With reference to ancient Indian religious history, the term Parivrajaka refers to which one of the following? |ForumIAS

[A] Hereditary landholders responsible for collecting royal revenue in the Mauryan period

[B] Wandering ascetics or renunciants who gave up household life to seek spiritual truth

[C] Chief patrons who financed the construction of monolithic Ashokan pillars

[D] Guild commanders supervising inland trade routes in early medieval South India

Answer: B

Notes:

Explanation:

Option (b) is correct: Parivrajaka (in Sanskrit) or Paribbajaka (in Pali) refers to homeless wanderers and ascetics who severed domestic ties to pursue spiritual liberation, intellectual enquiry, and philosophical debate outside orthodox Brahmanical householder life.