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Education; Literature and Sciences many beautiful stanzas before the Buddha who praised him much:1 THE AFĪVIKA CANON
That the Ājivikas had a canon of sacred texts in which their doctrines were codified, is clear from the Pāli and Prakrit texts of Buddhism and Jainism. The Ajivika cánon consisted of eight Mahānimittas and two Margas, which are at least partially based upon the Pūrvas coming down from the time of Pārsva. B.M. BARUA, on the other hand, interprets the word Pūrva in the text not in the specialised Jaina sense, but-merely as past traditions. His view is strengthened by the fact that the eightfold Mahānimitta of the Ājivikas bears no resemblance to the titles of the fourteen lost Pūrvas of the Jaina tradition. In spite of this, it can be said that the scriptures of the Ajivikas may have had something in common with the earliest scriptures of the Jainas.
. In the Bhagavat isūtra,3 it is described that the six Disāchāras "extracted the eight-fold Mahānimitta in the Puvvas with the Maggås making the total up to ten, after examining hundreds of opinions”, and that this was approved by Gośāla markhaliputta after brief consideration. The eight Angas of the Mahānimitta are as follows
: 1. Divyam, "of the Divine",
2. Aulpālam, "of Portents”,
3. Antariksham, of the sky”, :: 4. Bhaumam, "of the earth”,
5. Angam, "of the body”.
6. Svāram, "of sound, • 7. Lākshanam, "of characteristics”; and
8. Vjāñjanam, "of indications'.
The Mahānimittas are listed in the Sthānanga Sūtras," with the variation Suvine (drcams) for Divyam. Thc Utlarādhgayana Sūtras gives a similar list, and adds that the Jaina Bhikkhu should not live by such mcans. The two Mlaggas arc described 1. Sam. I, p. 185. 2. JDL, II, p. 41. 3. Bhag, 'XV. S. 539, Fol. 658-9. . .
VIII; GOS. ... ...... . . 5. Ullarā, XV, 7.
