A general term for homeless religious mendicants who literally “roam around”; in Buddhist usage the term refers to non-Buddhist peripatetic ascetics, including Jains and others.

A generic designation for the group of non-Buddhist mendicants of various religious outlooks, who lived as wandering spiritual seekers in India during the time of the Buddha.

A specific order of mendicants, or a general term for homeless religious mendicants who, literally, “roam around.” In Buddhist usage the term can refer to non-Buddhist peripatetic ascetics including Jains and others.

A non-Buddhist religious practitioner who “roams around.”

An umbrella term for the class of wandering religious ascetics of diverse religious persuasions that were common at the time of the Buddha.

A religious mendicant; in Buddhist texts this is often paired with caraka in stock lists of followers of non-Buddhist ascetic traditions.

A general term for homeless religious mendicants who, literally, “roam around”; in Buddhist usage the term refers to non-Buddhist peripatetic ascetics including Jains and others.

Evidently a general term for homeless religious mendicants who, literally, “roam around”; in Buddhist usage the term refers to non-Buddhist peripatetic ascetics including Jains and others.

A class of traveling ascetics (both male and female) who held a variety of differing non-Buddhist views.

“Wandering mendicant,” parivrājaka (Sanskrit, wanderer; Pāli, paribbājaka). Refers to a class of Indian religious mendicants holding a variety of beliefs who wandered in India from ancient times, including during the time of the Buddha. These peripatetic ascetics, who included women in their number, engaged with one another in debate on a range of topics. Some of their metaphysical views are presented in the early Buddhist discourses of the Pāli Canon.

A non-Buddhist religious mendicant, lit. who “roams around.”

A non-Buddhist religious practitioner who has no fixed residence.

A specific order of mendicants, or a general term for homeless religious mendicants who, literally, “roam around”; in Buddhist usage the term can refer to non-Buddhist peripatetic ascetics including Jains and others.

See also “religious mendicant.”

According to the Āpastamba Dharmasūtra (ca. fourth–fifth c. ʙᴄᴇ), someone who has completed the Brahmanical studentship (Skt. brahmacarya) may go on to live as a wandering mendicant. According to The Chapter on Going Forth, Śāriputra’s brother, Koṣṭhila, became a wandering mendicant among the Lokāyata ascetics of the south where he was known as Dīrghanakha. Later, on returning to Magadha, he went to see his brother and the Buddha, who gave a discourse on nonself that served as the catalyst for the awakening of both Śāriputra and Koṣṭhila. See The Chapter on Going Forth (Toh 1, ch. 1), UT22084-001-001-633-UT22084-001-001-690.

Wandering religious practitioners or śramaṇa, usually referring to non-Buddhists.

Literally, “one who wanders around.” An umbrella term for the class of wandering religious ascetics of diverse religious persuasions who were common at the time of the Buddha.

See also “parivrājaka.”

Pali paribbājaka. Refers to a class of Indian religious mendicants holding a variety of beliefs who wandered in India from ancient times, including during the time of the Buddha. These peripatetic ascetics, who included women in their number, engaged with one another in debate on a range of topics. Some of their metaphysical views are presented in the early Buddhist discourses of the Pali Canon.