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of scriptures and imparting education. Traditionally the rule is to become Parivrajak after the Vanaprasth Ashram (the third quarter of life). Some well known sects among Parivrajaks are
Samkhya-the followers of the Samkhya school of philosophy. They believed in twenty five fundamentals including man, nature, intellect, ego and five elements. Some of them believed in god and were called Seshvar Samkhya; others who did not believe in god were called Nirishvar Samkhya. As the founder of this school was sage Kapil, they were also called Kapil. Yogi-those who practiced Hath-yoga. Bhargavathe followers of the tradition founded by sage Bhrigu.
According to Vedic scriptures there were four categories of sanyasins-Kutichar, Bahudak, Hamsa and Param-hamsa. (Prachin Bharatiya Samskriti Kosh, p. 216 and Abhayadev Vritti)
According to the description of Yati Parivrajaks given by Acharya Abhayadev Suri, the commentator (Vritti), Hamsa Parivrajaks were those who lived in mountain-caves, mountain trails, hermitages, temples or gardens. They came to human settlements only to seek alms. Paramahamsa were those who lived on river banks or where two rivers met. At the time of death they abandoned their only belongings-dress, langot (loin-cloth) and the bed of hay or coir. Bahudak were those who, as a rule, spent only one night in a village and five nights in a city. Those who disciplined their passions-anger, greed, attachment and conceit-while still living as householders were called Kutichar. (Aupapatik Vritti, leaf 92)
This aphorism lists eight kinds of Brahmin Parivrajaks and eight kinds of Kshatriya Parivrajaks in two verses. Ambad, Parashar, Dvaipayan and other Brahmin Parivrajaks find mention at many places in Agams. The commentator (Vritti) states very briefly about them"Information about these sixteen Parivrajaks should be gathered from folk lore." It appears that when the Vritti was written these traditions had almost become extinct.
परिव्राजकों के धर्मशास्त्र
७७. ते णं परिव्वाया रिउब्वेद - यजुव्वेद - सामवेद - अहव्वणवेद - इतिहासपंचमाणं, निघंटुछट्ठाणं संगोवंगाणं सरहस्साणं चउन्हं वेदाणं सारगा पारगा धारगा, सडंगवी, सद्वितंतविसारया, संखाणे, सिक्काकप्पे, वागरणे, छंदे, निरुत्ते, जोइसामयणे, अण्णेसु य बहूसु बंभण्णएसु य सत्थेसु परिव्वाएसु य नएसु सुपरिणिट्टिया यावि होत्था ।
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