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## [2]
The Antakrddasha was born, doubt arose, curiosity arose, especially faith, doubt, and curiosity arose. Then they rose and stood up and went to where the venerable Aryasudharma was. Arriving there, they circumambulated the venerable Aryasudharma three times, starting from the south. After circumambulating, they praised him with words and bowed with their bodies. After praising and bowing, they stood at a suitable place, neither too far nor too close to the venerable Aryasudharma, with their hands joined in front of them, humbly, and with a desire to listen, they spoke in this way:
**Discussion:**
In Jain literature, the Agamas hold a very important place, because the Agamas are the teachings of the Tirthankaras. The glorious, omniscient, and all-seeing Tirthankara Bhagwan establishes the path and preaches Dharma for the compassion and protection of all beings. Therefore, it is said in the **Prashnavyakarana Sutra**: "**Savva-jag-jiv-rakkhanadayatthayae Bhagavaya pavayanam sukahyam.**" Their meaning-based sermons are compiled in the form of the **Ganadhara Sutra**, which is divided into twelve parts, known as **Dwadashangi** in the Agamic language.
Bhagwan's teachings are divided into four **Anuyogas**: (1) **Dravyanuyoga**, (2) **Ganitanuyoga**, (3) **Charanakarananuyoga**, and (4) **Dharmakathanuyoga**. The **Sthananga** and other Agamas are contained within the **Dravyanuyoga**. The **Bhagavati Sutra** and other Agamas have more **Ganitanuyoga**. The **Charanakarananuyoga**, i.e., the discussion of the conduct and Dharma of the Sadhus and Shravakas, is found in the **Acharanga** and other Sutras. The special form of **Dharmakatha** is found in the **Jnatadharmakatha**, **Antakrddasha**, and other Agamas.
According to the Jain Agamas, the **Dwadashangi** is taught by the Tirthankaras. These twelve parts are: (1) **Acharanga**, (2) **Sutrakritanga**, (3) **Sthananga**, (4) **Samavayanga**, (5) **Bhagavati Sutra**, (6) **Jnatadharmakatha**, (7) **Upasakadashanga**, (8) **Antakrddasha**, (9) **Anuttaroppapatik**, (10) **Prashnavyakarana**, (11) **Vipaksutra**, and (12) **Dristivad**. Of these twelve parts, all except the twelfth, **Dristivad**, are available in the present time, and the **Antakrddasha Sutra** is the eighth part.
The subject matter of this Agama is presented in the form of a preface in the first Sutra, which is revealed in the well-known conversational style of the Agamas. This is also called **Upoddhat** or **Utksep**. This method of **Utksep** will continue for about four Sutras, after which the statement of the subject matter will begin.
In this first Sutra, the reader's attention is drawn to the time and place of the creation of the Agama by the words "**Tenam kalena tenam samaena**" etc. It mainly presents five topics: (1) **The field of description**, (2) **The situation at that time**, (3) **The presenter of the Agama**, (4) **The qualifications of the presenter**, and (5) **The questioner**.
In this Sutra, the time of the first creation of the Agama is first indicated, and then the place is indicated. It states that "in that time and at that time" there was a city called **Champa**, and outside it was a **Chaitya** called **Purnbhadra**, where the venerable Aryasudharma had taught this Agama to his beloved disciple, the venerable Aryajambhu. Here, the question may arise: "Time and time" are both indicative of the same meaning, then what is the intention of using two words? Generally, time and time are synonymous. But in reality, if we look closely, these two words have different meanings. The word **kal** refers to the **Utsarpini** and **Avasarpini** forms...