Calanus (person)

Calanus was one of a group of ascetics encamped near Taxila at the time of Alexander the Great conquests of India. Upon Alexander's invitation he joined him in the city and later accompanied him back to the west. There, in Persia he suffered from pneumonia and decided to take his own life by immolating himself than be an encumbrance upon others. Calanus doctrinal persuasion is uncertain but he may have been Jain as indicated by his nudity and meticulous respect for life.

External links

* [http://www.livius.org/caa-can/calanus/calanus.html Livius.org: Calanus]

References

* Keay, John: "India: A History", (New York: Grove Press, 2001).