Apparently the Greek historian Porphyry said that in India, kings provided support for the children of ascetics (samaṇa). I’m not aware of any such custom attested in Indian sources. Am I missing something?
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Kumarakassapa was the son of a bhikkhuni and was named Kassapa the Prince because he was raised by a member of the royal family.
The mother was ordained not knowing she was pregnant.
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Huh, okay.
The specifics are a little different. This seems to be referring not to an occasional adoption but to a regular practice of material support of such children. It also extends to children they had before ordaining. A kind of state child-support for children of ascetics.
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