Dandamis
{{short description|Indian philosopher of the 4th century B.C.}}
{{use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox theologian
| tradition_movement = Kalanos
|era = 4th century B.C.
}}
Dandamis (presumably Greek rendering of "Dandayan-Svami"){{cite book|title=Ancient Indian History and Civilization |year=1999 |pages=128 |isbn=9788122411980 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wk4_ICH_g1EC&q=dandamis+dandi&pg=PA128 |last1=Sen |first1=Sailendra Nath|publisher=New Age International }} was a philosopher, swami and gymnosophist whom Alexander encountered in the woods near Taxila, when he invaded India in 4th century B.C. He is also referred to as Mandanes.{{cite book|title=The Sháhnáma of Firdausí |year=2001 |pages=61–62, 422, 430|isbn=9780415245432 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CixkKv_ywoMC&q=dandamis |last1=Warner |first1=Arthur George|last2=Warner|first2=Edmond|publisher=Psychology Press }} He was guru of Kalanos, the noted gymnosophist, who accompanied Alexander to Persis.
Biography
When Alexander met some gymnosophists, who were of trouble to him, he learned that their leader was the Brahmin Dandamis,{{cite book |author=Charity Seraphina Fields |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bgHuDL0ONWEC&pg=PA39 |title=Battle Against Infinity |publisher=Lieutenant of Charity |year=2012 |isbn=978-1-300-05921-9 |pages=39– |accessdate=25 May 2016}}{{Dead link|date=January 2024|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}{{cite book |author=Tristram Stuart |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IRXZCFzEIgIC&pg=PA43 |title=The Bloodless Revolution: Radical Vegetarians and the Discovery of India |date=18 October 2012 |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers |isbn=978-0-00-740492-6 |pages=43– |accessdate=25 May 2016}} who lived in the jungle, lying naked on leaves, near a water spring.[https://books.google.com/books?id=BZIPAQAAIAAJ&q=dandamis+alexander Prabudhha Bharata by Vivekannda Swami, page 30 & 386]
He then sent Onescratus to bring Dandamis to him. When Onescratus encountered Dandamis in forest, he gave him the message, that "Alexander, the Great son of Zeus, has ordered him to come to him. He will give you gold and other rewards but if you refuse, he may behead you." When Dandamis heard that, he did not even raise his head and replied lying in his bed of leaves. "God the Great King, is not a source of violence but provider of water, food, light and life. Your king cannot be a God, who loves violence and who is mortal.{{cite book|title=Philo on Jewish identity and culture |year=2001 |pages=154 |isbn=9783161476112 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cOjCkfLCt3sC&q=dandamis+ |last1=Niehoff |first1=Maren|publisher=Verlag von J. C. B. Mohr (Paul Siebeck) }} Even if you take away my head, you cannot take away my soul, which will depart to my God and leave this body like we throw away old garment. We, brahman do not love gold nor fear death. So your king has nothing to offer, which I may need. Go and tell your King: Dandamis, therefore, will not come to you. If he needs Dandamis, he must come to me."{{cite book |title=The Legends of Alexander the Great |year=2012 |pages=43–47|isbn=9781848857858 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W8gMKhTO5ZAC&q=dandamis+alexander&pg=PA44 |last1=Stoneman |first1=Richard|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic }}
When Alexander learned of Dandamis' reply, he went to the forest to meet him. Alexander sat before him in the forest for more than an hour. Dandamis asked why Alexander came to him, saying "I have nothing to offer you. Because we have no thought of pleasure or gold, we love God and despise death, whereas you love pleasure, gold and kill people, you fear death and despise God." Alexander stated, "I heard your name from Calanus and have come to learn wisdom from you." The conversation that followed between them is recorded by Greeks as Alexander-Dandamis colloquy..{{cite book|title=Classica et mediaevalia , Volumes 34-35 |year=1983 |publisher=Société danoise les études anciennes et médiévales |pages=78, 81, 87 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MZcmAQAAIAAJ&q=dandamis+alexander}}