- - Rise of Territorial Kingdoms and New Religious Sects water, wind and sense. After death, these elements return to the earth. There is no life after death. He said, “Generosity is taught by idiots.
The words of those who speak of existence after death are false, empty chatter. With the breakup of the body, the wise and the foolish alike are annihilated, destroyed. They do not exist after death.” Ajivikas in Tamil Land Manimekalai, Nilakesi and Sivagnanasiddhiyar have references to Ajivika doctrine. Nilakesi’s quest for truth takes her to Buddha and Puranan.
Puranan was the leader of the Ajivika sect. The Cholas are known to have levied a tax on the Ajivikas. Lokayata and Carvaka The term “lokayata” signifies materialist thought. Indian materialism has also been named Carvaka after one of the two founders of the school.
Carvaka and Ajita Kesakambalin are said to have established Indian materialism as a formal philosophical system. Carvakas developed the concept of scepticism and believed in the pursuit of knowledge through experience. They questioned the authority of Vedas. Rivalry among Heterodox Sects There was intense rivalry among the various heterodox sects.
This is evident from the various religious accounts of the period. Buddhist and Jaina texts not only mention other heterodox sects but also belittle them. For example, Bhagavatisutra , a Jaina text, provides a poor account of Makkhali Gosala. Buddhagosa also ridicules Gosala in his commentaries.
A Buddhist Jataka story “compares the heretics with the fire-flies, whose faint light faded before the rising glory of the sun, i.e., the Buddha”.