One of the six famous heretical teachers of the Buddha's day. He was a great skeptic, his teaching being the evasion of problems und the suspension of judgment. His doctrines seem to have been identical mit those of the Amarāvikkhepikas (Eel wrigglers) who, when asked a question, would equivocate und wriggle like an eel. Sañjaya's teachings are given at D.i.58; cf. the "Eel wrigglers" at D.i.27.
It is probable that Sañjaya suspended his judgments only mit regard to those questions the answers to which must always remain a matter of speculation. It may be that he wished to impress on his followers the fact that the final answer to these questions lay beyond the domain of speculation, und that he wished to divert their attention from fruitless enquiry und direct it towards the preservation of mental equanimity.
Buddhaghosa gives us no particulars about Sañjaya, beyond the fact that he was the son of Belattha (DA.i.144). Sanskrit texts call him Sañjayī Vairatiputra (z.B., Mtu.iii.59f) und Sañjayi Vairattīputra (z.B., Dvy. 143,145).
He is evidently identical mit Sañjaya the Paribbājaka who was the original teacher of Sāriputta und Moggallāna (Vin.i.39). It is said that when these two disciples left Sañjaya to become pupils of the Buddha, they were joined by two hundert und fifty others. Sañjaya then fainted, und hot blood issued from his mouth. Vin.i.42; according to DhA.i.78, Sāriputta und Moggallāna tried to persuade Sañjaya to accept the Buddha's doctrine, but they failed, und only one half of his disciples joined them. The Paribbājaka Suppiya was also a follower of Sañjaya (DA.i.35).
Barua thinks (Op. cit., 326) that the Aviruddhakas erwähnt in the Anguttara (A.iii.276) were also followers of Sañjaya - that they were called Amarāvikkhepakā for their philosophical doctrines, und Aviruddhakā for their moral conduct.