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SEN: SCHOOLS AND SECTS IN JAIN LITERATURE
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explained the new doctrines and asked him to put his question to Gosāla after throwing away the mango in his hand. Ayambula did so and asked about the halla insect. Gosāla replied “This which you see is not a mango but only the skin of a mango. You ask about the halla insectit is like the root of the bamboo; play the lute, man, play the lute.” The Gosāla foeling the end approaching called his disciples and requested them to observe his funeral with all honours and proclaim that he was the last Tirthankara. But afterwards he felt that he was not an omniscient but a false teacher and a humbug but that Mahāvīra was the true Jina. Then he called his disciples and asked them to treat him with dishonour after he was dead and proclaim his misdeeds and the Jinahood of Mahāvīra. Then he died. The Ājīviya theras closed the door and pretended to carry out Gosāla's last instructions, and then they opened the doors and gave him a funeral according to his original wishes. 33
The austerities practised by the Ājiviyas are classified into four kinds, viz., severe austerities, fierce austerities, abstention from ghee and other delicacies, and indifference to pleasant and unpleasant food.34
It is said in the system of the Ajīviyas that all the living beings are subject to an ungratified desire to enjoy, and hence their earning of livelihood is by killing, cutting,
etc. 36
The varieties of the Ajiviya ascetics are these :- those who beg in every second house, those who beg in every third house, those who beg in every fourth house, those who beg in every fifth house, those who beg in every sixth house, those who beg in every seventh house, those who accept lotus-stalks only as alms under certain conditions, those who beg in every house, those who do not beg if
33. Bhag. 15.539-554. 34. Sth. S. 4.2.310 35. Bhag. 8.5.310
