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## Introduction (From the First Edition): Antakrid Dasha: A Study
When we delve deep into the golden pages of history, it becomes clear that Indian philosophy has flowed in two streams since prehistoric times, which we know as Brahman culture and Shraman culture. Both these cultures originated in India. On this sacred land, both cultures flourished. Both cultures co-existed, so it is natural and spontaneous for the ideology of one culture to influence the other. While there are many similarities in the fundamental ideologies of both cultures, there are also differences. The source of the fundamental thinking of Brahman culture is the 'Vedas'. The primary source of Jain tradition's thinking is the 'Agam'. The Vedas are known as 'Shruti', while the Agam is known as "Shruta"! The words Shruti and Shruta are very similar in meaning. Both are related to "Shravan" (hearing). What is heard is Shruta. And the same noun form of Shravan is Shruti. Simply hearing the word is not the desired meaning of Shruti and Shruta. Its implied meaning is - what is real, what is evidence-based, what carries the noble ideology of the well-being of all people, what is spoken by the wise men, the omniscient, all-seeing, dispassionate great men, that is Agam, Shruta, Shruti. The words of an ordinary person who is afflicted by attachment and aversion do not fall into the category of Shruta and Shruti. Acharya Vadideva, while defining Agam, wrote - "The meaning-perception that arises from the words of the wise is Agam."
a. Shruyate smeti Shrutam. b. Shruyate atmana taditi Shrutam shabdah. Aptvachanadaavibhrutamarthasanvedanamaagam.
- Tattvarthrajavartika. - Visheshaavashakabhaashya Maladhariyaavritti. - Pramananayatattvalok 4.1-2.
2.