Gymnosophists
Also called: Naked philosophers · Topic: The Mauryan Empire · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 5 "The Rise of Empires"
Meaning
"Gymnosophists" means "naked philosophers". It was the Greek name for the Indian ascetic sages (holy men who gave up worldly life) whom Alexander met in northwest India. They may have been Jain or Brahmin ascetics. Historians see their meeting with Alexander as an early meeting of Greek and Indian thought.
Example
During his campaign of 327-325 BCE, Alexander tested these sages with riddles and threatened them with death for wrong answers. They answered calmly. One question was "Which is stronger, life or death?" The reply was: "Life, because it endures while death does not." According to Greek tradition, Alexander was impressed and spared them.
Don't confuse with
- Dhamma mahāmattas: these were Ashoka's officers, whose job was to spread dhamma (his moral code). They were not ascetic philosophers.