Who founded Ajivika Sect ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:

The correct answer is Makkhali Gosala. The Ajivika sect was one of the prominent non-Vedic ascetic movements that arose in India around the same time as Buddhism and Jainism (6th century BCE). Makkhali Gosala, also known as Goshala Maskariputra, is universally recognized as the founder and primary philosophical proponent of this sect. The central doctrine of the Ajivika philosophy was Niyati, or fatalism, which held that human destiny and all events in the universe were strictly predetermined by an impersonal cosmic force. Therefore, individual effort (karma) or free will had no real bearing on a person's life or ultimate liberation, as everything was fixed. This fatalistic worldview distinguished Ajivikas sharply from the teachings of Mahavira (Jainism) and Buddha, both of whom emphasized the importance of ethical conduct and individual effort. Makkhali Gosala was initially a companion of Mahavira before they separated due to doctrinal differences, and he went on to establish the Ajivika order, which flourished for several centuries and was even patronized by early Mauryan emperors like Ashoka (who dedicated cave dwellings to them).

The incorrect option is 2:
Kapila is traditionally credited with founding the Samkhya school of Hindu philosophy, one of the oldest orthodox systems in India. Samkhya deals with the dualism of Purusha (consciousness) and Prakriti (matter), and is entirely separate from the fatalistic doctrines of the Ajivika sect.

The incorrect option is 3:
Panini was an ancient Sanskrit philologist, grammarian, and scholar from the 4th century BCE. He is famous for writing the *Ashtadhyayi*, a seminal work on Sanskrit grammar, and is in no way associated with the foundation or doctrines of the Ajivika religious movement.

The incorrect option is 4:
Agastya is a revered Vedic sage (Rishi) in Hindu tradition, particularly prominent in South Indian legends and literature. He is considered the father of Tamil literature and is a mythical figure, but he did not found the historical Ajivika sect.