Calanus

• an Indian philosopher (gymnosophist) in the time of Alexander the Great, who, in old age, burned himself on a funeral pile, Cic. Tusc. 2, 22, 52; id. Div. 1, 23, 47; 1, 30, 65; Val. Max. 1, 8, ext. 10.

(Κάλανος), one of the so-called gymnosophists of India, who followed the Macedonian army from Taxila at the desire of Alexander the Great; but when he was taken ill afterwards, he refused to change his mode of living, and in order to get rid of the sufferings of human life altogether, he solemnly burnt himself on a pyre in the presence of the whole Macedonian army, without evincing any symptom of pain. (Arrian, Arr. Anab. 7.2, &c.; Aelian, Ael. VH 2.41, 5.6; Plut. Alex. 69; Strab. xv. p.686; Diod. 17.107 ; Athen. 10.437; Lucian, De M. Pereg. 25 ; Cic. Tusc. 2.22, De Divinat. 1.22, 30; V. Max. 1.8, Ext. 10.) His real name was, according to Plutarch (Plut. Alex. 65), Sphines, and he received the name Calanus among the Greeks, because in saluting persons he used the form καλέ instead of the Greek χαῖπε. What Plutarch here calls καλέ is probably the Sanscrit form calyána, which is commonly used in addressing a person, and signifies good, just, or distinguished. Josephus (c. Apion. i. p. 484) states, that all the Indian philosophers were called Κάλανοι, but this statement is without any foundation, and is probably a mere invention. (Lassen, in the Rhein. Museum. für Philol. i. p. 176.) [L.S]

(Κάλανος). A celebrated Indian philosopher, one of the gymnosophists. He followed Alexander from India, and, becoming ill when they had reached Persia, he desired to have his funeral pile erected. Having offered up his prayers, poured libations upon himself, and cut off part of his hair and thrown it into the fire, he ascended the pile, and did not move at the approach of the flames. Plutarch says that, in taking leave of the Macedonians, he desired them to spend the day in merriment and drinking with their king, “for I shall see him,” said he, “in a little while at Babylon.” Alexander died in Babylon three months after this. Calanus was in his eighty-third year when he burned himself on the funeral pile. See Cic. De Div. i. 23; Arrian, Anab. vii. 2, 4; Plut. Vit. Alex.; Aelian, V. H. ii. 41, 5, 6; Val. Max. i. 8.