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Chapter 1
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Antakriddasha Sutra: A Detailed Introduction
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Human Ambition
Since time immemorial the ultimate untold desire of man has been one only, and that is-to embrace happiness or to end sorrow. Every living being has this desire. As Bhagavan Mahavir has said--
"All beings in this world desire happiness; they all are averse to sorrow. They want to avoid sorrow and embrace happiness. Man is one such resourceful being who can proceed towards ending sorrows and
with the help of his highly developed intelligence, power, vigour and courage.
All activities of man are directed at ending sorrows. The scientific and technological advances he made are directed at acquiring happiness. It is this desire that made him invent things like palaces, gardens, scooter, car. aeroplane, sputnik and television.
For a progressive life he made intellectual advancement and evolved economics, sociology, ethics, religion and the like. Here also the ways and means of acquiring happiness were evolved.
Every individual has his own ideas. Some explore happiness in physical comforts and become materialists. Others explore happiness within and indulging in inner experiences turn towards spiritualism.
Since prehistoric times India has given more stress on spiritualism. In fact this land has been the cradle of religions and spiritualism. The credit of this goes to the twenty four Tirthankars, from Bhagavan Rishabhdev, the first to Bhagavan Mahavir, the last. The importance of Dvadashangi
The sermons Bhagavan Mahavir gave for the benefit of all beings were compiled by highly accomplished Gunadhars into twelve Angas (Jain canons). This twelve limbed work is known as Dvadashangi.
The speciality of Dvadashangi is that it is the spoken word of the omniscient. The tenets in the form of speech given by the omniscient Bhagavan are absorbed by Gunadhurs (his principal disciples) and then they are skillfully converted into Sutras (aphorisms) for the benefit of the religious order and all beings.
Antakriddasha Mahima
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