its scholars and logicians, but those texts are lost. Their literature evolved over the centuries, like other traditions of Indian philosophy, through the medieval era. The Pali and Prakrit texts of Buddhism and Jainism suggest that Ajivika theories were codified, some of which were quoted in commentaries produced by Buddhist and Jaina scholars. The main texts of the Ajivikas included the ten Purvas (eight Mahanimittas, two Maggas) and the Onpatu Katir. The Mahanimittas of Ajivikas, claims Bhagavati Sutra, was extracted from the teachings Gosala received from Mahavira, when he was a disciple. The belief of Ajivikas in absolute determinism and influence of cosmic forces led them to develop extensive sections in their Mahanimittas texts on mapping the sun, moon, planets, stars and their role in astrology and fortune telling. Influence Isaeva states that the ideas of Ajivika influenced Buddhism and various schools of Vidic. Riepe states an example of an influential Ajivika theory was its theory on atomism. Basham suggests Ajivikas may have possibly influenced the medieval era doctrines of Dvaita Vedanta sub-school of Vedic. Conflict between Ajivikas, Buddhists and Jains According to the 2nd century CE text Ashokavadana, the Mauryan emperor Bindusara and his chief queen Shubhadrangi were believers of this philosophy, which reached its peak of popularity during this time. Ashokavadana also mentions that, after his conversion to Buddhism, Bindusara's son Ashoka issued an order to kill all the Ajivikas in Pundravardhana, enraged at a picture that depicted Gautama Buddha in a negative light. Around 18,000 followers of the Ajivika sect were supposedly executed as a result of this order. The entire story may be apocryphal. An earlier Jaina text, the Bhagavati Sutra, similarly mentions a debate, disagreement and then "coming to blows" between factions led by Mahavira and by Gosala. See also Notes References originally published by Luzac & Company Ltd., London, 1951. External links Doctrines and History of the Ajivikas, University of Cumbria, UK The Ajivikas B.M. Barua (1920), University of Calcutta, West Bengal A New Account of the Relations between Mahavira and Gosala, Helen M. Johnson, The American Journal of Philology, Vol. 47, No. 1 (1926), pages 74–82 Rock-cut cave halls of Ajivikas Government of Bihar, India Ajivikas in Malhar, South Kosala, Inscriptions and artwork related to Ajivikas in Chhattisgarh, India, by Ed Murphy (Harvard Law School) Ajivakas in Manimekhalai, Rao Bahadur Aiyangar (Translated from Tamil), Madras University, pages 54–57 Asceticism Indian religions Nāstika