Religion of the Ajivikas

Ajivikism was popular in parts of India during the 5th and 4th centuries B.C. It was founded by Gosala who preached a sharp and consistent criticism against the ways of Brahmanism, and challenged its caste structure. 

In its early stages, the Ajivikas were the main rivals to the Buddhists, because of the simplicity of the former. But this religion did not provide any plausible alternative to Brahmanism as did Buddhism, it was over taken by the latter and in course of time Ajivika’s teachings lived only in history.