The 6th century BC witnessed the age of unrest as evident in changing politico-economic-social scenarios. such changes naturally invoked evolution at intellectual level as well and the period was marked by the proliferation of ascetic sects with wide ranging ideas spanning from annihilations to eternalism.
Buddhist literature mentioned as many as 62 heterodox sects while the Jains canons referred to 363 sects, although Vedic Brahmanism was still the prominent one. Ajivika sect was amongst the few, who had been quite influential during the period.
AJIVIKA SECT : DOCTRINAL VIEWS
Ajivika sect is the nastika or hold heterodox doctrinal views. It is believed to be founded by Makkhali Gosala. The other prominent teachers of the philosophy were Purna and Kakuda. It was a sramana philosophy and a rival to Buddhism, Jainism and Vedic religion. Ajivika sect holds a few views in consonance to other ascetic schools. This includes denial of existence of God and the nature owes its creations to natural phenomenas, evolving itself according to ascertainable natural laws. Most of the sramana schools believed in transmigration in some form or the other and the ajivikas believed in transmigration on a grand scale.
Their principle doctrine revolved around the concept of niyati or destiny which governed all human actions. It states that humans had no ability to affect their future lives as all actions are predetermined. Even the most insignificant action of each human being is controlled by the destiny or niyati. Thus, the sect refuted the aspect of karma and believed that the lives of beings are not linked by their actions or inactions respective of good or bad.
But they believed in rebirth which was an element quite common in other sramana schools like Buddhism and Jainism. An ascetic school, which followed rigorous practices like fasting and nakedness and even Makkhali Gosala, according to certain references believed to be found naked, drunken with out much sensibility.
Ajivikas also included a theory of metaphysics, which postulates that everything is made up of atoms and aggregation of atoms lead to natural settings. This aspect of metaphysics was later adopted by vaisesika school of philosophy during early Christian Era.
BIRTH, RISE AND THE DOWNFALL OF AJIVIKAS
The phase of urbanization led to the emergence of upstarts in form of wealthy traders, merchants. These newly emerging castes resisted the high status claimed by the brahmanas as they also aspired to rise in the social hierarchy. Such posturing led to the conflict between the established orthodoxy and aspirations of new groups in the urban centers, which further intensified the thought process and gave rise to heterodox sects.
Also, there is no doubt that Vedic religion had become more complex, it's ritual sacrifices were beyond the comprehension of the masses. The dissatisfaction with the rigid socio religious realities diverted the peoples' attention towards new emerging concepts and ideas.
The Ajivika philosophy reached to its zenith during the rule of mauryan emperor Bindusara around 4th century BC. In addition, historical researchers showed that emperor Ashoka in his early life offered his due respect to the sect by donating caves at Barbara hills to the ajivikas.
This school of thought declined after the cessation of patronage of mauryas. But,even during medieval period it is found that it survived in the southern states wherein few people still clung to the ideas of the sect.
