The question asks about ancient Indian philosophical sects and their core beliefs, specifically focusing on the concept of predestination.

Understanding Ancient Indian Philosophical Beliefs

Ancient India was home to diverse philosophical schools and religious sects, each with unique views on cosmology, ethics, liberation (moksha or nirvana), and the nature of reality, including the role of fate versus free will or karma.

Analyzing the Sects and Their Beliefs

Let's examine the beliefs of the sects listed in the options:

• Jainism: Jainism emphasizes the principle of Karma. Jains believe that an individual's actions (karma) are the primary determinant of their future state and rebirths. While past actions influence the present, present actions and intentions are crucial for shaping the future and achieving liberation. This involves significant individual effort and ascetic practices. Therefore, Jainism does not believe that everything is rigidly predetermined from the start, but rather that outcomes are a result of the accumulation and shedding of karma through one's own actions.
• Buddhism: Similar to Jainism, Buddhism places great importance on Karma (Pali: Kamma). The doctrine of Dependent Origination (Pratītyasamutpāda) explains causality, where events arise based on preceding conditions. While past karma influences the present, the path to liberation (Nirvana) involves understanding the Four Noble Truths and following the Eightfold Path, which requires individual effort and conscious action. Buddhism teaches that individuals have the capacity to change their destiny through ethical conduct, meditation, and wisdom. Hence, it does not adhere to absolute predestination.
• Ajivikas: The Ajivika sect, founded by Makkhali Gosala, is known for its strict deterministic philosophy called Niyati. The Ajivikas believed that the cosmic process and the destiny of every being, including their suffering and eventual liberation, are absolutely predetermined and governed by an impersonal force called Niyati (fate or destiny). They taught that individual effort or action (karma) has no influence on the outcome. Everything that happens is believed to be fixed and inevitable, unfolding according to a grand cosmic plan. This belief that 'everything is predetermined' is the defining characteristic of the Ajivika philosophy.
• Lokayatas (Charvaka): The Lokayata school, also known as Charvaka, was a materialistic and atheistic school of thought. They rejected concepts like karma, rebirth, soul (in the traditional sense), and any form of divine or predetermined destiny. Their philosophy focused on direct perception as the only valid source of knowledge and advocated for living life based on sensory pleasure. They did not subscribe to a belief in spiritual predestination.

Comparing Beliefs Regarding Fate and Action

To clarify the distinctions, let's summarize the general stance on fate or predestination:

Based on this analysis, the sect that explicitly believed that 'everything is predetermined' is the Ajivikas, with their doctrine of Niyati.

Revision Table: Ancient Indian Sects

Additional Information: Ajivika Philosophy and Niyati

The Ajivika school was a prominent ascetic movement in ancient India, contemporary with early Buddhism and Jainism. Their most distinctive doctrine was Niyati, the belief in absolute determinism. According to the Ajivikas, beings must pass through a fixed series of existences, predetermined down to the smallest detail, regardless of their actions. Liberation was not achieved through moral conduct or asceticism but occurred automatically after completing the cosmic cycle dictated by Niyati. This fatalistic view contrasted sharply with the doctrines of karma and individual agency central to Jainism and Buddhism.