Ajivika, Ajivaka, Ājīvika, Ājīvaka, Ājīvakā, Ājīvikā: 16 definitions
Introduction:
Ajivika means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Hindi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
Alternative spellings of this word include Aajivika.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexĀjīvaka (आजीवक).—A heretic sect.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 14. 39.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: WikiPedia: HinduismĀjīvika was a system of ancient Indian philosophy and an ascetic movement of the Mahajanapada period in the Indian subcontinent. Ājīvika was primarily a heterodox Indian (Nāstika) system. The Ājīvikas may simply have been a more loosely-organized group of wandering ascetics (shramanas or sannyasins). One of their prominent leaders was Makkhali Gosala. Ājīvika is thought to be contemporaneous to other early Indian nāstika philosophical schools of thought, such as Cārvāka, Jainism and Buddhism.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper NamesA class of naked ascetics (see, e.g., Vin.i.291), followers of Makkhali Gosala, regarded, from the Buddhist point of view, as the worst of sophists. Numerous references to the Ajivakas are to be found in the Pitakas, only a few of them being at all complimentary. Thus in the Maha Saccaka Sutta (*) they are spoken of as going about naked, flouting lifes decencies and licking their hands after meals.
(*) M.i.238; see also S.i.66, where a deva praises Gosala as a man who had attained to perfect self control by fasting and austere practices. He had abandoned speech and wordy strife with any person, was equable, a speaker of truth, a doer of no evil. That the life of the Ajivakas was austere may be gleaned from their condemnation of monks carrying parasols (Viii.ii.130).
But they never incurred the guilt
of obeying another mans command,
of accepting food specially prepared for them,
of accepting food from people while eating,
from a pregnant woman, or nursing mother,
or from gleanings in time of famine;
they would never eat where a dog was already at hand,
or where hungry flies were congregated.They never touched flesh, fish or intoxicants,
and they had a rigid scale of food rationing.
It is mentioned that they did not always find it possible to adhere to this rigid code of conduct.
It is stated in the Tevijja Vacchagotta Sutta (M.i.483) that far from any Ajivaka having put an end to sorrow, the Buddha could recall only one Ajivaka during ninety nine kappas who had even gone to heaven, and that one too had preached a doctrine of kamma and the after consequences of actions. Elsewhere (M.i.524) they are spoken of as children of a childless mother.
They extol themselves and disparage others and yet they have produced only three shining lights:
- Nanda Vaccha,
- Kisa Sankicca
- Makkhali Gosala
A fourth leader, Panduputta, of wagon building stock, is mentioned in the Anangana Sutta (M.i.31); there is also the well known Upaka.
There is no doubt that the Ajivaka were highly esteemed and had large followings of disciples (See, e.g., Pasenadis evidence in S.i.68, apart from Ajatasattus visit mentioned in the Samannaphala Sutta; also S.iv.398). They had eminent followers such as high court officials (Vin.ii.166; iv.71) and that, for centuries at least, they retained an important position, is shown by their being thrice mentioned in the Asoka Edicts as receiving royal gifts (Hultsch: Asoka Inscriptions, see Index).
The doctrines held by the Ajivaka are mentioned in several places,
-- or --
Given as a possible name. J.i.403.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgrahaĀjīvikā (आजीविका, “livelihood”) or Ājīvikābhaya refers to the “fear for (one’s) livelihood” as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 71). The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., ājīvikā). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: Bhagavati SutraĀjīvika (आजीविक) refers to followers of Gośālaka, a former disciple of Mahāvīra who later separated, according to the Bhagavatīsūtra , book 8 chapter 5.—Accordingly, “[...] The Ājīvika way of reasoning is as follows: Every living organism lives on by eating some form of life. So they beat, cut, pierce, scissor, peel, even kill others to acquire food”.
The following twelve sects have been identified as the followers of the Ājīvika way:
- Tāla,
- Tālapralamba,
- Udvidha,
- Saṃvidha,
- Avavidha,
- Udaya,
- Namodaya,
- Narmodaya,
- Anupālaka,
- Saṅkhapālaka,
- Ayambula,
- Kātara.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
India history and geography
Source: Singhi Jain Series: Ratnaprabha-suri’s Kuvalayamala-katha (history)Ājīvaka (आजीवक) refers to one of the sixty doctrines of different religious sects that existed in ancient India, as mentioned by Uddyotanasūri in his 8th-century Kuvalayamālā (a Prakrit Campū, similar to Kāvya poetry).—Page 203.20 f.: There is a detailed description of about 60 doctrines of different religious sects and schools of philosophy that had developed before the time of Uddyotanasūri, for example, [Ājīvaka (also mentioned in the Pañcatantra), abstaining from all kinds of dairy products like milk, curds and clarified butter] [...]. This list of different sects of Uddyotanasūri’s may be compared with the lists given by Bāṇa in the Harṣacarita (Books 5, 8).
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryājīvaka : (m.) a kind of non-Buddhist ascetics.
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ājīvika : (m.) a kind of non-Buddhist ascetics.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryĀjīvaka, (& °ika) (ājīva + ka, orig. “one finding his living” (scil. in a peculiar way); cp. BSk. ājīvika Divy 393, 427) an ascetic, one of the numerous sects of non-buddhist ascetics. On their austerities, practice & way of living see esp. DhA.II, 55 sq. and on the whole question A. L. Basham, Hist. & Doctrines of the Ājīvikas, 1951. — (a) ājīvaka: Vin.I, 291; II, 284; IV, 74, 91; M.I, 31, 483: S.I, 217; A.III, 276, 384; J.I, 81, 257, 390. — (b) ājīvika: Vin.I, 8; Sn.381 (v. l. BB. °aka).
— or —
Ājīvika, (nt.) (or ājīvikā f.?) (fr. ājīva) sustenance of life, livelihood, living Vbh.379 (°bhaya) Miln.196 (id.); PvA.274, and in phrase ājīvik’âpakata being deprived of a livelihood, without a living M.I, 463 = S.III, 93 (T. reads jīvikā pakatā) = It.89 (reads ājīvikā pakatā) = Miln.279. (Page 97)
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryĀjīvaka (आजीवक).—
1) A beggar, one who earns his livelihood everywhere.
2) See आजीविकः (ājīvikaḥ) below.
Derivable forms: ājīvakaḥ (आजीवकः).
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Ājīvika (आजीविक).—A religious mendicant of the sect founded by Gosāla Maṅkhaliputra, following special rules with regard to livelihood.
Derivable forms: ājīvikaḥ (आजीविकः).
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Ājīvikā (आजीविका).—Profession, means of subsistence.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryAjīvika (अजीविक).—: Śikṣāsamuccaya 332.1 (verse), probably only m.c. for āj° (despite note p. 414).
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Ājīvaka (आजीवक).—m. (= Pali id.), a member of a heretical ascetic sect: Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 276.3 (to be avoided by Bodhisattvas); Lalitavistara 405.4, and repeatedly in the sequel; Mūla-Sarvāstivāda-Vinaya ii.49.4 ff. See next (1).
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Ājīvika (आजीविक).—(1) m. (= Pali id.) = prec.: Mūla-Sarvāstivāda-Vinaya ii.83.19; Lalitavistara 380.12 (v.l. °aka); Divyāvadāna 393.20; 427.7, 8 (here identified with nirgrantha, 9); ajīvika, with a- m.c., Śikṣāsamuccaya 332.1 (verse); (2) nt. (= Pali id., Sanskrit ājīva), (means of) livelihood, profession: °bhayam (= Pali id.), danger due to profession or means of livelihood, Dharmasaṃgraha 71; (3) °ikā, f. (= Pali id.) = (2): °bhaya- (as under prec.), Gaṇḍavyūha 264.9; Śikṣāsamuccaya 296.5; Daśabhūmikasūtra.g. 2(338).10 °kā-maraṇa-'kīrty (dvandva; -bhaya is understood from prec. line with all three items).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Ājīvaka (आजीवक):—[from ā-jīv] m. = vika below, [Lalita-vistara]
2) Ājīvika (आजीविक):—[from ā-jīv] m. ‘following special rules with regard to livelihood’, a religious mendicant of the sect founded by Gośāla (Makkhaliputra), [Jaina literature; Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhajjātaka]
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Ājīvaka (आजीवक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Ājīvaga.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryĀjīvikā (आजीविका) [Also spelled aajivika]:—(nf) livelihood; calling.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusĀjīvaka (ಆಜೀವಕ):—
1) [noun] one who earns his livelihood anywhere; a beggar.
2) [noun] a naked mendicant.
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Ājīvaka (ಆಜೀವಕ):—
1) [noun] a religion or school of philosophy founded by Gōśālamaṃkhalīputta, a contemporary, and for sometime associate of Mahāvīra, the founder of Jainism.
2) [noun] a follower of that religion.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Ends with (+7): Aajivika, Ajajivika, Aksharajivika, Angarajivika, Apannajivika, Ardhajivika, Asukhajivika, Bhaikshajivika, Bhatakajivika, Brahmanajivika, Cirajivika, Janajivika, Kapanajivika, Parasvopajivika, Pautrajivika, Prajivika, Putrajivika, Rangajivika, Shilpajivika, Shvajivika.
Full-text (+68): Ajiviya, Ajivin, Ajivaga, Ajivaka-kasu, Ashuva-kkadamai, Ashuvikaḻ-kasu, Ashuva-kkashu, Chava, Aajivika, Ajivakasavaka, Makkhali, Titthaka, Varunindhara, Nissirika, Sunandaka, Panyajivaka, Navakatir, Civakan, Utkutasthayin, Acivakappalli.
Relevant text
Search found 43 books and stories containing Ajivika, Ajivaka, Ājīvika, Ājīvaka, Ājīvakā, Ājīvikā, Ajīvika, Ājivika, Aajeevika; (plurals include: Ajivikas, Ajivakas, Ājīvikas, Ājīvakas, Ājīvakās, Ājīvikās, Ajīvikas, Ājivikas, Aajeevikas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Lakulisha-Pashupata (Philosophy and Practice) (by Geetika Kaw Kher)
Evidence of Ajivika cult in Kashmir < [Chapter 2 - Spread and Transition]
Appendix 2 - An Enquiry into the Sectarian Affiliation of the Ruins at Harwan
Diksa (Initiation) < [Chapter 3 - The Ritualistic Context]
Bhagavati-sutra (Viyaha-pannatti) (by K. C. Lalwani)
Introduction to book 8 < [Book 8]
Part 1 - Followers, belongings < [Chapter 5]
Part 2 - Transgression of a Śrāvaka’s vow < [Chapter 5]
Parama Samhita (English translation) (by Krishnaswami Aiyangar)
Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh (early history) (by Prakash Narayan)
Jati (status on account of birth) < [Chapter 4 - Social Process, Structures and Reformations]
Forms of Marriage and Unions < [Chapter 4 - Social Process, Structures and Reformations]
Other sects at the time of the Buddha < [Chapter 3 - Religious Beliefs, Institutions and Practices: New Perspectives]
Settlement in Early Historic Ganga Plain (by Chirantani Das)
Part 11 - Archaeological surveys in and around Rajgir < [Chapter II - Origin and Function of Rājagṛha as the seat of Monarchy]
Part 2 - Surroundings of Nalanda < [Chapter III - Nālandā: Evidence for rise and progress of the settlement]
Part 9 - Rājagṛha at the cross-roads of religious affiliations < [Chapter II - Origin and Function of Rājagṛha as the seat of Monarchy]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 12: Story of Śabdālaputra < [Chapter VIII - Initiation of ṛṣabhadatta and devānandā]
Purity of alms < [Notes]
Part 2: Sumaṅgala and the ascetic < [Chapter VI - Adoption of right-belief by Śreṇika]
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