Ajivika was an ancient Indian philosophical and religious movement that emerged around the 5th century BCE. It is often associated with the teachings of Makkhali Gosala, who emphasized a deterministic worldview, suggesting that everything in life is predetermined by fate. The Ajivikas believed in the concept of Niyati, or fate, which meant that human actions had little influence on the outcomes of life. The Ajivika sect was known for its ascetic practices and rejection of the Vedic rituals prevalent in Hinduism. They advocated for a lifestyle of renunciation and meditation, focusing on the idea that liberation could be achieved through understanding the nature of fate and existence. The movement eventually declined, overshadowed by the rise of Buddhism and Jainism.