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). 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.