Ajivika School of Philosophy
Founder is Gosala Maskariputra (also known as Makkhali Gosala)
Core belief is events occur without cause or reason—both impurity and purity arise spontaneously.
There is no underlying cause for the condition or transformation of beings.
Ajivikas accepted the existence of an eternal soul in all beings.
Makkhali Gosala rejected the idea of individual moral responsibility and the concept of adharma (sin), asserting that human beings have no control over their destiny.
Doctrine of Niyati (Absolute Determinism):
The Ajivikas are most well-known for their doctrine of Niyati, which emphasizes that everything in the universe is governed by fate or destiny.
According to this view, all events are predetermined and inevitable, leaving no room for personal effort, karma, or free will.
Primary Sources and References:
Buddhist Texts:
Digha Nikaya, Anguttara Nikaya, Samyutta Nikaya
Jain Texts:
Sutrakritanga Sutra, Bhagavati Sutra, Nandi Sutra
Commentaries by Shilanka and Abhayadeva on these texts
These works offer detailed insights into the Ajivika worldview and their interactions with other religious traditions.
The Ajivika school was a contemporary of early Buddhism and Jainism, often portrayed in their scriptures.
Its founder, Gosala, is depicted in ancient texts as a prominent and controversial thinker with strong views against moral voluntarism.
