian philosophy
• Sramana
• Makkhali Gosala
• Niyati