Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 462

Sec. VIT
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
437
but they lived apart under separate leaders, the names of two of whom Nanda-Vaccha and Kisa-saṁkicca are recorded in the Buddhist scriptures."1
While Dr. B. M. Barua? holds the view of Jacobio that Nanda-vaccha and Kisa-Samkicca were the predecessors of Gosāla Makkhali in succession, although the Bhs mentions Arjuna and Bhäradväja as his immediate predecessors,
It is clear from these facts that there was a line of Ājzvika teachers prior to Gośāla according to the tradition recorded in this canonical work.
Followers of Gosāla Mänkhaliputra
The text gives a list of the followers of Gośāla Mankhaliputra, namely six Dikcaras-Sāņa, Kalanda, Kaņņiyāra, Acchidda, Aggivesāyaṇa, Ajjuna Gomāyuputta, Hālāhalā, the Potteress of Srāvasti, Ayampula and Ajīvika ascetics.
Besides these, there were other twelve Ājīvikopāsakas, namely, Tāla, Tālapalamba, Uvviha, Samviha, Avaviha, Udaya, Nāmudaya, Namudaya, Anuvālaya, Samkhavālaya, Ayambula, and Kāyaraya who regarded their Arhunta (Gośāla) as God (Arihantadevatāyā).
Date of Gośāla
In connection with the chronology of Lord Mahāvīra in the second section of the eighth chapter it is discussed that the great demise of the Master took place sixteen years after the death of Gośāla. So according to the calculation made therein the date of the death of the Ajīvika leader may be assigned to a period about 500 B.C., and that of his birth approximately to the first quarter of the sixth century B.C. as he appears to be
1 E. R. E., 1, p. 265; refer also to Bhāratiyavidyā, II, p. 202,
Gopani. * J. D. L., II, p. 2. 3 Introduction to Jaina Sutra, II, S. B. E., xlv, p. xxxi. 4 Bhs, 8, 5, 330.