[INDOLOGY] Seven types of ascetics

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 00:34:26 -0700

In his Bṛhajjātaka, Varāhamihira lists seven types of ascetics corresponding to the seven planets: /śākyājīvikabhikṣuvṛddhacarakā nirgranthavanyāśanāḥ/. A few centuries later, the commentator Bhaṭṭotpala elaborates slightly on these, citing the authorities Vaṅkālakācārya (writing in Prakrit) and Satyācārya. These passages are discussed in Basham's /History and Doctrines of the Ājīvikas/ (p. 168 ff., giving the Prakrit author's name as Kālakācārya). I am wondering if any further research on these ascetic categories has been published after Basham's book, which is now more than 70 years old. In particular, I am curious about the categories vṛddha (identified by Bhaṭṭotpala as Kāpālikas) and caraka (which he says are cakradharas). All suggestions are welcome. 

Best wishes,
Martin Gansten

_______________________________________________
INDOLOGY mailing list
[email protected]
https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology






















					Reply via email to