Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

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

Page 463

438
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA
[Ch. VII
a senior contemporary of Lord Mahāvīra as recorded in the BhS.1
A short history of the Ājīvika Sect
Besides the literary sources, the earliest archæological evidences of the existence of the Ajivikas are found in the Barbara Hill cave Inscriptions of king Aśoka and Nagarjunī Hill cave Inscriptions of Dasaratha.3
The
In the sixth Century A. D. they appear also in the two astrological works of Varāha-mihira, viz. Bṛhajjātaka and Layhujātaka" as one of the seven classes of ascetics, viz the Sakyas or Raktapatas (i.e. Buddhists), the Ajzvikas upto the Carakas. existence of the Ajivikas in the ninth century A. D. is borne out by the evidence of the great Jaina commentator Šilanka® (C. 876 A.D.), while they figure in the Abhidhāna Ratnamālā1 of Halayudha (950 A.D.) as Ajivas in the tenth century A.D. The Ajivikas existed also in the thirteenth century A. D. as it is revealed by the land-grant made by the Cola king, Rājārāja to the temple, together with 'tax on the Ajivikas' in 1238, 1239, 1243, 1259 A.Ds.
SEVENTH SECTION
Doctrine of Ajīvikism
The BhS reveals that the fundamental doctrine of Ajīvikism was parivarttavāda (the doctrine of reanimation) which propounds that all beings are born after death and foster. "Evam Khalu
1 Vide, Sec. 2, Chap. IX.
2 Nos. 38, 39 & 40 Barbara Hill cave Inscriptions, Indian Ant. XX, p. 168 ff.
3 Ib.
Brhajjataka-XXf, Varāhamihira.
4
5 Laghujataka, IX-12. Varāhamihira. Silanka,-See Sütrakṛtānga.
Abhidhana-Ratnamala II-189, 190 Halayudha. South Indian Inscriptions Nos. 88, 89, 92 & 108.