Book Title: Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra
Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Previous | Next

Page 450
________________ Sec. VI STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA 425 SIXTH SECTION Ajīvika Sect. Along with the Nirgranthas there existed heterodox sects in the society as depicted in the text such as, the Ājēvikas, Vainayikas, Vānaprasthas, Parivrājakas, Carakas, other Tirthikas, etc. Of all these sects the Ājivikas appear to be the most rival in their relation to the Nirgrantha order and their leader, Gośāla-Mańkhaliputra proclaims himself as Jina by challenging the spiritual leadership of Lord Mahāvīra. The Bhs shows that they were originally associated with each other till they came to the parting of ways on the ground of doctrinal differences. Meaning of the name 'ājīviya': Skt. Ājīvika The word 'Ājīviya' (Skt. Ājzvika) denotes one who follows special rules with regard to livelihood or live by profession (aživati), as it is derived from the term 'Ajiva (livelihood) of any class of people whether they are householders or religious mendicants, Sri Abhayadeva Sūri? explains that those who live (ājivanti) by the practices of austerity and the worship of faculties as avivekilokatā (want of judgament as usual) are called Ajivikas and they were the disciples of Gośāla Maikhaliputra. "Ajīvanti vā ye avivekilokato labdhipūjākhyātyādibhistapa scaraņādibhiḥ te Ājīvikāḥ astitvenājīvikāḥ." In the Buddhist texts there occurs the reference to Samyag-ājiva (right livelihood) as one of the eight paths (astāngikamārga) to be followed by the monks. It appears from these facts that the word 'Ājiviya signified a class of religious mendicants who originally lived by profession with regard to their livelihood. This view is supported by the significance of the word "Mankhatva', the profession of exhibiting i Sanskrit : English Dictionary, Monier-Williams, p. 133; col. 1st ? Bhs (comm.), 1, 2, 25. 54 Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 671 672 673 674 675 676 677 678 679 680 681 682 683 684 685 686