Gymnosophists

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Gymnosophists

(Gr.)

The name given by Hellenic writers to a class of naked or “air‐clad” mendicants; ascetics in India, extremely learned and endowed with great mystic powers. It is easy to recognise in these gymnosophists the Hindu Aranyaka of old, the learned yogis and ascetic‐ philosophers who retired to the jungle and forest, there to reach, through great austerities, superhuman knowledge and experience (TG).

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Shortly: The name given by Hellenic writers to a class of naked or “air‐clad” mendicants; ascetics in India, ...