The Ajivika Sect emerged around the same time as Buddhism and Jainism, lasting until the 14th century. It gained prominence during the reign of Mauryan Emperor Bindusara. The philosophy's central tenet is that everything is predetermined by fate, or niyati, suggesting that human actions do not influence outcomes. Emperor Ashoka, before embracing Buddhism, was an Ajivika, and this sect received imperial patronage during the Mauryan dynasty.
Despite their belief in fatalism, the Ajivikas led ascetic lives, focusing on self-discipline and renunciation of worldly pleasures. Their ethical practices aligned with non-violence (Ahimsa) and vegetarianism, drawing from the broader ascetic traditions of ancient India. However, their antinomian stance meant that they did not believe in strict moral codes or the necessity for individual responsibility in achieving spiritual progress.
After the decline of the Maurya Empire in the 2nd century BCE, the Ajivika Sect gradually lost its influence. Although it continued to receive some imperial patronage, by the Shunga period in the 1st century BCE, it became a minor sect in northern India. By the Gupta period, its practices had undergone significant changes, signaling the rapid decline of the tradition. The 14th-century text Sarva-Darshana-Sangraha does not even mention the Ajivika Sect, further indicating its dissolution and disappearance.
The key belief of the Ajivika philosophy is determinism, encapsulated in the doctrine of Niyati. This philosophy asserts that all events, including human actions, are predestined, denying free will and the influence of individual actions on outcomes. It contrasts with the concepts of karma and liberation found in other Indian philosophies.
While Jainism and Buddhism emphasize karma and personal responsibility in spiritual liberation, Ajivika philosophy rejects both. It asserts that all actions are predetermined by fate (Niyati), and human effort or merit has no effect on spiritual progress. Additionally, Ajivikas did not believe in a creator deity or an overarching divine plan.
The decline of the Ajivika Sect was primarily due to the rise of other religious movements, particularly Buddhism and Jainism, which provided more appealing ideas of spiritual progress and liberation. The Ajivikas' rigid determinism and rejection of individual agency became less relevant as other philosophies emphasizing personal effort gained prominence.
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