The Ajivikas

Description

A Short History of their Religion and Philosophy. — Published by the University of Calcutta, 1920. — 80 p.Одно из первых исследований философии и истории адживиков. Опубликовано Калькутским Университетом в 1920 году. Книга написана на английском языке.IntroductionThe History of the Ajivikas can broadly he divided into three periods in conformity with the three main stages of development through which their doctrines had passed. The general facts about these periods are summed up below with a view to indicate the precise nature of the problems that confront us in the study of each. The periods and problems are as follows :Pre-Makkhali Period.Problems.—The rise of a religious order of wandering mendicants called the Ajlvika from aVanaprastha or Yaikhanasa order of the hermits, hostile alike in attitude towards thereligion of the Brahmans and the Vaikhanasas, bearing yet some indelible marks of the parentasrama ; a higher synthesis in the new Bhiksu order of the three or four asramas of theBrahmans.Makkhali Period.Problterns.—Elevation of Ajlvika religion into a philosophy of life at the hands of MakkhaliGosala ; his indebtedness to his predecessors, relations with the contemporary Sophists, and originality of conception.Post-Makkhali Period.Problems—The further development of Ajlvika religion, the process of Aryan colonisation inIndia, the spread of Aryan culture, the final extinction of the sect resulting from gradualtransformation or absorption of the Ajlvika into the Digambara Jaina, the Shivaite andothers ; other causes of the decline of the faith ; the influence of Ajlvika religion andphilosophy on Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism determination of the general character of ahistory of Indian religion.