Indian Ascetics as observed by the Greeks in 4th century BCE
India, in the fourth century BC, and indeed , since the rise of Jainism and Buddhism in the fifth century BCE had been noted for the multiplicity of its schools and sects of ascetics.
Their forerunners were the wandering ascetics of the Vedic days , the ' Charakas', and, later, the 'Parivrajakas', followed by pre-Buddhistic sects like 'Ajvikās' ( who went about naked), the 'Nirgranthas' ( of scanty clothing) , the 'Jatilakas', and the like.
The Greeks who invaded India, under Alexander between 327-325 BCE, have left an account of their impressions on these ascetics.
The works of Arrian, Plutarch, et al provide an important information on the meetings between the Greeks and the Indian ascetics.
At the time of Alexander's invasion in 326 BCE, the Greeks saw the Indian ascetics at Taxila.
As they won't care to see Alexander, Alexander sent them a person called Onesicritus, who reports that he saw a group of ascetics 15 km from Taxila.
On being told that the Greek king wanted to learn their wisdom, one of them bluntly stated that ” no one coming in the way of European clothes could earn their wisdom.
"To do that , he must strip naked and learn to sit on the hot stones besides them.”
The leader or Guru of these ascetics is named by Greeks as Dandamis, an unbending idealist, who did not care to see Alexander even on the pain of death and sent his reply in noble words:
"God alone is the object of my homage. Alexander is not God since he must taste death. I have no fear or favour to ask. What Alexander can offer me is utter useless."
"The things that I prize are these leaves which are my house, these blooming plants, which supply me food. Having nothing which requires gardening, I have tranquil slumber, whereas had I gold to guard, that would banish sleep."
"The Brahmins neither love gold nor fear death.. "
These words truly represent the philosophy of life followed by ascetics of India in all ages up to this day, believing in 'Chittavritii nirodha, meaning. 'withdrawal of mind from the objective world of matter', as the foundation of religious life & spirituality of man.
It is to be noted that the Greeks did not find any Buddhist monks in NW India.
It is strange that Buddhism existed at least two centuries before Alexander's invasion, and yet we see no reference to Buddhists in the Greek accounts.
Either Buddhism wasn't there at all at the time in NW or the appearance & manners of its followers were not so peculiar as to enable a foreigner to distinguish them from the mass of the people.
Source: Chandragupta Maurya & his times by Dr. R. K. Mookerji
Pics credit @Columbia
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