The Rise and Fall of Ajivikas

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Ajivikas is a sect that emerged in India about the same time as Buddhism and Jainism. Ajivikas was based on the beliefs that all the events in the universe are determined by niyati that is fate or destiny.

Around the 6th century BC there was the emergence of many new and different schools of thought and philosophies in India. Ajivikas was thought to be founded by Goshala Maskariputra. 

He was contemporary to Mahavira the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism. Mahavira and Goshala wandered together for six years then they fell apart and moved their separate paths.

Ajivikas Philosophy:

Ajivikas believed in niyati that is fate or destiny. They believed that everything in the universe is meant to be and whatever happens is due to niyati. However, they did not believe in God. Like Buddhism and Jainism which were it's contemporary Ajivikas also believed in liberation of the soul.

Although unlike Buddhism and Jainism which believed that the karma can be changed by intense meditation and aestheticism. Ajivikas did not believe in this.

They believed that each soul's journey is like a ball of thread; it will unwind in its own predetermined pathway and human action has no consequence on it whatsoever.

So when the thread is completely unwounded when the soul has experienced the cycles of births and deaths it was destined to and lived through the joys and sorrows it was meant to, the soul will ultimately be liberated. It will not happen before it's time.

Ajivikas did not wear any clothes and they practiced intense penance and severe austerities, like lying on nails and going through fire. They had a very rough way of living. There was no caste discrimination in Ajivikas, anyone can join them from any walk of life.

Texts and Scriptures of Ajivikas:

There is very little to nothing known about the Ajivikas scriptures as they were not properly recorded. It can be said that they were lost with time and now cannot be found. However, in Buddhist and Jain scriptures there are a few mentions about Ajivikas.

Ajivikas Rivalry with its Contemporaries:

Information about Ajivikas about their beliefs and their way of life is very limited. Most of the information can be found in Buddhist and Jain texts. Both Buddhist and Jain texts are very critical about Ajivikas.

This may be because they were rivals and it also shows that the Ajivikas might have been very influential and powerful. 

The Jain texts mentions how Goshala and Vardhamana Mahavira were friends and later they had a quarrel which Mahavira won. The Ajivikas are said to eat very less to nothing, the Buddhist text accuses that the Ajivikas ate secretly.

Patrons of Ajivikas:

During the reign of Bindusara, the father of Ashoka, the religion was at its peak. They were favored by the emperor. Bindusara was a believer of Ajivika philosophy. 

Even Ashoka was an Ajivika believer most of his life. The Ajivikas had a very powerful influence during that period. However, after the demise of the king the religion went into obscurity.

The Barabar Caves in Bihar, the oldest rock-cut caves in India, date back to the Mauryan period and they were initially made for the Ajivikas and Jains to meditate. 

Due to their severe austerities and their way of living, some mentions of Ajivikas can be found in Chinese and Japanese texts.

Written by: Priyanshu Bhardwaj

Edited by: Gourav Chowdhury