Kalanos, also spelled Calanus (c. 398 - 323 BCE) was a Hindu Rishi (sage), who accompanied Alexander the Great to Persis and later committed suicide by self-immolation.[1] It was from Kalanos that Alexander came to know of Dandamis, the leader of their group, whom Alexander later went to meet in the forest.[2]
He was seventy-three years of age at time of his death.[13] When the Persian weather and travel had weakened him, he informed Alexander that he would rather like to die than live as an invalid. He decided to take his life by self-immolation, a Hindu practice.[14] Although Alexander tried to dissuade him from this course of action, upon Kalanos' insistence the job of building a pyre was entrusted to Ptolemy.[13] Kalanos is mentioned also by Alexander's admirals, Nearchus and Chares of Mytilene.[4] The city where this immolation took place wasSusa in the year 323 B.C.[3][8] Kalanos distributed all the costly gifts he got from the king to the people and wore just a garland of flowers and chanted Indian hymns.[15] He presented his horse to one of his Greek pupils named Lysimachus.[16] He did not flinch as he burnt to the astonishment of those who watched.[9][17][18] Although Alexander was not personally present at time of his immolation, his last words to Alexander were We shall meet in Babylon.[14][19][20] He is said to have prophesied the death of Alexander in Babylon, even though at the time of death of Kalanos, Alexander did not have any plans to go to Babylon
He was seventy-three years of age at time of his death.[13] When the Persian weather and travel had weakened him, he informed Alexander that he would rather like to die than live as an invalid. He decided to take his life by self-immolation, a Hindu practice.[14] Although Alexander tried to dissuade him from this course of action, upon Kalanos' insistence the job of building a pyre was entrusted to Ptolemy.[13] Kalanos is mentioned also by Alexander's admirals, Nearchus and Chares of Mytilene.[4] The city where this immolation took place wasSusa in the year 323 B.C.[3][8] Kalanos distributed all the costly gifts he got from the king to the people and wore just a garland of flowers and chanted Indian hymns.[15] He presented his horse to one of his Greek pupils named Lysimachus.[16] He did not flinch as he burnt to the astonishment of those who watched.[9][17][18] Although Alexander was not personally present at time of his immolation, his last words to Alexander were We shall meet in Babylon.[14][19][20] He is said to have prophesied the death of Alexander in Babylon, even though at the time of death of Kalanos, Alexander did not have any plans to go to Babylon
The term is first used by Plutarch in the 1st century CE, when describing an encounter by Alexander the Great with ten gymnosophists near the banks of the Indus river in India - now in Pakistan.
He (Alexander) captured ten of the Gymnosophists who had done most to get Sabbas to revolt, and had made the most trouble for the Macedonians. These philosophers were reputed to be clever and concise in answering questions, and Alexander therefore put difficult questions to them, declaring that he would put to death him who first made an incorrect answer, and then the rest, in an order determined in like manner; and he commanded one of them, the oldest, to be the judge in the contest. The first one, accordingly, being asked which, in his opinion, were more numerous, the living or the dead, said that the living were, since the dead no longer existed. The second, being asked whether the earth or the sea produced larger animals, said the earth did, since the sea was but a part of the earth. The third, being asked what animal was the most cunning, said: "That which up to this time man has not discovered." The fourth, when asked why he had induced Sabbas to revolt, replied: "Because I wished him either to live nobly or to die nobly." The fifth, being asked which, in his opinion, was older, day or night, replied: "Day, by one day"; and he added, upon the king expressing amazement, that hard questions must have hard answers. Passing on, then, to the sixth, Alexander asked how a man could be most loved; "If," said the philosopher, "he is most powerful, and yet does not inspire fear." Of the three remaining, he who was asked how one might become a god instead of man, replied: "By doing something which a man cannot do"; the one who was asked which was the stronger, life or death, answered: "Life, since it supports so many ills." And the last, asked how long it were well for a man to live, answered: "Until he does not regard death as better than life." So, then, turning to the judge, Alexander bade him give his opinion. The judge declared that they had answered one worse than another. "Well, then," said Alexander, "thou shalt die first for giving such a verdict." "That cannot be, O King," said the judge, "unless thou falsely saidst that thou wouldst put to death first him who answered worst." These philosophers, then, he dismissed with gifts...—Plutarch, Life of Alexander, "The parallel lives", 64-65.[3]
Diogenes Laertius (ix. 61 and 63) refers to them, and reports that Pyrrho of Elis, the founder of pure scepticism, came under the influence of the Gymnosophists while travelling to India with Alexander, and on his return to Elis, imitated their habits of life;
In the 2nd century CE, the Christian theologian Clement of Alexandria distinguishes the Gymnosophists, the philosophers of the Indians, from the Sramanas, "the philosophers of the Bactrians":
—Clement of Alexandria, Stromata 1.15.71 (ed. Colon. 1688 p. 305, A, B).Philosophy, then, with all its blessed advantages to man, flourished long ages ago among the barbarians, diffusing its light among the gentiles, and eventually penetrated into Greece. Its hierophants were the prophets among the Egyptians, the Chaldeans among the Assyrians, the Druids among the Galatians, the Sramanas of theBactrians, and the philosophers of the Celts, the Magi among the Persians who announced beforehand the birth of the Saviour, being led by a star till they arrived in the land of Judaea, and among the Indians the Gymnosophists, and other philosophers of barbarous nations.
Gymnosophists (Greek γυμνοσοφισταί, gymnosophistai, i.e. "naked philosophers" or "naked sophists")[1][2] is the name given by the Greeks to certain ancient Indian philosophers who pursued asceticism to the point of regarding food and clothing as detrimental to purity of thought (sadhusor yogis) and also even naked priests from Ethiopia.[2]
Contents
[hide]Ancient accounts[edit]
The term is first used by Plutarch in the 1st century CE, when describing an encounter by Alexander the Great with ten gymnosophists near the banks of the Indus river in India - now in Pakistan.
Diogenes Laertius (ix. 61 and 63) refers to them, and reports that Pyrrho of Elis, the founder of pure scepticism, came under the influence of the Gymnosophists while travelling to India with Alexander, and on his return to Elis, imitated their habits of life; however, the extent of their influence is not described.
Strabo says that gymnosophists were religious people among the Indians (XVI,I), and otherwise divides Indian philosophers into Brahmans andSramanas (XV,I,59-60), following the accounts of Megasthenes. He further divides the Sramanas into "Hylobioi" (forest hermits, c.f. Aranyaka) and "Physicians."
Philo mentions the Gymnosophists twice in the course of listing foreign ascetics and philosophers who are, in his estimation, "prudent, and just, and virtuous" and therefore truly free:
In the 2nd century CE, the Christian theologian Clement of Alexandria distinguishes the Gymnosophists, the philosophers of the Indians, from the Sramanas, "the philosophers of the Bactrians":
Classification[edit]
The Greek word gymnosophist literally meant 'naked sage' of 'naked sophist'.[2]
Indian[edit]
The gymnosophists that the Greeks encountered in 3rd Century B.C. at town of Taxila in Ancient India, which was an ancient center of Vedic & Buddhist learning, were probably an old sect of HinduNaga sadhus.[citation needed] The naked saints, whom Alexander met, have often been mistaken asJain Digambara, who preach of non-violence.[citation needed][4][5][6] The Naga sadhus (Naked Saints)[nb 1], are often called Indian gymnosophists.[7][8][9] They are mostly worshipers of Shiva[10]and carry Trishula, swords and even other weapons. They were known for taking arms for defending faith. They have the right to lead the procession at Kumbh Melas.[7][7][11]
One such noted gymnosophist was Calanus. He later self-immolated whilst chanting vedic mantras in a Hindu rite.[12][13] Before immolation, he is said to have prophesied the death of Alexander at Babylon.[14][15]
Another noted gymnosophist by Greeks was Dandamis, a Brahmin and the guru of Calanus. Alexander later learned Indian philosophy from him.[16]
| “ | For the polity of the Indians being distributed into many parts, there is one tribe among them of men divinely wise, whom the Greeks are accustomed to call Gymnosophists. But of these there are two sects, over one of which the Bramins preside, but over the other the Samanaeans. The race of the Bramins, however, receive divine wisdom of this kind by succession, in the same manner as the priesthood. But the Samanaeans are elected, and consist of those who wish to possess divine knowledge. | ” |
Also the Brachmanes[2] or Bragmanes,[18] which are identified with Brahmanas of Vedic religion remained unclothed and even Porphyry mentions they lived on milk and fruits have been identified as Gymnosophists.[2]
Similarly, the ancient Shramanas,[2] which included the Digambar sect of Jain monks, the Buddhist priests, who also remain unclothed. They have been identified also with gymnosophists by researchers.[2][19][20][21]