Studies in Jainism

Author(s): Ramkrishna Mission Institute of Culture Culcutta
Publisher: Ramkrishna Mission Institute of Culture Culcutta

Page 18

ŚRAMAŅA OR NON-BRAHMAŅICAL SECTS
Bhagavafi-Sutra says that they abstained from eating five kinds of fruits, viz. umbara (ficus glomerata), vata (ficus Indica), bora (jujube), satara(?), and pilankhui (ficus infectoria), and also abstained from eating roots etc.
The Sthānanga-Sūtra says that the Ajivikas practise four kinds of austerities, viz. severe austerities, fierce austerities, abstention from ghee and other delicacies, and indifference to pleasant and unpleasant food.33 They are said to observe the fourfold brahmacarya consisting of: (1) tapassitā, asceticism; (2) lükhacariyā, austerity; (3) jeguccitā, comfort-loathing; and (4) pavivittatā, solitude. The Aupapādika-Sūtra describes the system of collecting alms of the Ajīvika ascetics. Some of them beg in every second or third or fourth or fifth or sixth, or even in every seventh house: there are some who accept lotus-stalks only as alms under certain conditions; some beg in every house, but do not accept alms if there is a flash of lightning. There are some ascetics who practise penances by entering into big earthen vessels. It is stated also that they were men of right living, and in this mode of right living, they were followed by both the Jains and the Buddhists.
The Sāmaññaphala-Sutta, however, says that in the opinion of Gosāla, no spiritual development can take place by moral observances. It is rather difficult to make out why the Ajivikas should enjoin the moral observances and in the same breath deny their efficacy. It is likely that Gosala approved, in pursuance of time-honoured fashion, the moral and religious observances, even though they were ineffective in doing any good. This may be evident from his strong plea that one gained the final deliverance solely by virtue of transmigrations (samsāra-buddhy.
HIS PHILOSOPHY The Bhagavati-Sutra gives the following account of his philosophy. An experiment was made by Gosāla together with Mahāvīra taking as specimen a large sesamum plant (Tila-thambha) which being uprooted and destroyed reappeared in due time. Gosāla drew therefrom the conclu
33. A.C. Sen, Schools and Sects in Jaina Literature, p.11.