Ajiva refers to the means of livelihood or a way of life. In modern parlance, it refers to how one leads his or her life—for instance, as a cobbler, mathematician, teacher, philosopher, or doctor. Ajiva came to be known as “Ajivika” or the Indian philosophy, where one leads a life—just to survive in this world, and not with an intent to attain an after-life. Ajivikas were a community that believed in the aspect of fate or absolute determinism and made no effort to attain salvation, through concerted efforts. The movement is said to have been led by Makkhali Gosala, a contemporary of Buddha and Mahavira, during the fifth century BC. Makkali is credited with giving wings to this wave, though this movement is found to have acceptance even before.
Both Buddhists and Jains have been known to show interest in this philosophy. The belief accentuated that nothing happens on one’s own will and everything is preordained through an undefined Supreme Force, or Cosmos. The concept of Karma was never accepted by Ajivika practitioners. They were atheistic in their outlook. They did not support the theory that there was a specific deity or “God” who created the universe, or that, in the end, every being found a mystical “point of no return.” However, they did believe in the existence of the soul. They were convinced that the soul goes through several births and deaths and eventually, transforms into Nirvana or salvation.
Though the movement attained prominence at Ayodhya, it slowly began to lose momentum, except in south India. However, it did spread to other parts of Asia.