What is Aaseevagam and when did it start? Is it a Sramana movement like Jainism and Buddhism? Did it exist before Markali Gosala?
Edson Bessa Meireles Neto
NRV
Aaseevagam of Makkali Gosala and Jainism of Vardhman Mahavir started at the similar time - there are legends attached to it of how a chemist (Mahavir) preferred over a metallurgist (Gosala) because the smell of his perfume covered several miles when Mahavir walked around.
All Sramana Movements (there are many) are contemporary. It was a fashion at that point time and creativity at the best.
But at the period of Buddha, Mahavira and Gosala itself, atleast 6.
In six who are contemporaneous:
1.Buddha is a mystic who taught as void.(Buddhism)
2.Mahavir is a mystic chemist who taught as restraint. (Jainism)
3.Makkali Gosala is a mystic alchemist(metallurgist ) who taught as fatalism.(Ajivika)
4.Purana Kassappa is an ascetic who taught as non action(Akiriyavada)
5.Ajita Kesakamabali is an ascetic who advised as to live happily (Charvaka)
6.Sanjaya Belathiputta taught as suspension of judgement (Ajnana)
There is no evident that Jainism and Aaseevagam existed before Mahavir and Makkali. These claims are created later from their followers and they differed themselves creating several sects.
There were several mystics (over 84 Maha Siddhas) in our holy land before and after Buddha, Mahavira, Gosalas, Kassappas, Ajita and Sanjayas. These mystics contributed much in philosophy, medicine, metullergy and performed miracles. In Tamil Country itself 18 mystics are found.
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Thank you for responding. Regarding the existance of Aaseevagam before Markali Gosala, A1 Basham and other scholars point out that Gosala only organized Aaseevagam and that it existed before.
There is a story about Gosala and Mahavira that leaves the doubt about the existence of Aaseevagam before Gosala.
“The greatest teacher of the Ājīvika order was Makkhali Gosāla. However, there are reasons to believe that he was not the founder of the order. A detailed description of interaction between Gosāla and Mahāvīra is found in the Bhagavatī Sūtra. According to this text, Gosāla and Mahāvīra had stayed together for six years and Gosāla had gathered a large following at Sāvatthi (Śrāvastī) after parting ways with Mahāvīra. Gosāla gained a high reputation due to his great character and austerity, but things changed drastically, when Mahāvīra came to Śrāvastī. Mahāvīra denounced Gosāla as a charlatan and an enraged Gosāla came with his followers to confront Mahāvīra. He declared that the Gosāla that Mahāvīra knew was dead and the person before him has the soul of Udāī Kuṇḍiyāyaṇīya, who has passed through seven bodies in succession. The name of these seven people and duration of stay of the soul of Udāī in their bodies are given as 1. Enejjaga, 22 years; 2. Mallarāma, 21 years; 3. Maṇḍiya, 20 years; 4. Roha, 19 years; 5. Bhāraddāī, 18 years; 6. Ajjuṇa Goyamaputta, 17 years; and 7. Gosāla Maṅkhaliputta, 16 years. It is conceivable that the names of the earlier teachers of the Ājīvika order are enumerated through this story. Since, the duration of stay of the soul of Udāī in each teacher decreases in a linear progression, these numbers are probably meaningless except for Makkhali Gosāla, who had headed the order for 16 years. Makkhali Gosāla was thus the eighth teacher of the Ājīvika order, starting from Udāī Kuṇḍiyāyaṇīya.”
There is that other reference to Nanda Vaccha, Kisa Samkicca, I like to analyze everything so as not to have biased judgment.
The Swiss Jarl Charpentier and others suggest the Ājīvika tradition existed in India well before the birth of Makkhali Gosala, citing a variety of ancient Indian texts.
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NRV
1.Yes. These texts are written later by the follower authors by putting their minds into it.
2.I will give a latest example -with Kriya Yoga.
How we come to know? Because of Paramahansa Yogananda.
He detailed his Guru Lineage and we view Maha avatar Babaji from his sentences- who knows it is the truth or his hallucinations. His followers believe it is the truth.
If Auto Biography of a Yogi is not popular - no one knows about the lineage and immortal Baba!!! Today Babaji exists due to Auto Biography of a Yogi.
3. As mentioned above 6 Sramanas, how Aaseevagam, Buddhism and Jainism popular?
Due to political patronism.
Bindusara supported Aaseevagam.
Ashoka supported Buddhism and
His successors supported Jainism. It is like changing clothes everyday. Citizens followed the emperor.
Once patronised, crowds of scholars entered, researched further to become holy man in the eyes of emperor, even left hand sects within each branched out, Panths are formed.
That is Putting the old wine in a new bottle.
4. In our holy land there were plenty of mysticd- over 84, each claim their lineage from the day our planet come into existence.
5. Nath tradition - they also claim from Adinath- Shivnath-Navnath- their Dada Guru- Guru’s Guru- Guru etc..
6. I am neither discouraging such things nor condomning. It is much required. That is why it is said
Identify your Spiritual Purpose
When you are ready, Guru (for your dharma) will appear
Serve him with devotion
He will show the way.
It does not matter, which path you are following and whether it is ancient or not.
Even Maruti is better than Bullock cart for commuting to office.
Tractors are better than Bullocks in ploughing field. This generation is more evolved than previous.
We need to develop virtues and get rid of vices, so the guidance of Guru to quicken your journey is required.
If you believe Aaseevagam, it is a great one to follow. Move forward with it.
Bless you.
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