LECTURE CONCLUDED: THE BEGINNINGS OF JAINISM AND ITS RELATION TO THE AJIVIKAS BY PROF. PIOTR BALCEROWICZ
Prof. Piotr Balcerowicz delivered the 21st lecture in ISJS's online lecture series on the Beginnings of Jainism
and its relation to the Ajivikas on Monday, April 28, 2025.
The session focused on understanding the early history of Jainism, which, though often derived from traditional Jain sources, gains deeper clarity when examined alongside Ajivikism—a once-prominent but now forgotten religious system of ancient South Asia (4th–1st centuries BCE). It highlights how early Jain asceticism, scriptures, rituals, philosophy, and logic were influenced by the Ajivikas. It also explored the historical connections between Mahavira Vardhamana and Goshala Mankhaliputra, a notable Ajivika leader referenced in Jain and Buddhist texts.
The speaker, Prof. Piotr Balcerowicz, University of Warsaw, specializes in the history, culture, and philosophical traditions of Asia and the West. He teaches Sanskrit, Prakrits, Pali, Indian philosophy, and Indian religions. His publications include more than 130 papers and around 30 authored, co-authored, or edited volumes.
The session was chaired by Dr. Shugan C Jain, Founder and President of ISJS. He is BE, MS, MA, and PhD and has worked as a Management and Information Technology consultant and entrepreneur in the USA, the Netherlands, and India. Dr. Jain has published more than 50 papers and has delivered lectures worldwide on Jainism. By founding ISJS, he introduced academic studies of Jainism and Prakrit in global universities.
Click here for the recording of the lecture
Click here for the previous lectures
The session focused on understanding the early history of Jainism, which, though often derived from traditional Jain sources, gains deeper clarity when examined alongside Ajivikism—a once-prominent but now forgotten religious system of ancient South Asia (4th–1st centuries BCE). It highlights how early Jain asceticism, scriptures, rituals, philosophy, and logic were influenced by the Ajivikas. It also explored the historical connections between Mahavira Vardhamana and Goshala Mankhaliputra, a notable Ajivika leader referenced in Jain and Buddhist texts.
The speaker, Prof. Piotr Balcerowicz, University of Warsaw, specializes in the history, culture, and philosophical traditions of Asia and the West. He teaches Sanskrit, Prakrits, Pali, Indian philosophy, and Indian religions. His publications include more than 130 papers and around 30 authored, co-authored, or edited volumes.
The session was chaired by Dr. Shugan C Jain, Founder and President of ISJS. He is BE, MS, MA, and PhD and has worked as a Management and Information Technology consultant and entrepreneur in the USA, the Netherlands, and India. Dr. Jain has published more than 50 papers and has delivered lectures worldwide on Jainism. By founding ISJS, he introduced academic studies of Jainism and Prakrit in global universities.
Click here for the recording of the lecture
Click here for the previous lectures
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