Indian society at the time of Buddha had two large and distinguished religious sects, Samanas and Brahmanas. This is apparent from several passages where they are mentioned together; for instance, Vinaya, ed. Oldenberg, II, p. 295; Grimblot, Sept Suttas Palis, p. ix, 8 &c., 118 &c., 158 &c., 306 &c., 309; Dhammapada, p. 392; Suttanipata; vv. 99, 129, 189, 440, 529, 859, 1078; Sabhiyasutta, at the beginning; the Inscriptions of Asoka; Mahabhashya, II, 4, 9 (fol. 398 a); Lalita Vistara, pp. 309, l. 10, 318, l. 18, 320, l. 20; and lastly, Megasthenes (Schwanbeck, p. 45), {Greek: duo genh figodofwn, wn tous men Braxmanas kalei, tous de Sarmanas}.

Famous teachers arose and gathered around them flocks of disciples. As such are mentioned Purana-Kassapa, Makkhali-Gosala, Agita-Kesakarnbali, Pakudha-Kakkayana, Sangaya-Belatthiputta, and Nigantha-Nataputta[1]; see Suttanipata, p. 86; Mahaparinibbanasutta, ed. Childers, p. 58; Vinaya II, p. 111; Grimblot, Sept Suttas Palis, p. 114, &c.; Milindapanha, ed. Trenckner, p. 4. Besides these there is Bavari (Suttanipata, p. 184), and his disciples Agita, Tissametteyya, Punnaka, Mettagu, Dhotaka, Upasiva, Nanda,

[1. Cf. Indian Antiquary, 1880, p. 158.]

p. xiii

Hemaka, Todeyya, Kappa, Gatukannin, Bhadravudha, Udaya, Posala, Mogharagan (Pingiya, vv. 1006-1008; Sela, p. 98), and, Kankin, Tarukkha, Pokkharasati, Ganussoni, Vasettha, and Bharadvaga, p. 109.

We learn that there were four kinds of Samanas, viz. Maggaginas, Maggadesakas (or Maggadesins, Maggagghayins), Maggagivins, and Maggadusins, vv. 83-88. Among these Samanas disputes arose, vv. 828, 883-884; a number of philosophical systems were formed, and at the time of Buddha there were as many as sixty-three of them, v. 538. These systems are generally designated by ditthi, vv. 54, 151, 786, 837, 851, &c.; or by ditthigata, vv. 834, 836, 913; or by ditthasuta, v. 778; or by dittha, suta, and muta, vv. 793, 813, 914; or by dittha, suta, silavata[1], and muta, vv. 790, 797-798, 836, 887, 1080. The doctrines themselves are called ditthinivesa, v. 785; or nivesana, vv. 209, 470, 801, 846; or vinikkhaya, vv. 838, 866, 887, 894; and he who entertains any of them, is called nivissavadin, vv. 910, 913.