Agam 08 Ang 08 Antkrutdashang Sutra Sthanakvasi

Author(s): Amarmuni, Shreechand Surana, Rajkumar Jain, Purushottamsingh Sardar
Publisher: Padma Prakashan

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2 The brilliant character of ascetic Gajasukumal provides lessons in patience, camination, tolerance of pain and extreme endurance.
4 The story of Sudarshan Shravak informs about ultimate submission to one's deity of worship, self confidence and religious aura.
5 The ascetic life of Arjunamali points at astonishing tolerance and practice of attitude of suppression of evil thoughts.
6. The description of the austerities of Kali and other queens of king Shrenik present the ideal of tempering sinful karmas with tap after abandoning fondness for the body.
7. The interesting story of child ascetic Atimukta Kumar eloquently reveals the value of simplicity in life, good behaviour and asking questions with modesty.
Thus, this Agam opens up the path of pursuit of the goal of liberation by presenting a variety of inspiring ideals. Its reading and listening is beneficial to all.
This Edition
Today Antakriddasha Sutra is the most read and recited Agam in Jain society. Numerous institutions have published a variety of editions of this. Detailed commentaries and explanatory works on this have been published as also editions only with original text and translation and some with original text only.
Thus many small and large editions have been published. Each has its own utility. Besides Hindi many beautiful editions in Gujarati have also been published. I have also come across the English edition by Shri Modi. Readers will ask-What is new about this edition ?
Publication of Illustrated Agams
I had decided last year, on the occasion of the diamond jubilee year of the birth of Uttar Bharatiya Pravartak Gurudev Bhandari Shri Padmachandra ji. M., to get illustrated Agams published. Publication of illustrated Agams is a historical work and has its own importance. It is said that a few copies of Kalpa Sutra and Uttaradhyayan Sutra are now the only illustrated works among the ancient manuscripts of Agams available in some Jnana Bhandars. It is also said that these copies of Agams with illustrations are valued at 20 to 25 thousand rupees each. What to say of getting a copy of such rare illustrated Agams when it is difficult even to look at them. Still every curious student of Agams nurtures a desire of seeing illustrated Agams. He also has a desire to possess them.
It is certain that illustrations makes even the most serious and complex subjects easy to understand. An illustration gives form to the formless and turns complex to simple. An illustration can be more effective than a thousand verses. All said and done, the usefulness and necessity of visual presentation finds an ever expanding slot in modern education system.
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