Early Asceticism in India: Ājīvikism and Jainism (Routledge Advances in Jaina Studies)

Ājīvikism was once ranked one of the most important religions in India between the 4th and 2nd centuries BCE, after Buddhism, ‘Brahmanism’ and before Jainism, but is now a forgotten Indian religion. However, Jainism has remained an integral part of the religious landscape of South Asia, despite the common beginnings shared with Ājīvikism. By rediscovering, reconstructing, and examining the Ājīvikism doctrine, its art, origins and development, this book provides new insight into Ājīvikism, and discusses how this information enables us to better understand its impact on Jainism and its role in the development of Indian religion and philosophy. This book explains how, why and when Jainism developed its strikingly unique logic and epistemology and what historical and doctrinal factors prompted the ideas which later led to the formulation of the doctrine of multiplexity of reality (__anekānta-vāda__). It also provides answers to difficult passages of Buddhist __Sāmañña-phala-sutta__ that baffled both Buddhist commentators and modern researchers. Offering clearer perspectives on the origins of Jainism the book will be an invaluable contribution to Jaina Studies, Asian Religion and Religious History. Machine Generated Contents Note: 1. Introduction -- 2. Encounter -- 3. Gosala As A `jaina' Teacher -- 4. Souls And Colours -- 5. Divination And Foretelling The Future -- 6. Common Set Of Early Scriptures -- 7. Common Cosmology -- 8. Gosala's First Teaching And Vardhamana's First Ascetic Experiences -- 9. Finalities, Death And Sallekhana -- 10. Drinkables, Undrinkables And The Waters Of The Samanna-phala-sutta -- 11. Ajivikas, Pottery And Pots -- 12. Determinism, Ajivikas And Jainism -- 13. Early Anekanta-vada And The Three Figures -- 14. Ajivikas, Trairasikas, Jainas -- 15. Beginnings Of The Sapta-bhangi -- 16. Early Epistemological Devices And The Beginnings Of Jaina Logic -- 17. Anekanta-vada And The Ajivikas -- 18. Traces Of The Anekanta In Pali Buddhist Literature? -- 19. Religious Centre And The Art Of The Ajivikas -- 20. Three Traditions: Parsva, Gosala, Mahavira. Piotr Balcerowicz. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.