Meaning of the term Ajivika used during ancient India
Ajivika was a philosophical and religious movement that emerged in ancient India around the same time as Jainism and Buddhism, in the 5th century BCE. The term “Ajivika” is derived from the Sanskrit word “Ajiva,” which means “mode of living” or “livelihood.”
The Ajivika movement was founded by Makkhali Gosala, a contemporary of Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, and Gautama Buddha. The Ajivikas were known for their distinctive beliefs and practices, which included the denial of free will and the concept of predestination.
The Ajivikas believed in the doctrine of Niyati, which held that everything in the universe, including human actions and events, was predetermined and controlled by fate or destiny. They believed that every individual’s destiny was already decided at the moment of birth and that no amount of human effort could change it.
The Ajivikas also believed in the concept of karma, which held that an individual’s present circumstances were a result of their past actions. However, they did not believe that an individual’s karma could be changed, as everything was predetermined by fate.
In terms of religious practice, the Ajivikas were known for their asceticism, which included severe forms of self-mortification and a strict code of conduct. They also believed in the existence of the soul, which they saw as being separate from the body and subject to the cycles of birth and death.
The Ajivika movement declined in popularity over time and eventually disappeared, with many of its followers converting to other religions such as Jainism and Buddhism. However, its ideas had a significant impact on Indian philosophy and religious thought, and continue to be studied and discussed by scholars today.