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Chapter 2
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Antakriya : Meaning and Examples
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With the word Antakriddusha Sutra is attached one other meaning antakriva (the terminal act or act of termination).
This is a frequently used term in Jain scriptures. It has been discussed in detail in Antakriddasha Sutra, Sthananga Sutru, Bhagavati Sutra and Prajnapuna Sutru.
There are some words where the meaning is in consonance with the etymology. There are some other words where the meaning is not as it appears to be; instead, it conveys some special nuance. Antakriya is one such word. Its meaning is less etymological and more inclined towards a special nuance. The normal etymological meaning of uniukriya is antim (last) kriya (act). When a soul abandons its body, the body becomes lifeless and is called a corpse. The act of cremation or burial or casting it into water of that corpse is the last act and so it is called antukriya. Thus the popular meaning of this term is lastrites. But in Jain philosophy this word carries a subtle and pregnant meaning. There it has been defined with the help of Nischaya Naya or Evambhoot Nava (the viewpoint of ultimate reality).
In the twentieth chapter, litled Antakriya, of Prajnapana Sutru, there is a detailed description of the process of antakriya with reference to the 24 Dandaks (areas of punishment, which here indicates the classes of beings born in different areas or dimensions like earth, heavens, and hells). There, acharya Malayagiri, the commentator, (Tika), has given both the meanings of antakriya. The first meaning is : the end of the body acquired by the soul during a specific birth; or simply death. The second meaning is bhavanta, or end of bhavas (reincarnations or births), or termination of the cycles of rebirth; or simply liberation, as is mentioned in the commentary (Tika) "Antakriva means the end or death and in some other context destruction of all karmas." Thus according to the mentions in Prajnapana Sutra antakriya has been used in its both meanings, death and liberation. And it has been discussed from both these viewpoints. But in Sthananga Sutra four antakriyas have been described only in context of the meaning liberation.
Meaning
According to Antakriddasha and Sthananga Sutras the meaning of antakriya is the last act, or the act after which all action seizes. From the mundane angle the last rites could be considered as the last act, but from the philosophical angle that is not the last act. This is because what we mundanely term as death is just abandoning the Audarik or Vuikriya
Antakriddasha Mahima
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