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Introduction

Makkhali Gosala was one of the most prominent religious teachers of 6th century BCE India, a period marked by philosophical ferment and the rise of heterodox schools that challenged the authority of the Vedas. A contemporary of Lord Mahavira and Gautama Buddha, Gosala is best remembered as the founder of the Ajivika sect, which believed in a strict doctrine of fatalism and determinism. His ideas played an important role in the religious landscape of ancient India, offering an alternative worldview to both Vedic ritualism and the paths of Buddhism and Jainism.

Early Life

The details of Makkhali Gosala’s life are preserved in fragmentary accounts found in Buddhist and Jain texts. He was born around the 6th century BCE in a humble family. Some traditions state that his father was a man named Mankha, who was an ascetic or sometimes described as a cowherd. Gosala is said to have been born in a cowshed, which is why he was named “Gosala,” meaning “cow-shed.” This humble beginning later became symbolic of his rejection of social hierarchies and worldly attachments.

Despite limited information, what is clear is that Gosala grew up in a society where new religious and philosophical movements were constantly emerging. The questioning of ritual sacrifices, caste hierarchies, and the authority of the Brahmins created fertile ground for thinkers like Gosala to propose their doctrines.

Association with Mahavira

One of the most fascinating aspects of Makkhali Gosala’s life is his connection with Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism. According to Jain texts such as the Bhagavati Sutra, Gosala was initially a companion and disciple of Mahavira. They are said to have traveled together for nearly six years, practicing austerities and engaging in philosophical discussions.

However, their paths diverged sharply due to fundamental differences in their beliefs. While Mahavira emphasized the importance of individual effort (Purushartha) and karma in shaping destiny, Gosala leaned toward a rigid doctrine of fate (Niyati). This ideological conflict eventually led to their separation, and Gosala went on to establish his own sect, the Ajivikas.

Teachings of Makkhali Gosala

The central doctrine of Makkhali Gosala was Niyativada, the belief in fate or destiny as the absolute governing principle of the universe. According to him:

• Everything in life is preordained.
• Human effort, morality, or ascetic practices cannot change one’s destiny.
• Pleasure and pain, life and death, success and failure occur solely according to fate.

This made Gosala’s philosophy deeply deterministic. Unlike the Buddhists and Jains, who emphasized karma and ethical responsibility, Gosala denied that one’s actions could alter future outcomes. For him, the cycle of birth and death was fixed, and liberation (moksha) would occur automatically when the destined time arrived, not through effort or discipline.

Another notable aspect of Ajivika philosophy was its atomistic theory. Gosala and his followers believed that the universe was composed of tiny, indivisible particles and that cosmic processes unfolded automatically according to fixed laws of nature.

The Ajivika Sect

The Ajivikas, founded by Makkhali Gosala, became a significant religious order in ancient India. Although the sect eventually declined and disappeared by the early medieval period, during its height it was influential and even received royal patronage.

Ajivikas were known for their strict ascetic practices, including nudity, renunciation, and endurance of hardships. Despite their deterministic worldview, they lived lives of extreme discipline, which often drew comparison with Jain monks.

King Ashoka, the Mauryan emperor, is said to have supported the Ajivikas alongside Buddhists and Jains, granting them caves such as the Barabar Caves in Bihar for their ascetic practices.

Significance and Legacy

Makkhali Gosala holds an important place in Indian intellectual history. His philosophy of determinism forced other schools of thought—such as Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism—to clarify their own positions on fate, free will, and the law of karma.

While his doctrine may appear pessimistic to some, it also highlighted the limitations of human control and the need for acceptance of life’s circumstances. His sect, the Ajivikas, though now extinct, contributed to the diversity of spiritual ideas in ancient India and shaped debates on metaphysics, ethics, and cosmology.

Today, Gosala is remembered as a radical thinker who represented one of the earliest systematic expressions of determinism in world philosophy.

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FAQs on Makkhali Gosala

Q1. Who was Makkhali Gosala?
Makkhali Gosala was an ancient Indian philosopher and founder of the Ajivika sect. He was a contemporary of Lord Mahavira and Gautama Buddha, known for his doctrine of strict fatalism.

Q2. What is the central teaching of Makkhali Gosala?
His central teaching was Niyativada, or the belief that everything is predetermined by fate. According to him, human effort and morality cannot change one’s destiny.

Q3. Was Makkhali Gosala associated with Mahavira?
Yes, Gosala traveled with Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, for six years before they parted ways due to differences in philosophy.

Q4. What were the practices of the Ajivikas?
Ajivikas practiced extreme asceticism, including nudity, renunciation, fasting, and endurance of hardships. Despite their deterministic outlook, they lived disciplined and austere lives.

Q5. Does the Ajivika sect still exist today?
No, the Ajivika sect gradually declined and disappeared by the early medieval period, though it was once influential and even supported by rulers like Emperor Ashoka.

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Conclusion

Makkhali Gosala was a revolutionary thinker who proposed a worldview rooted in fatalism and determinism. While his philosophy may seem at odds with ideas of free will and karma, it played a crucial role in shaping the intellectual debates of ancient India. His Ajivika sect, though extinct today, remains an important reminder of the diversity of thought and the rich philosophical heritage of India.

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