Jain Journal 1985 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 15

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JAIN JOURNAL
evidently shows that Ajivikism was an established and well organised school of philosophy at the time of Buddha, and Gosala was only one of he distinguished teachers of the school. His contribution towards the
lopment of this religious sect and organisation and its philosophy made him reputed apparently to the extent of its founder.
It is interesting to note in this connection that the Ajivikas like the Tirthankara conception of the Jainas believe in a succession of ascetic teachers of the same order of Gosala who is the eighth Ajivika teacher. The Bhagavati-sütra18 speaks of the following seven Ajivika teachers whose spiritual mantle had fallen upon his (Gosalaka's) shoulders :
(1) Udai Kundiyayaniya (2) Enejjaga (Skt. Rnanjaya) (3) Mallarama (4) Mandiya (5) Roha (6) Bharaddai (Skt. Bharadvaja) (7) Ajjuna Goyamaputta.
Due to paucity of any positive evidences it is rather hazardous to ascertain the historicity of the entire list of successive teachers of the Ajivika order prior to Gosala. And by the time of the Mauryas, as we shall see later on, it included in the catalogue of the well organised and matured religious systems in India.
Gosala is said to have born near Sravasti, and left home for some unknown reason and became a homeless wanderer. It appears from the Bhagayati-sūtra that Gosala in his early career accepted the professional life of his father and, at the same time, he developed some sort of repugnance against worldly life. In his first meeting with Mahavira in a weaver's workshop (tantuvāyaśālā) at Nalanda, he already attained the third year of asceticism. Gosala was impressed with the power of asceticism of Mahavira and requested to allow him to be his pupil, but Mahavira did not at first oblige by initiating Gosala as his disciple. In his second thought Mahavira accepted Gosala's request at a place called Kollaga near Nalanda. 14
13 Bhagavati-sutra, XV, su. 550, fol. 674. 14 For details, please see my forthcoming publication on Some Aspects of Jainism
in Eastern India, appendix.
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