Ajivika

 It was a school of thought that developed in India during the same time as
Jainism and Buddhism
 It is one of the schools under Nastika philosophy (it does not believe in the
authority of Vedas)
 It was founded by Goshala Maskariputra (He is considered to be friends with
Mahavira)
 The sect is as seen as professing total determinism in the transmigration of
souls, or series of rebirths.
 Whereas other groups believed that an individual can better his or her lot in
the course of transmigration, the Ajivikas supposedly held that the affairs of
the entire universe were ordered by a cosmic force called niyati that
determined all events, including an individual’s fate, to the last detail
 Ajivikas also believe that all change was illusory and that everything was
eternally immobile.
 This school of thought gained prominence for some time during Mauryan rule.

Later Vedic Age - Religion

 Early Vedic gods such as Indra and Agni lost their significance.
 During the Later Vedic era, Prajapathi (the creator), Vishnu (the
protector), and Rudra (the destroyer) rose to prominence.
 Sacrifices remained significant, and the rites associated with them grew
more intricate.
 Prayers became less important as sacrifices became more important.
Priesthood became a profession, and it became hereditary.
 The priestly elite created and elaborated on sacrificial formulas.
 As a result, at the conclusion of this time, there was a significant
pushback against priestly rule as well as sacrifices and rites.
 These elaborate sacrifices were directly responsible for the emergence
of Buddhism and Jainism.
 Furthermore, the writers of the Upanishads, the heart of Hindu
philosophy, rejected needless rituals in favour of pure knowledge (jnana)
for serenity and salvation.