The Ajivika Movement

History 134
11-9-14
Janae Bardell

To understand the ideas and doctrine of Ajivika, it is important to understand both

Buddhism and Jainism. Although Ajivika was a rival to both Buddhism and Jainism,
many of the beliefs stemmed from either one or both religions. Many of the exact details
of Ajivika are uncertain, because the only writings on the belief system are either
Buddhist or Jain. Ajivika did not survive, but to understand the history of religion in
India, it is important to know who founded the religion, as well as the religions doctrine.
The roots of Buddhism stem from India, by the once prince, Siddhartha Gautama.i
Gautama left his palace at the age of twenty-nine, when he decided to explore the world
and spirituality. For many years he meditated and sought truth, resulting in his spiritual
enlightenment, and thus becoming the Buddha. Once enlightened, he knew what
caused all suffering, and then preached the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path,
which are the foundations of Buddhism. His teachings are referred to as the Dharma,
and are intended to lead others to enlightenment.ii Because of Buddhism, another major
religion was soon formed Jainism.
Mahavira was born in Northeast India, and like Buddha, was a prince. At the age
of thirty, he left the palace and decided to fast and meditate, until he was enlightened.
Mahavira was a teacher of Jainism until his death in 527 BCE. He was the twenty-fourth
and last Tirthankara (liberated one), who is often referred to as the founder of Jainism.iii
Mahavira reformed Jainism, and made the religion more popular than previously.
Makkhali Gosala was a disciple of Mahavira before forming the separate religion of
Ajivika.
Makkhali Gosala was born as the son of a mankha (professional beggar), which
he also later became. Gosala became a disciple of Mahavira, and not many years later,

decided to form the separate sect of Ajivika. Gosala and his religion was then a rival of
Buddhism and Jainism, and was looked down upon by Mahavira.
Ajivika was formed on the basis of ajiva; there is no karma. Niyati is the belief
that people are sinful (or pure) for no apparent reason, and there is nothing anyone can do
to change their fate.iv Everything is up to destiny, but there is no reason for why things
turn out the way they do. Followers of Ajivika did believe in reincarnation, but Buddhism
or Jainism, it was not possible to reach moksha by any human acts, because everything is
predetermined. The religion does not encourage pursuing any goal of purpose because
essentially, nothing can be controlled by humans. Also, the idea of being virtuous does
not apply, because there is no reason to try to do any good.
Ajivika came to be at roughly the same time as Buddhism and Jainism around
the 6th century BCE. The religions main center was in the city of Savatthi, and later in
Karnataka.v Ajivika lasted until the 14th century CE, before dying out in the state of
Mysore.
The religion had followers until the 14th century, but failed for obvious reasons.
Niyati is all about how everything is up to destiny, but Ajivika had no clear reason for
why things happened. Although a sect of Buddhism, Ajivika did not stress the worship of
any deity.
Although Ajivika did not survive, it proves to be a good example of how Buddhist
teachings can go wrong. Ajivika was not set up for long term success, like Buddhism.
The religion was successful for many centuries, but for a religion to become more
widespread with more followers, there must be more order and logic in the doctrine.

Works Cited
Shaw, Richard. "Ajivikas." Ajivikas. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2014. Article written by Richard
Shaw of Lancaster University and edited by Elliot Shaw, Department of Religion and Ethics, at
the University of Cumbria.

The Editors of Encyclopdia Britannica. "Ajivika (Indian Sect)." Encyclopedia Britannica

Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2014.Encyclopedia Britannica is an English
encyclopedia, first published in 1768 in Scotland, and with each edition, has grown in volumes. It
is considered a scholarly reference encyclopedia.

Mohanty, Jitendra N. "Indian Philosophy." Encyclopedia Britannica Online.

Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2014. Encyclopedia Britannica is an English
encyclopedia, first published in 1768 in Scotland, and with each edition, has grown in volumes. It
is considered a scholarly reference encyclopedia.

"Buddha." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2014. Bio's Editor in Chief is
Laura Grimm. Bio is an A+E Network that presents the biographies of famous people throughout
history. Bio was launched in 1999 and still presents fact checked information.

"Mahavira." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2014. The British Broadcasting Corporation has
been broadcasting news and current affairs since 1922. They have more than two-thousand
journalists and report on both domestic and global news and history.

Notes

For more information on Gautamas parents and early childhood, read the Early Years section in Bios article,Buddha.
To learn about other Buddhist teachers, read Encyclopedia Britannicas article, Indian Philosophy.
iii
For a more in depth view of Mahaviras impact on Jainism, read the last section of BBCs article, Mahavira.
iv
For a more in depth understanding of Niyati, read Encyclopedia Britannicas article, Ajivika.
v
Read the Lancaster Universitys article, Ajivikas for more information on Ajivikas important locations.
ii