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The individual named in the article was a shramana of some type but more likely to have been a Jain than a Buddhist IMO. Customs such as going about naked and
by jaldhar 4y ago
The individual named in the article was a shramana of some type but more likely to have been a Jain than a Buddhist IMO. Customs such as going about naked and ritual suicide are more established amongst Jains (though not completely unknown amongst Buddhists.) The area around Baruch is a stronghold of Jainism to this day.
- dhruval 4y agoFor people that didn't make the connection, the inscription says "Zarmanochegas, of Barygaza" which is the greek name for Baruch. (an ancient port city in Western India)
- bakul 4y agoVery rarely jain monks would fast unto death (sallekhana), but not set themselves on fire, as that would be considered a form of violence. And ahimsa (non-violence) is absolutely fundamental to Jainism. Sallekhana would be somewhat akin to maha-samadhi in Hinduism (where the person leaves their body after attaining samadhi). The Śramana (श्रमण) tradition is more common in Jains but can also be in Buddhists.