One of the six famous heretical teachers of the Buddha's day. He was a great skeptic, his teaching being the evasion of problems and the suspension of judgment. His doctrines seem to have been identical with those of the Amarávikkhepikas (Eel wrigglers) who, when asked a question, would equivocate and wriggle like an eel. Sańjaya's teachings are given at D.i.58; cf. the "Eel wrigglers" at D.i.27.
It is probable that Sańjaya suspended his judgments only with 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, and that he wished to divert their attention from fruitless enquiry and direct it towards the preservation of mental equanimity.
Buddhaghosa gives us no particulars about Sańjaya, beyond the fact that he was the son of Belattha (DA.i.144). Sanskrit texts call him Sańjayí Vairatiputra (E.g., Mtu.iii.59f) and Sańjayi Vairattíputra (E.g., Dvy. 143,145).
He is evidently identical with Sańjaya the Paribbájaka who was the original teacher of Sáriputta and Moggallána (Vin.i.39). It is said that when these two disciples left Sańjaya to become pupils of the Buddha, they were joined by two hundred and fifty others. Sańjaya then fainted, and hot blood issued from his mouth. Vin.i.42; according to DhA.i.78, Sáriputta and Moggallána tried to persuade Sańjaya to accept the Buddha's doctrine, but they failed, and only one half of his disciples joined them. The Paribbájaka Suppiya was also a follower of Sańjaya (DA.i.35).
Barua thinks (Op. cit., 326) that the Aviruddhakas mentioned in the Anguttara (A.iii.276) were also followers of Sańjaya - that they were called Amarávikkhepaká for their philosophical doctrines, and Aviruddhaká for their moral conduct.